The Hummingbird

As Nicole recovers from hip surgery, a hummingbird appears at the window—Calypte anna, as Gianni identifies it—and becomes a fragile emblem of survival. Its hovering presence threads through the long days of convalescence, offering flashes of wonder amid pain and fear.
Yet Nicole's recovery is anything but serene. Visitors bring both comfort and disruption: Lara, the alluring nurse, trespasses against her dignity; Alexei, the quasi-son, cloaks affection in teasing; Elizabeth, the gentle ther...