Edgar’s nose had been bleeding for six days.

At first he stuffed tissue after tissue up his left nostril to try and stem the tide. When that didn’t work, he carried a small maroon washcloth around to mask the intense amount of blood pouring forth from his face. By the fifth day, he gave up, awakening to crimson-drenched pillows and sheets, his left cheek dripping with his own gut juice.

By the seventh day, it was over.