Teddy the Tortoise

Prompted flash fiction: a candle, a tortoise, a hospital

Teddy the tortoise had been roaming the ward longer than anybody else. Not even Audrey the elderly orderly knew who named him—or why he wandered the garden paths at night.

Ann never admitted, not even years later, that she was behind it, but someone—let’s just say it was Ann—started sticking candles on Teddy’s back on Friday nights. 

With the candle or wi…