Jess keeps the breathing games going. Counts with Ben when the anxiety spikes. Homeschools her in the room down the hall.
She’s holding everything together. The way she always does.
I watch her when she thinks I’m sleeping. The way she moves. Efficient. Purposeful. Like she’s running her own prep station and can’t afford to miss a step.
Beautiful. Even exhausted and traumatized she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
The predator in me wants to pull her close. Claim her. Make her mine in ways that have nothing to do with employee contracts and everything to do with possession.
But I can’t. Not like this. Not when I look like something from a horror film and owe her more than I can ever repay.
So I just watch.
And want.
And hate myself for wanting.
Discharge day finally arrives.
I’m almost surprised.
A part of me thought I’d be here forever.
Dr. Reeves signs the papers.
Explains the home care protocol.
Neli will handle the dressing changes. The infection monitoring. The pain management.
“The facial bandages can come off permanently.” Dr. Reeves is watching me carefully. “Tonight when you’re home, you can take them off. The bandages on your shoulder and arm should stay a while longer, though. Understood?”
“No.” The word comes out flat. Final.
“Mr. Fiore?”
“I said no.” I’m not backing down on this. “The facial bandages stay on.”
He studies me. Probably running through his mental checklist of patient psychology. Deciding if I’m in denial or just being difficult.
Both.
Definitely both.
“For now,” he finally says. “But eventually you’ll need to take the bandages off. Process. Accept.”
Accept. Right. Accept that the face I had is gone.
That the man Jess fell for doesn’t exist anymore.
I saw my face in the hand mirror multiple times already, most recently during the last bandage change.
Wasn’t pretty.
So yeah, I’ll “accept” it when I’m ready. Not before.
Jag coordinates the discharge. Service elevator. Covered bay. Decoy wheelchair even though I can walk.
Can’t risk photos leaking. Can’t have Ben seeing her father’s bandaged face splashed across every gossip site in the city.
