“How is he?” I ask.
“Healing.” Her expression is neutral. “I convinced him to remove the facial bandages permanently... he’ll heal faster that way. The shoulder and arm will stay wrapped for a while longer.”
Off. The facial bandages are off.
Which means behind that door is Marco’s actual face. Not the version wrapped in gauze. The real damage.
“Can I see him?”
Neli pauses. “He’s resting.”
I don’t back down. “That’s not what I asked.”
She studies me. Some kind of calculation happening behind those calm eyes.
“He’s not ready for visitors,” she finally says, more gently. “Give him time.”
Time.Right. Because that’s worked so well over the past few weeks.
I wait until Neli is gone. Then I knock.
Silence.
I knock again. Harder. “Marco. I know you’re awake.”
More silence.
Then: “What do you need?”
His voice is different. Flatter. Coming from somewhere deep in the room. Not near the door.
I press my ear against the wood. “What was that? I couldn’t hear you. Would you like to start our nightly debriefs again?”
I hear footsteps, and step away from the door expectantly.
But the door only opens a crack.
That’s right, just a crack. Maybe half an inch.
The room behind is dark. Lights completely off except for maybe a lamp somewhere throwing shadows.
I can see fingers at the gap. His right hand. The one that’s not bandaged.
I stare at it. At the fingers that traced patterns on my skin. That held mine through surgery after surgery.
“No, Jess.” I hear his words. “Please. Just leave me be. Do your job. Take care of Ben.”
Do my job.
So I’m just an employee to him, now. Everything we had... gone.
I’m just Ben’s nanny.
Speaking of Ben...
“You’re scaring her, you know.” The words come out before I can stop them. “With all the rules, the hiding.” I don’t mention that she cried after seeing his face. “Control isn’t care, Marco. Care isyou. Your face. Your voice. Being present. Not hiding in a room all day.”
“Have you been talking to Gideon King?” The question sounds almost amused. Almost.
