She's wearing a Brooklyn Bears T-shirt that is clearly his. It hangs almost to her ankles, her cast peeking out underneath it. She's holding a folded towel and two cheese sticks, her chin trembling with the effort not to cry.
“Good morning, Lucy,” I say softly, my throat tightening
She looks at me and blurts it out. “I had an accident.”
There it is, my first failing.
“That’s all right,” I say immediately, stepping closer so she knows I mean it. “I should have woken you up, but you looked so peaceful and comfortable sleeping.”
Her eyes fill anyway. Not crying yet. Holding it back. I feel that too; I could burst with her.
“Would you like to come sleep in my room for a bit?” I ask. “We can take care of everything else later.” She nods, relief hitting fast.
“She was transporting her bedding upstairs when I was coming down,” Lenzin says, right in front of her, like this is simply a fact to be noted. “Sheets, blanket, pillowcase.” She looks up at him and he smiles softly down at her. “With considerable determination and strength of a person three times her size, one-armed, I might add.”
“They were heavy,” Lucy says quietly, already passing me and heading into my room.
“I told her it was not a problem,” he continues, still speaking where she can hear him. “That I have accidents as well.”
I stop and turn back to him, whispering. “You told her you peed the bed?”
“Yes,” he says without hesitation, obviously realizing how ridiculous it sounds, yet he continues. “I explained that it happens when one is fatigued, especially when circumstances change.” A pause. “The body does not always adjust immediately.”
I blink once. Then twice. “You did not have to do that.”
“I did,” he replies evenly. “Shame would have been unnecessary and destructive.” He lowers his voice further. “She was about to cry.”
“Thank you,” I say, already turning toward my room to assess the damage.
“Lucy and I started the wash,” he adds. “The mattress protector functioned as intended. There is no harm.”
I stop short. “There was a mattress protector on the bed?” I ask, hopeful I didn’t imagine that.
“Yes,” he says. “I would deduce that it was Claudia’s doing.”
I chuckle, realizing this is the moment when holding back is pointless. “Thank you,” I call over my shoulder. “I appreciate your help.”
“It’s no trouble at all,” Lenzin replies, his voice steady, followed by a soft laugh. “I’d choose this over some of the antics my previous roommates have put me through.”
“I’m not sure I want to hear those stories,” I admit, stepping away while his laughter lingers in the air behind me.
Inside the room, Lucy stands at the foot of the bed, clutching two empty cheese stick wrappers.
“Are you hungry?” I ask, and she lifts one shoulder, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. “You slept right through dinner. If that were me, my stomach would be growling.”
She presses her small hand against her belly. “I think it is.”
“Then let’s get cleaned up and dressed,” I say softly. “You and I can whip up some breakfast together.”
She yawns, nodding but still rooted in place. “Okay.”
“Still feeling tired?” I ask, settling on the edge of the bed.
She nods slowly. “I had a bad dream, Hildy.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I say, patting the mattress beside me. “Do you want to talk about it?”
She shakes her head, her gaze fixed on the oversized shirt draping her frame. “Uh uh.”
