Marcel swallows hard, but then Blue cuts in.
"Are you aware that Malden is conducting research on exactly this type of tumor growing in your brain?" Blue says, his tone factual. "We’ve had excellent results in reversing its progression."
Marcel wears a dumbfounded expression, clearly not getting what Blue’s talking about.
"I came here to offer you treatment."
Marcel watches him for a moment, then chuckles.
But Blue remains quiet.
A tense silence settles over the room as Marcel’s eyes move back and forth between my face and Blue’s.
Finally, he speaks slowly, "Why would you do that? Is this some kind of mo—mockery?"
"No."
"That doesn't make sense. What's the purpose of this? To show me how wr—wrong I was? How noble you are? To prove your point?"
"I simply have that option. The therapy has been extensively developed by my research teams. If you want, you can undergo it."
Marcel squeezes his eyes shut, and to my surprise, a tear slips out from beneath his lashes.
"Is it just a cruel game?"
The room falls completely silent. I don’t say anything. This is between him and Blue.
Blue’s not engaging, not explaining, as if he’s already said everything he needed to.
Marcel stares out the window for a moment, his pale blue eyes drifting away briefly, before he starts speaking slowly, as if with resistance, forcing each successive sentence out of himself.
"Some—sometimes I can’t focus anymore. I used to think I was smart, and now I lose simple words. The one thing I was so proud of is sli—slipping away from me while this… thing eats my brain," he says, taking a breath. "And now you show up and give me ho—hope? You? That’s ironic. After all the hatred I threw at you, after what I wanted to do to you… the—the cruelty…" He tenses, frustrated that the word doesn’t come easily. "Funny. This feels like a bigger punishment than prison. Because it hurts more."
Blue gives a slight shrug.
"The decision is yours, Marcel. If you accept, contact me."
Still matter-of-factly. He places his business card on the bed.
Then he stands up, but just as he straightens, Marcel’s hand trembles as it reaches out and grabs the card.
"Wait! Wait… I’d be an idiot if I didn’t accept your pro—posal, but don’t expect that in this one brief moment we’ll suddenly become friends."
Blue sighs. "I’m not here to start a friendship."
"Good. But one thing I can promise… we’ll stop being enemies. I’m not ungrateful."
I let out a hostile snort but don’t say anything.
Marcelisungrateful and an opportunist. He always has been when it comes to me, I’m not naive enough to believe he’s suddenly changed.
But Blue answers in an even tone, "I don’t expect anything from you, Marcel. You’re free to keep hating me. My decision has nothing to do with you, it has everything to do with me. I have a rule that I don’t hold grudges, and I try to treat people as if we always have a clean slate between us."
Marcel gives a faint, crooked smile. "How weird. What you’re saying actually brings me some re—lief. I appreciate that this is how you see it and how you approach it. I accept your o—offer, and I truly thank you for it."
I’m practically boiling inside, but I stay silent. Oh, heacceptsit, wow, howniceof him…
Blue nods and glances at me.
