"He had bad fish. But by now, he's probably overcome the worst," says the voice later. It must be Hanna's voice.
"Hopefully." Something heavy and warm rests on my upper arm. "He looks pale." Is that Alessia speaking?
"It will be fine. I'll take care of him, no problem."
No problem. How lovely.
"Go and see the babies. They are adorable."
Yes, they are. Adorable little beings with even more adorable tiny fingers. I can picture one in front of me, opening its eyes.
Their eyes are sea green.
Now I hear footsteps. They sound muffled and hollow. "Call me if you need me." A door is opened.
"I will, Alessia. Thank you." A chair squeaks softly as it's moved, then creaks. The humming returns.
So melodic. So pleasant.
Could it be Hanna singing? I lift my eyelids, just for a moment.
Indeed, she's sitting right next to me, looking at aerial photographs of our estate on the wall. She appears content. The image fades to black, but I won't allow it. I open my eyes again.
There's that fascinating twinkle in her eyes. It's so serene that it makes me forget my pain. I turn to get a better view of her, and the sofa squeaks.
Immediately, she turns her head toward me. Even in my dazed state, I see her pinch her own hand.
She shouldn't do that. Why does she constantly punish herself for getting lost in her imagination?
"Good morning," she says softly, leaning over me. "How do you feel?"
My mouth is dry. "Thirsty," I croak.
As if she already anticipated it, she reaches for a prepared cup with a straw and holds it to my mouth, allowing me to sip from it with my lips. "Just a small sip for now."
Filled with a wave of gratitude, I nod. Then I take a sip from the straw. Just her presence alone makes me feel better. I swallow the liquid. "Thank you," I say, and at the same time, I realize it's not enough.
She didn't have to do this. She could have been angry with me for not showing up and gone on the excursion alone. She could have seen me lying in my van, considered me lazy, and turned back. She could have left me to my fate, and no one would have blamed her.
But she didn't.
I glance at the window. The incoming light carries a warm hue. "What time is it?"
She glances at her phone. "Just after six in the evening."
"Have you been here the whole time?" I ask cautiously.
"Of course," she answers with an obvious tone, which makes me smile. "I would never have left you in this condition."
That's… so selfless… "Thank you." I want to say more, but the words fail me.
It seems like she doesn't want to hear more either. With a caring expression, she leans over me. "How does the drink feel in your stomach?"
I listen to my body. "No more cramps." Thank God.
Her lips curl upward in delight. "Tomorrow, you'll be almost back to normal. Do you want to rest a little more?"
No. I want to be with her. I quickly shake my head. "Tell me something about yourself," I impulsively ask.
