Page 55 of Scars and Crowns

The palace doctor arrives barely five minutes later. By then she's sitting straighter, already trying to wave the entire incident away. "I'm fine now," she insists before he even begins examining her. "There was no need to call anyone."

I don't even look at her. "Please examine her," I tell him. My voice comes out firmer than intended. I don't apologise for it. The doctor checks everything carefully.

Pulse. Blood pressure. Blood sugar.

He asks a few quiet questions. "When did you last eat?"

She hesitates. My stomach sinks. " . . . Breakfast."

The doctor looks up. "You haven't eaten since breakfast?" She gives the smallest nod.

"I got busy."

Busy.

That's the explanation.

He sighs gently. "You cannot skip meals, especially with diabetes."

The word lands heavily inside the room. I look at her. She doesn't meet my eyes. The doctor continues speaking.

Low blood sugar.

Regular meals.

Medication.

Rest.

A follow-up appointment in a few days. I hear every word. And somehow none of them seem as loud as the single thought repeating in my head. She never told me. Not once. When the doctor finally leaves, silence settles over the room again. She busies herself folding the chocolate wrapper into neat little squares. Anything to avoid looking at me. I stand near the window for a long moment, trying very hard to calm the storm building inside me.

It doesn't work.

I turn back to her.

"Why?"

She keeps staring at the wrapper. "I forgot."

"No." My voice is quiet.

Too quiet.

"You forgot to eat."

She nods faintly. "I was working."

"You know what happens when you skip meals."

Another nod. "So why?"

Still nothing. I take a slow breath. "Why didn't you tell me you have diabetes?" This time she does look up. Only for a second.

Then her gaze slips away again. "Because . . . " She presses her lips together. "It's not your concern." The words hit harder than they should. Not because they're cruel. Because she genuinely believes them. "You've already done enough for me." She speaks quickly now, as though she's been holding the sentences back for days. "You're paying Sara's school fees."

"You gave us a home."

"You've done more than anyone ever had to."