Page 209 of Scarbound

That almost made her smile.

Noeul continued. “The conversation moved on. They laughed. I laughed when I was supposed to. But I couldn’t stop thinking about Gong.”

“What specifically?”

“His voice.” Noeul stared at the floor. “Begging me not to leave him.”

“Not the threat?”

He went quiet. Dr. Kim waited.

Finally, Noeul shook his head. “That’s the part I don’t understand.”

“What part?”

“He scared me. He threatened me. He grabbed me hard enough to hurt.” Noeul’s brow furrowed. “And once I got away, all I could think about was how frightened he had looked.”

Dr. Kim leaned back. “Does that pattern feel familiar?”

Noeul looked at her sharply. He knew what she meant. “Yes.”

“With Gong?”

“With everyone.”

The answer seemed to surprise even him. Dr. Kim let the silence remain.

Noeul rubbed his palms against his trousers. “I felt guilty for leaving him there.”

“Even though you believed he might hurt you.”

“He was having an episode.”

“That explains his behavior.”

“I know.”

“It doesn’t mean you were required to stay where you were afraid.”

Noeul stared at her. “I know that now.”

“Do you?”

His gaze dropped again. “I’m trying to.”

Dr. Kim nodded. “What happened when you went home?”

Noeul stopped moving. The room seemed suddenly smaller.

Dr. Kim noticed immediately. “Noeul?”

He stared at his hands. “I went home.”

“And?”

His mouth opened. Nothing came out.

Dr. Kim waited.