Page 210 of Scarbound

Noeul’s fingers had begun to tremble. “He was calmer.”

“Gong?”

“Yes.”

“What happened between you?”

Noeul swallowed. “I don’t want to talk about that.”

“All right.”

The answer came without hesitation. Noeul looked up, almost surprised.

Dr. Kim put her pen down. “We don’t have to.”

Silence stretched between them.

Noeul looked away. “He hurt me.”

Dr. Kim remained very still. Noeul’s breathing had changed.

“Physically?”

He pressed his lips together. “I said I don’t want to talk about it.”

“You did.” Her voice stayed calm. “And we can stop.”

Noeul nodded. Neither spoke for several seconds.

Then Noeul said, so quietly Dr. Kim almost missed it, “I still stayed.”

Dr. Kim watched him. “Afterward?”

Noeul nodded. “I stayed by him.” His voice cracked. “I tried, doctor. I really did.” The words began coming faster now. “I tried to understand him. I tried to be patient. I tried to be kind. I tried to be enough for both of us.” His eyes filled. “Even after that night.”

Dr. Kim didn’t interrupt.

“Even after he broke something inside me that never really healed.” Noeul wiped at his face, angry at the tears. “I still stood by him longer than anyone else did.” He looked at Dr. Kim. “And sometimes I think that makes me pathetic.”

“No.”

The answer was immediate but quiet. Noeul frowned.

Dr. Kim leaned forward slightly. “It tells me you were attached to your brother.”

“He hurt me.”

“Yes.”

“I was afraid of him.”

“Yes.”

“And I still loved him.”

“Yes.”

Noeul stared at her. “How does that make any sense?”