Page 232 of Scarbound

Duri nodded. “Okay.”

He wrapped the blanket more securely around Noeul’s shoulders instead. Noeul didn’t respond.

Duri held out his hand again. “I’m going to help you stand. Is that okay?”

Nothing.

He waited. Noeul looked toward the open cuff on the mattress, then toward the door. “Away,” he whispered.

Duri swallowed. “Yes.”

Noeul moved his legs toward the edge of the bed. The effort seemed enormous. Duri stayed close without touching him. Noeul pushed himself upright. Immediately, his balance failed.

Duri caught him instinctively around the waist. Noeul recoiled. His whole body went rigid.

Duri released him at once. “Sorry.”

Noeul stared at him, breathing hard.

“I’m sorry. You were falling.”

Noeul looked down at his own legs as though they belonged to someone else.

Duri crouched slightly so he wasn’t towering over him. “Can I hold your arm?”

Noeul’s mouth moved. No sound came. Duri waited. Finally, a tiny nod.

He touched him carefully. Noeul flinched anyway.

Duri felt the tension beneath his fingers. “I know.”

Noeul looked at him.

“I’ll let go whenever you want.”

Together, they stood. Slowly. Carefully. Noeul swayed almost immediately. Duri steadied him with one hand, keeping his touch light.

“One step.”

Noeul stared at the floor. Then moved. Another.

By the time they reached the bedroom door, his breathing had become labored.

Duri stopped. “We can wait.”

Noeul looked past him. The doorway. The hallway beyond. Something frightened him there. He shook his head.

“No?”

Noeul’s fingers suddenly tightened around Duri’s sleeve. “Away.”

Duri understood. “All right.”

He opened the bedroom door.

Ji-Woo was waiting in the hallway. Jun had taken Chung-Hee into another room so there would be no chance of Noeul seeing him on the way out.

The moment Ji-Woo saw his brother, everything inside him stopped. Noeul stood wrapped in a blanket, barely supported by his own legs. Bruises marked the skin Ji-Woo could see. Both wrists were raw and bloodied. A bandage covered part of his head.