Chapter 17
Selena lay in the hospital bed, dressed in a blue and white patient’s own with an TV in her hand, while her wrists were wrapped in thick bandages:
Her unadorned face looked quiet and almost serene, though her lips were pale, and she was thinner than ever. Her once–delicate collarbones now stood out starkdy.
Looking at her now, I couldn’t help but wonder if she had been taking care of herself at all since i had lett.
Zion came in, glanced at me, walked over to her, and gently tapped her shoulder. “Selena, wake up Look who throught.”
slowly, she opened her eyes, still hall–dazed. “Hud, you’re finally back missed you so much,” she said, stretching her arms out, wanting a hug.
After seeing her look so fragile, 1, feeling a surge of guilt, leaned in and embraced her gently Zion, watching us, looked visibly uncomfortable and quickly stepped out, leaving as
alone
Selon poured out her heart, talking about how much the missed me. It stirred something in me, but my mind kept drifting back to Sylvia and the guilt i telt toward her
Isighed, gently putting Selena’s back, trying to calm her down. Then, all of a sudden, she began to cry again, bearing her fists weakly against my chest.
She tried to push me away but failed. Hence, she stayed in my embrace and cried as the spoke, “Hudson, how can you be so cruel? I’ve been lying here all this time, but you didn’t comeonce. We’re still married, yet you’re so indifferent had really died, would you even have visited my grave?
Her words core at me, filling me with a painful regret. “I’m sorry, Selena. I didn’t know.”
Hearing this, the quieted down, setting back into my arms. Not long after, exhausted from crying, she fell asleep
Teently laid her back down, pulled up her blanket, and quietly left the room. I didn’t dare to sell her about SyM
Outside, Lound Zion waiting in the hallway, smoking with a distant look on his face. When he noticed me, he silently offered me a cigarete
“Sorry, I don’t smoke.” I declined, pausing before voicing my thoughts. “Did you come all this way from Adenville to Carmania just to bring me here to see Selena
Zin sadething, took a long drag, and then crushed the cigarette beneath his shoe. Watching him, I browned “If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back. Thave work waking” This last–minute leave hadn’t given me any time to wrap things up at the office weren’t in such a senior position, I would probably be facing a major reprimand for this Themed to go, but Zion grabbed the edge of my shut. He kept his head down, his expression hidden, though I sensed a simmering anger. When he finally looked up, he seemed to have reached some kind of decision, and his eyes held a fierce determination.
“Hudson, don’t leave. Selena need you right nor
His sudden words let me taken aback, even making me question if i had heard him right. Dat this really come from him? As if to contis, he repeated himsell, Hisson, I’m ghing Selena back to you.”
