Dad comes to my side and pats my hair. “Welcome back, baby girl.”
I sniff, sinking my nails into his shirt. What if he leaves me? What if I never see him or Mum again?
A doctor comes inside. My parents begrudgingly let him examine me. They watch every motion like hawks, as if afraid I’ll be sucked out from the hospital room and into another dimension. I offer them the brightest smile I can manage. Mum’s bloodshot eyes and the dark lines under Dad’s pupils are enough torture. I don’t want to add to their agony.
“A psychiatrist and a police detective would like to speak with you, Miss Wilson.”
My head cranes to the doctor and I shake it frantically. I peek at my parents and beg them with my eyes not to make me do this. What will I say?
When was I brought to the hospital, anyway? I faintly remember Aaron’s voice. Aaron’s scent. His shouts. An unintelligible flow of words... Wait. Where’s Aaron? Shouldn’t he come to take me back by now?
“Can’t you see that our daughter is tired?” Mum scolds the doctor. “Let her rest first.”
The doctor’s wrinkled eyes soften. “I understand that you must’ve gone through a lot, Miss Wilson, but it’s important to talk to the specialists to ensure your safety. Please let us know when you’re ready.”
I offer him a slight nod, but when he leaves, I address my parents in a weak voice, “I don’t want to talk to them.” At least not now. I need to regroup. Where the hell is Aaron? Isn’t he supposed to figure this mess out?
“It’s all right, honey. You won’t talk to them unless you want to.” Dad smiles down on me. “We’re here for you.”
I sniffle again and extend my arms for Dad to hug me. God, I didn’t know how much I missed this until Dad’s cologne surrounds me. It’s like I’m a little girl all over again.
Pulling away, my gaze bore into his welcoming ones. “How long have I been away?”
Dad’s eyebrows crease together. “Roughly three months.”
Only three months? Was my world turned upside down in such a small period?
“Okay, now,” Mum says, voice soft. “You need to rest. I’ll go talk to the doctor.”
“And I’ll be right outside shooing those people off,” Dad’s tone is light.
I smile. My eyelids fall heavy. I don’t even realise when my parents left the room. My gaze fall on the bandaged wrist. Who saved me? Was it Aaron? Does he regret it? I doubt he wants anything to do with hospitals. Is that why he hasn’t appeared to take me? I just want him here so we can figure out what the hell is going on together. Or talk. Or touch. Is that too much to ask for?
Ugh. All these questions without answers are giving me a headache. My eyes flutter closed. Maybe if I sleep, I’ll wake up from this chaos.
“Mae.”
I bolt up in bed at Kane’s gruff voice, a tinge twists my stomach. Is it fear or excitement? I have no idea.
Kane is in a white coat, thick glasses cover his pale eyes. He walks to me with a small pad in his hands. He’s almost unrecognisable with the fake facial hair.
“Kane?” I blurt.
He nods, his expression in its usual calmness. “Please keep your voice down.”
“Are you going to take me back? Where’s Aaron?” I can’t help the pinch of urgency in my tone.
“He’s letting you go.”
The knot in my stomach erupts into a thousand twists. Huh? Aaron is what...? I think I heard Kane say Aaron’s is letting me go. What even—
“He sent you this.” Kane hands me a small envelope. A hint of Aaron’s cedar scent causes electricity to course through my veins. Where is he? Since when does Aaron send Kane to talk to me on his behalf?
“This is outside of my mission, but can I ask a favour?”
My eyes drift from the envelope to Kane. Either my mind is playing tricks, the anaesthesia is too strong to let me think straight, or this is actually happening. Aaron is letting me go and Kane is asking me a favour. All in the same day.
Unable to form words, I nod.
“Can you not report him?” He crosses his arms and taps his bicep— the first nervous gesture I’ve ever witnessed him make. “I know it’s