They walked in silence for a while, the forest peaceful around them. November had stripped the trees bare, leaving skeletal branches against the darkening sky. In a few weeks snow would come, blanketing everything in white.
He found himself looking forward to it. To walking these paths with her while snow fell. To seeing her laugh when flakes caught in her hair.
To more.
“Victor,” she asked hesitantly. “Can I ask you something?”
“Always.”
“The suppressant you take. Does it hurt?”
He blinked, surprised by the question. “No. Why?”
“Because sometimes after you take it, you look… strained. Like you’re in pain.”
Observant. Too observant.
“It doesn’t hurt physically,” he said carefully. “But Hyde doesn’t like it. And fighting him to keep the suppressant effective can be uncomfortable.”
“What does uncomfortable mean?”
“Pressure. In my chest. My hands.” He flexed his fingers. “Like something trying to break free and being held back by force.”
He frowned. “That sounds awful.”
“It’s manageable.”
“Is it?” She stopped walking again. “Or is it just familiar?”
The distinction hit harder than it should have. Familiar. Not comfortable or healthy or sustainable. Just familiar.
“I’ve been taking the suppressant for twenty years,” he said. “I know its effects and how to manage them.”
“And have you considered not taking it?”
His heart rate spiked. “That’s not an option.”
“Why not?”
“Because without it, Hyde is too close to the surface. Too unpredictable.”
“Or maybe Hyde’s unpredictable because you’ve been suppressing him for twenty years.” Her voice was gentle but firm. “Your great-grandfather didn’t use suppressants. According to the journal, he learned to coexist. Let Hyde emerge when it was safe. Integrated instead of separating.”
“Thaddeus lived in a different time. With different expectations.”
“Or maybe he just had less fear.” She touched his arm. “I’m not saying you should stop the suppressant tomorrow. But have you considered reducing the dosage? Seeing what happens if you give Hyde a little more freedom?”
His immediate instinct was to refuse. The suppressant provided a layer of safety between civilized doctor and dangerous monster. But Hyde’s response was immediate and enthusiastic.
Yes. Please. Let me out.
“I’ll think about it,” he said, which was more than he’d ever offered anyone else.
She smiled like he’d given her a gift. “That’s all I’m asking.”
They finished the walk as twilight settled into full dark. By the time they reached her cabin, stars were visible through the bare branches.
“Come in?” she asked. “I made apple cider earlier. The real kind, with cinnamon and cloves.”
