He had been awake too long. His eyelid had begun to droop, and his words were losing their edges.
“You don’t have to decide now,” I said.
He ignored me.
“Was he hurt?”
“Bruising,” Mara said. “Nothing serious.”
“Was anyone else?”
“No.”
He breathed out.
“Tell him he can come.”
I leaned forward. “Noah.”
“I want to see him.”
“You’re exhausted.”
“Not today.” He looked at Mara. “Another morning.”
She nodded. “We’ll arrange it through the ward.”
Aaron closed the case, leaving it on the table.
Before he left, Noah stopped him.
“The green light.”
Aaron turned.
“Was it moving away?”
“For a while, yes. I had to climb back out when the van shifted.”
Noah’s jaw tightened.
“Then it came back.”
Aaron held his gaze.
“I told you I would.”
Something passed through Noah’s expression.
Recognition, not of the man, but of a promise surviving the dark.
“Okay,” he whispered.
After they left, the room stayed silent.
Noah looked at the case.
I waited for him to choose.
