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I think she knows, but maybe she doesn't. If she doesn't, then she needs to hear it from me before we go anywhere. "Are you okay?"
I laugh. She's the one who has just gone through an exorcism, but of course she would ask me that. That's the kind of person she is. "I'm fine. I'm great."
"Are you sure?" She asks, her brow furrowed and her head cocked. She obviously doesn’t believe me.
"Of course I'm sure."
"Okay. It's just that you look really worried."
"I am worried. You've just been through hell. I can't even begin to imagine. Your body is exhausted, I can't even think about your mind."
"My mind is fine. My mind is clear." Her gaze flits around the room, her eyes landing meaningfully on all of us. "I don't think I've ever been this clear minded before in my entire life."
"Good."
"I owe it all to you guys." Her eyes are swimming with tears again.
"We didn't do anything." I reply.
Luke nods, his head cocked as he looks at her. "He's right. You did all the work."
She laughs, a little weakly. "What about him?" She asks as she looks at Malon.
"He got out of the way. He helped. He still didn't do everything. That was all you, Trine,” Luke says. “You did the hard part.”
“Is it over?”
Luke and I look at each other. “Yes,” he says. “For now.”
Trine sits up. She straightens her top, sighing. “What happens after this?”
I shake my head. “We don’t have answers for you,” I say. “I suppose the only answer is that you keep living your life, and that’s it. That’s all we can ask you to do.”
She takes a second to process that. “I guess,” she says. “But everything has changed now. What’s going to happen to you guys?”
“Don’t know yet,” Luke says. “Probably back to the grind.”
I watch her throat work as she swallows.
“We won’t leave until you’re ready,” I say. “You don’t have to be scared.”
She tries for a smile. “That’s less reassuring than you think.”
“You got this,” I say. I don’t think I can stay here while Trine wonders if and when we’re going to leave her, so I get to my feet and walk out of the bedroom. She calls after me, but I genuinely can’t stay here. I feel like I might crumble if I stay here.
I shouldn’t do that. I shouldn’t scare her more than she already is.
I walk out and make my way to the pool. I’m surprised to find Misha there, sitting in a lounge chair, staring at the water.
“She’s awake,” I say. “If you want to go say hello.”
“I don’t want to,” he replies.
I look at him.
“Checking in on her means I have to start thinking about what comes next. Honestly, I’m not ready for it.”
I nod, walking over to him. I sit on the lounge chair next to him and sigh as I lean back. “Yeah,” I say. “I get it.”
