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But I was alive.
And that meant the politeness that’d been drilled into me by my uncle who was the reason my family was dead—
I fought another crest of grief.
Fuck, I can’t do this—
An image of Melike speared through my mind.
Her innocent laughter. Her trusting eyes.
It wasn’t fair.
It’s not fucking fair!
“It’s okay.” The girl’s mother approached me warily. “You’re okay.”
That word again.
I hated that word. Despised it.
If I never heard it again it would be too soon.
Anger was good.
It dried up my misery and gave me strength.
Straightening my spine, I shoved away my shipwrecked emotions and tipped up my chin.
I had nothing and no one.
These people had saved me.
It didn’t matter I would rather they’d let me drown.
I owed them my thanks, and what had I done?
Ruined one of their cushions.
I sank into a lifetime of respect and obedience, taught with love and compassion but expected with a firm hand and harsh command. “I apologise for the stain. I’ll...I’ll replace the pillow. I’ll find a way to repay you.” I tried to stand but without two hands and two workable legs, I only succeeded in cursing with agony.
“Stop that.” The girl strode back toward me and planted her delicate hand on my suddenly sweaty shoulder. “I told you not to move. You didn’t listen to me the first time and now you’re on the floor. You better listen to me now. Otherwise, your bones will break even more.”
I shot her a look, anger flushing to be instructed by a child, but there was also something else. An odd kick in my heart that a total stranger cared enough about me to protect me, even from myself.
“Neri, let him go.” Her mother drifted closer, holding out her hand as if I was a threat to her daughter. Her sun-lightened brown hair swayed in its ponytail as she shook her head kindly. “And I don’t care about the cushion. I’m just glad you’re awake and breathing.”
I shifted the best I could, highly aware the girl called Neri hadn’t removed her hand. Her delicate fingers burned my skin.
I looked up at her looming over me.
Her crystal-blue eyes met mine.
I couldn’t suck in a breath.
Her mother looped an arm around Neri’s shoulders and pulled her firmly away from me.
Neri tripped back with her, but her gaze never left mine, fierce and bright, perceptive and clear.
