Nathan took the cotton swab from her with his larger hand.
He gently applied the ointment, careful not to cause her any more discomfort.
Half-turning, Lucinda caught a glimpse of his eyes, slightly red in the dim light, and said softly, âIt doesnât hurt too much.
Iâm not that fragile; itâs just that you all think I am.
â
Her soft fingers gently smoothed away the furrow in Nathanâs brow.
Nathan remained silent.
After a long pause, he finished applying the ointment and cleared his throat.
âThat should do it.
â
Then, he leaned in to ki*s her forehead gently and murmured, âIâm going to take a shower in the small bathroom.
â
Lucinda nodded in response.
Hearing the sound of running water from the bathroom, Lucinda lay on her side in the bed, and before she realized it, she drifted off into a dream.
It was late at night.
Lucinda felt a coolness on her back and instinctively shifted to the side, reaching out to embrace her husband, but her hand found only the cold sheets.
She was groggy for just a few moments before snapping awake.
The space on the other side of the bed was empty, devoid of any residual warmth.
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Where had Nathan gone?
He had been showering before she fell asleep.
It was late, and the room was engulfed in darkness.
Her eyes roamed until they adjusted to the blackness, and then she spotted a tall silhouette on the small balcony.
âHoney?â she called out softly, her voice thick with sleep.
âWhatâs wrong, dear? Did you have a nightmare?â Nathan responded, his tone as tender as ever, yet he remained where he was.
Lucinda quickly rose from the bed, wrapping a thin blanket around her and padding across the cold hospital floor tiles.
She approached him and asked softly, âItâs chilly tonight.
Why arenât you in bed? Is something bothering you?â
There was no reply.
Lucinda had noticed that Nathan had been preoccupied ever since they returned from the mountains, but she hadnât expected that he would also be restless at night.
âAre you thinking about what happened today?â
She approached Nathan and wrapped the thin blanket around both of them.
Like a gentle kitten, she nestled her head against his broad, sturdy chest and wrapped her slender, pale arms around him.
The moonlight was crisp and bright, illuminating them with a silvery glow.
Noticing his troubled expression, Lucinda felt compelled to ask, âIs it the pain from your arm injury keeping you awake? Or did something happen at Bright Mountain that you havenât told me about? Ever since you descended from the mountain, your behavior has been quite odd, as if someone had cast a spell on you.
â