Chapter 1
Is it really like he said?
Sofia Hamilton looked at him worriedly. "Are you really okay?"
"I'm fine. What could be wrong with me?"
"But your complexion..."
"Maybe I'm just a little tired."
He smiled as he spoke, pulling some distance between them. "I'm really fine. Look at how scared you are. Aren't you always trying to convince me to be braver? So why do I feel like you're even more afraid than I am?"
"I..."
She was afraid—afraid that he might suddenly leave.
So she was holding up, pretending to be strong.
But she couldn't let him know about her fear, her vulnerability.
Sofia forced a smile. "I just got startled by you for a moment."
At this point, no explanation could truly hide the fact that she was afraid.
Sofia had no choice but to change the subject. "Come on, let's go downstairs and let Charlie take a look at you."
She reached for his hand, but noticed wounds on his fingers and an inexplicable roughness in his palm.
