[No more "social" than had been necessary for him to be held down. Than for those treatments. That special brand of hell.
But he didn't need to tell her about them. Didn't need to show her the marks it had left on his body.]
It seems I haven't been feeling well lately.
["That's putting it rather judiciously."]
She's young.
["Not so young."]
Young enough.
["Whatever you choose to tell her is your business. I shan't interfere."]
Thank you. And--
["--I'll be right here, brother."]
...Thank you.
[It was getting worse, he realized, giving his head a small shake. He'd sworn for a moment he saw her. That he could have reached out and touched her.
...Taken her hand and stepped through a tear. Been back at her side again.
He'd take it. Headaches, nosebleeds, vomiting, a week's worth or more of invalid status. He'd take it all to be out of his place.
He convulsed briefly, bile rising in his throat and an awful, pyschologial pain seizing him. After a moment, he gasped slightly, took a few breaths to steady himself, then vaguely glanced in Elizabeth's direction.]
no subject
[No more "social" than had been necessary for him to be held down. Than for those treatments. That special brand of hell.
But he didn't need to tell her about them. Didn't need to show her the marks it had left on his body.]
It seems I haven't been feeling well lately.
["That's putting it rather judiciously."]
She's young.
["Not so young."]
Young enough.
["Whatever you choose to tell her is your business. I shan't interfere."]
Thank you. And--
["--I'll be right here, brother."]
...Thank you.
[It was getting worse, he realized, giving his head a small shake. He'd sworn for a moment he saw her. That he could have reached out and touched her.
...Taken her hand and stepped through a tear. Been back at her side again.
He'd take it. Headaches, nosebleeds, vomiting, a week's worth or more of invalid status. He'd take it all to be out of his place.
He convulsed briefly, bile rising in his throat and an awful, pyschologial pain seizing him. After a moment, he gasped slightly, took a few breaths to steady himself, then vaguely glanced in Elizabeth's direction.]
I... I'm sorry, Elizabeth.