Darius laid her on the bed and she immediately sat up and rubbed her temple. Maybe her headache had gotten worse.
He brushed a few damp strands of hair from her face, his fingers gentle but hesitant, like he wasn't sure if she'd allow more. Then he exhaled through his nose and moved to the window, drawing the curtains apart.
The sun had begun to dip, casting a warm orange hue across the sky. A few birds flew across, chirping loudly. How lucky and free those birds were, they worried only about food and not being caught by a predator.
Serena had rolled to face the wall, knees tucked up slightly, one arm curled around the pillow. She propped it behind her back like a makeshift barricade. He sighed again and rested his chin against his hand.
Serena squeezed her eyes shut and held onto the sheet for dear life. She had to calm down and breathe. She let out a ragged breath, it raked through her chest like a stubborn cough.
"Would you still like water?" Darius asked.
