Elena stepped into the room and let the door close behind her.
"Elena," Liam said, genuinely surprised.
She stopped just inside the doorway, her eyes immediately going to him — taking in the IV line in his arm, the hospital gown, the way he was propped up against the pillows like sitting up straight took effort.
Her expression shifted. Something tight crossed her face before she smoothed it away.
"Hi, Liam," she said, her voice coming out softer than usual.
She didn't wait for him to respond.
She walked over to the bed — not the chair beside it, but directly to him.
She reached out, her hand moving to his face.
Her fingers were cool against his skin as they traced along his jaw, then down to his shoulder where she could see bruising peeking out from under the gown.
Her touch was gentle, careful, like she was checking to make sure he was real. Like she needed to feel for herself that he was still there.
