[Theerapanyakul Estate - Three Days Later]
Rain had barely left his room. He'd sleep for hours, wake screaming from nightmares, then stare at nothing for hours more.
Sky had moved into the estate to be near him. Now he sat beside Rain's bed, reading aloud from Rain's favorite architecture book.
"Rain, you need to eat something," Sky urged gently.
"Not hungry."
"You said that yesterday. And the day before." Sky set the book down. "Please. Just a few bites?"
Rain turned to look at his friend—the first real eye contact in days. "Sky, did you know? Before? That something was wrong with me and P'Phayu?"
"I suspected. But Rain, you hid it well. And I... I should have pushed harder. Should have seen—"
"It's not your fault," Rain interrupted. "I didn't even fully understand it myself. How do you know you're being abused when the abuser tells you it's love?"
Sky pulled Rain into a hug. "I'm just glad you're safe now."
"Safe," Rain repeated. "Am I though? He's in my head, Sky. Every thought, every reaction—it's all contaminated by him."
"Then we'll decontaminate," Sky said firmly. "One day at a time."
A knock at the door. Prapai entered with a tray of soup.
"I know you're not hungry," Prapai said softly. "But Dr. Siriporn said you need to try. Just a little?"
Rain looked at the soup, at Prapai's gentle, hopeful expression.
And took the spoon.
[Later - Estate Gardens]
Pete found Rain sitting by the koi pond, staring at the water.
"Mind if I join you?"
Rain shook his head, and Pete sat beside him.
"You know, after Vegas... after everything he did to me, I spent months unable to feel anything," Pete said quietly. "I was numb. Empty. Convinced I'd never be whole again."
"How did you heal?" Rain asked.
"Slowly. With help. With therapy and time and patience with myself." Pete looked at Rain. "And by understanding that healing isn't linear. Some days you'll feel better. Some days you'll feel worse. Both are okay."
"I keep thinking about the moments I didn't fight," Rain admitted. "The times my body responded even though I didn't want it to. Does that make me—"
"No," Pete interrupted firmly. "Physical responses aren't consent, Rain. Your body's reactions don't mean you wanted what happened. They just mean your body knows how to respond to stimulus. There's no shame in that."
Rain felt something release in his chest—a knot of shame he'd been carrying.
"Thank you," he whispered.
"Come on," Pete stood, offering his hand. "Let's walk. Movement helps, even when you don't feel like it."
Rain took his hand and stood.
One small step forward.