The bedroom was quiet again.
The grey medical bag sat on the floor.
Closed.
Untouched.
The injector was back inside.
Jey hadn't moved it since zipping the bag shut.
Rhea was still sitting on the edge of the bed.
Hazel beside her.
Neither woman had said anything for almost a minute.
The only sound in the room was Rhea trying to steady her breathing.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
It wasn't working.
She still felt like she couldn't get enough air.
Hazel slowly rubbed circles across her back.
Very gently.
"Look at me."
Rhea couldn't.
Not yet.
She kept staring at the floor.
Her shoulders were shaking.
Another tear slid down her cheek.
Then another.
Hazel reached over.
Carefully brushing them away.
"Hey..."
No answer.
"You're safe."
Rhea squeezed her eyes shut.
"...I know."
"You don't have to do anything right now."
"..."
"You don't have to make a decision today."
That finally made Rhea look up.
"...Really?"
Jey answered immediately.
"Really."
She stared at him.
"You mean that?"
"I do."
"But..."
He took a slow breath.
"I also don't want you living in pain because of something that happened years ago."
That sentence landed.
Hard.
Rhea lowered her eyes again.
"...I know."
Jey slowly sat down on the floor in front of her.
Not towering over her.
Not cornering her.
Just...
Meeting her where she was.
"I wasn't trying to scare you."
"I know."
"I thought..."
He looked down briefly.
"...I thought maybe if I explained it..."
She quietly interrupted him.
