Page 158 of Inside the Sun

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The next day is slightly better. I can walk normally again, even though my body still aches in this weird, phantom kind of way.

My head hurts the most, like there's constant pressure, but at least I'm able to function.

When I look out the window that morning, though, I don’t see… the gardener.

Yeah, that’s what I’m calling him again. Not Ragnar.

Ragnar is in the past.

Not that it matters. I already decided to stay away from him. So why am I even checking for him through the window?

To him, I don’t exist. I’m just a disturbance, a threat. I’m not about to go forcing myself into his life.

At breakfast, it’s just Mauro, Eliano, and Summer. The others are gone, thank Fate. I’m not in the mood to see them, especially not with this pounding in my skull.

It pulses hard behind my eyes. At times I even see these weird black spirals.

Around noon, I decide to step outside for some air, but only after confirming that Ragnar… sorry,the gardener… isn’t around.

I definitely need a breather. I’m hoping the headache eases up a bit.

I stretch out on a lounge chair by the pool, and that’s when I notice the overweight older guard, the one who usually sits in the booth, hanging around nearby.

He’s smoking, chatting with one of the soldiers.

They’re talking about random crap at first, so I stop paying attention. But with my hearing, it’s not exactly easy to tune things out.

Then a few words drift over that make the ground disappear beneath me.

"…hope he pulls through. Guy was a solid worker. Had the gardens looking perfect. Damn shame."

My heart slams in my chest. What the fuck? Did I mishear that?

Shit, I can’t just go over and start asking questions.

What am I supposed to do with that? Did something happen to Ragnar? Was he in an accident?

I get up, mind racing. The only person who comes to mind is Eliano.

It’s close to lunchtime, so he’s probably somewhere nearby. I wait for him in the hallway next to the wooden staircase.

The moment I spot him, I rush over.

"Eliano!" I blurt out, realizing too late that I haven’t really thought this through. But I try to do what I can to make it sound… casual.

"I need a favor. I overheard that guard, y’know, the chubby guy, he mentioned one of your workers, the gardener. Said something happened to him. That he hopes he’s okay. Do you know anything?"

Eliano’s eyes study my face, the same thoughtful look he had back in his room.

Then he lets out a quiet ‘hmm’, like it just slipped out.

"Why do you care what happens to the gardener?" he asks, watching me with baffling intensity.

Fair question.

"I talked to him a few times about spider mites. He seemed nice," I mutter, my face burning.

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