Page 166 of Inside the Sun

The longer I stay, the more I feel like some kind of exhibit. A freak show under constant observation. And despite my dad’s protests, I’m getting closer to a decision; I don’t want to spend another minute here unless I absolutely have to. But still…

There's one thing that blocks me. I also don’t feel ready to leave. So I force myself to hang in for a few more days and use the time to think. Really think. Mostly about one person: Sun. I don’t let myself fixate too hard on what will happen after I see him. I just know I need to say sorry. And yeah… I just want to see him. That’s it. Period.

Eventually, I can’t put it off anymore. I’m fully healed, and I’m tired of being poked and prodded.

After extra three days, I check myself out. I don’t even tell my parents. I just pack up and leave.

***

The next day, I show up for work. There’s this impatience, this inner stir in me—I need to renew my mission, and not only that…

The guards look surprised. Bonzo practically drops his jaw and starts hitting me with questions.

I brush it off, saying my parents panicked and blew my injuries out of proportion over the phone.

But even while talking the only thing I can really think about is getting to the garden and checking if Sun’s there.

My heart’s pounding as I step outside, but… I don’t see him. The patio is empty, the lounge chairs by the pool folded. I walk out onto the lawn, turn slowly, and look up at his window.

And then I freeze.

Sun… is there.

It’s almost like the first day I ever saw him.

Our eyes meet.

My heart skips a beat. My chest tightens.

Our tragic, impossible ‘relationship’ was so short-lived, and yet, somehow, my heart refuses to accept that it’s forever impossible.

Something just won’t let me look away from him.

But he does it.

He turns around and walks away.

I take a deep breath. Right. I didn’t expect anything anyway. I just wanted to see him, wasn’t that the point?

So I start working. Like a robot, barely present. My head is like a beehive, there’s no coherent thought, not even one. I water the plants, I trim the lawn. But I’m not really here.

Two hours later, I spot Summer in the garden, walking slowly along the bed of the roses.

When he sees me, his face lights up. We both keep it discreet, slipping off to the gazebo without drawing attention.

The moment I enter it, before I can stop myself, I blurt out the first thing that’s on my mind.

"How’s Sun?"

Summer sits down on the bench and gives me this gloomy look.

"Gosh, you had an accident, Ragnar… and your first words after coming back from the hospital are about Sun?"

I close my eyes, feeling a rush of impatience. Why won’t he just answer me? I need to know!

"Just tell me… The accident is irrelevant. I’m hard to kill, Summer."

His eyes scan my face. "There is something between you two, right? It’s serious?"

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