Page 132 of Misery
"Yes."
"Do you see that? How wrong this was?"
"I see it now. Then, it felt like devotion. Like if I could capture you on paper, understand you completely, I could keep you safe. But, I should’ve just done this the right way, Elfe."
"But you can't capture a person. Can't understand them by watching. You have to know them. Talk to them. Let them choose to show you who they are."
"I know that now."
A knock at the door. Runes enters without waiting. "The meeting is on for noon. Make sure you’re there."
"I'm going," Elfe says immediately.
"No," I respond automatically.
She turns on me, eyes blazing. "Are youseriouslytrying to make decisions for me? Now? After everything?"
I catch myself. Old habits. "You're right. I'm sorry."
Runes looks between us. "I wouldn’t recommend it. This shit is dangerous,"
"Everything's dangerous. But this is about me. I should be there." She stands, still wearing only my shirt. "I need clothes. Real clothes. And a weapon."
"Elfe—"
"Those are my terms. I go, armed, as part of the delegation. Or I go alone later when you're not watching."
The threat is clear. She'll do it with or without us.
"Fine," Runes agrees. "But I’m only doing this because you’ll end up doing something stupid if I don’t let you. Listen up, kid, you follow our lead."
"Understood."
He leaves.
Elfe moves to follow but I catch her arm.
She freezes at the contact. "Don't touch me. Not yet. I'm not ready."
I release her immediately. "I'm sorry."
"Stop apologizing. It doesn't fix anything."
"Then what does?"
She turns to face me fully.
This close, I can see the exhaustion in her eyes, the weight of everything crushing her, but also strength. Determination.
The will to survive that first made me love her.
"I don't know. Time maybe. Truth definitely. Actions more than words."
"Tell me what you need."
"I need to not be handled. Not be managed. Not be protected without my consent." She steps closer, close enough I can smell my soap on her skin. "I need you to see me as a person, not a project. Not a mission. Not something to save."
"You were never a project."
