Worlds Apart

Chapter 29

A C H I N G • C O N F E S S I O N S

Elin was on her side when Daisha walked in—an improvement already. It had been two days, the earliest the kid would let her visit. Machines beeped rhythmically and her tucked-in figure rose and fell in beat. The bed was rickety but the sheets were clean and whatever equipment they had acquired seemed up-to-date—from what Daisha could guess anyway. They were entirely unfamiliar to her.

The room was much brighter than the halls outside and there were a couple of beds further down with another door at the end of the room. She peered through the small frosted window at the top to find silhouettes of similar beds, bright rectangular holo screens, and shadowy figures moving between them. The area was a makeshift hospital wing.

"Hey."

The voice was raspy but so familiar it made Daisha want to burst into tears. She blinked hard and turned to find Elin smiling at her, eyes drooping and exhausted but, for once, free of pain.

Daisha walked past the empty beds to her, perching on the nearest one. Elin was swaddled in white, her blonde hair loose around her head, limp and dark with weeks of buildup, her skin more grey than white. She had never looked more beautiful.

"Nothing?" Elin grinned at her, and a hint of tooth shone through the corner of her mouth. Had that always been there? Daisha couldn't even remember what her smile had looked like before.

Daisha buried her face in her hands. "How are you?" Her voice echoed back in her ears; she hoped Elin could hear her.

Elin hummed and even that simple noise was music. She must be a good singer, too. "It hurts when the medication wears off, but I can move a little on my own."

Daisha nodded.

An uncomfortable silence fell on them, the soft hum of electronics filling the air instead. Dim light bled through the cracks between Daisha's fingers and she caught a flutter of rustling movement as Elin shifted the sheets.

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" was Elin's confuddled response. The silence grew oppressive, the ambient noises of the building fading away.

"I don't blame you if you're upset with me."

"For what?" she sputtered. "Daisha, if you—" her panicked voice cracked painfully. She paused, then continued in a softer tone, "If you are talking about this stupid sickness then please, do not. Neither of us could do anything to stop it."

Daisha found herself shaking her head. She felt so childish behaving like this, but she couldn't put it into words. They wouldn't come out. Her throat felt dry and choked up at the same time.

"Then what is it?" Her gentle voice tugged at her fingers. Daisha's eyes pricked but she didn't trust herself to even blink. "Daisha. Look at me."

"Vidar." Her voice was low and tore at her raw throat.

"Oh, vennen." She sounded relieved. "I had meant to say it earlier. I promise I do not blame you, not at all. He had been working against me for years—he was never a friend." There was a harsh edge in her voice. Daisha hoped in vain it was directed towards Ulberg and not her. "If you had not looked for him I would have. Understood?"

Daisha nodded dumbly.

"Now will you look at me?" She was gentle again. How could she ever have hated that kind soul?

Daisha lowered her hands slowly, the air stinging her damp face. A slim, cold hand slipped into hers awkwardly.

"I don't know what to think, Elin."