"Are you okay?" he asked silently.
She closed her eyes. Rose. Abbot. Xavier. Chris. Her heart pounded against her chest.
"Giselle?"
She looked at him and sighed. It felt like being too exposed to a stranger. Chris was the only person she craved, knowing all too well that her heart wouldn't find peace unless she saw him. What had happened? Did he stop caring? Did he not know she was awake?
Her heart sank, and she allowed herself to say, "Is Chris dead?"
Alex's features softened into pity. "No. He's fine."
"Why won't he see me, then?"
He nodded. "I've been asking him the same question."
"What does he say? Is he mad at me? What is he punishing me for?" A tear rolled down her cheek.
"It's nothing like that." His voice turned soft as if he was talking to a three-year-old. She cringed. "He just needed some time to figure things out."
"What did he say?" she asked again.
Alex gulped. "He said that he was too empty to fill your void."
She shook her head. "What does that even mean? I don't need him to do anything. I just want to see his stupid face!"
He smiled. "I'll tell him that."
She wiped her tears angrily. "You do that! Where is he?"
Alex stood, buttoning his black coat. "Outside. I'll tell him to come."
"Outside?" she asked. How did Chris have the heart to stay away from her? What had happened to all his claims of love?
He licked his lips and gave her a half-hearted smile. "I'll tell him you said hi."
She grabbed the water bottle from her side table, said, "Tell him to come see me!" and threw the bottle at him.
He caught it with one hand and grinned. "You throw like a girl."
Before she could throw something heavier at him, he walked out. It was after a few moments of his departure that she wondered if his attempt to get a rise out of her was for her own good. She hadn't felt any other emotion than despair ever since she'd opened her eyes in this room.
After a few moments, the door to her room opened. Her heart flipped once, but it wasn't Chris who entered. She deflated again.
Ana came to her room for the second time that day. She placed her lunch tray on the table beside her. Giselle didn't look at the contents, her heart breaking all over again.
"Where is Chris?" she asked, her voice small.
Ana gave her a small smile. "He'll be here."
"Where is he?" her voice shook.
She gulped. "Outside."
"When will he come?"
"He says he'll see you soon."
"Why not now? It's been two days!"