Stella was still clutching at her chest as she panted, "No. I'm not hurt. Sharp's fine too. He is in that room."
Simon: "Which room?"
Stella: "That room his bedroom leads to. At whose door I was there."
Stella did not want to mention what that room was. It seemed a very personal matter for Den and she did not know if Simon knew about it or not.
Simon scratched his head, "Whatever room are you talking about?"
Stella let out a breath. She had been right not to tell Simon, apparently he did not know. Little did she know that Simon knew about that room but hated talking about it.
She was her usual self now and all traces of fear or anguish were gone from her face.
But Stella still had a little difficulty breathing and her chest still ached.
Stella quickly changed the subject as she said, "Anyway, I actually did get a new wound. A glass shattered in my hand." She held up her hand, "And it hurts here?" She pointed at her chest.
Simon was amazed at Stella's sudden change of attitude. She had gone back to her old self and no traces could be found of the Stella who seemed like a broken doll, who Simon had picked up from Den's bedroom floor.
Simon put his stethoscope to Stella's chest as he said, "Did you catch a cold or something?"
Stella shrugged, "I did not. But maybe I'm about to."
Simon nodded and asked again as he probed her chest, "What hurts? Broken ribs?"
Stella shook her head, "I did not hurt myself. Something just hurts here. And breathing is a little difficult."
Simon looked worried upon hearing this. Maybe Stella really was coming down with a fever or a cold. He said, "I will prescribe you a cold medicine just for the sake of precaution."
Stella: "Oh please don't. I hate eating medicine. I think I'll just go out for a while. The fresh air will do me good."
Simon seemed uncertain, "The forest is not safe at night. You shouldn't go by yourself."
Stella pouted and slumped into her bed, "Geez, fine. I feel like I'm living among a whole group of controlling parents. I will not go out. Okay?"
Simon chuckled, "You are a kid for us after all."
Stella happily chatted away all the time when Simon dressed her wounds. He closed his suitcase with a snap and said, "Your condition looks great. You'll soon be fully healed."
Stella's eyes shone, "Can I run around and play?"
Simon chuckled as he patted her head, "Not right now. But I'm positive I'll be able to give you this permission the next time I visit." His face suddenly turned stern, "Unless you accomodate any new injuries."
Stella stuck out her tongue and let out a guilty smile. Simon said, "Now, I should be getting back. Are you sure you don't want some medicine for cold?"
Stella shook her head with a bright smile, "I'm all right now. The pain is gone."
Simon gave Stella a worried smile before stepping out into the passage. Stella could hear him calling out to Den at the door of the other room, and if he had to call out loud enough for her to be able to hear, Stella knew that something was wrong.
After a while, the sound of Simon's voice died away. Either he and Den were talking in their usual low voices, or Simon had gone away getting no response from him.