Nikolai watched Ophelia eat. She took big nibbles and gently smiled with each swallow, her eyes sparkling with delight. His eyes dipped to her throat at every movement she made, then to her lips, which she licked slowly. She had eaten salad, sauced pork, porridge, and now she was consuming a bowl of soup. He had honestly never seen anyone eat as much as she did.
He was pleased to see that she was awake, alive, and present with him and he felt proud of himself for controlling his smiles.
When she was finished, he poured her a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and gave it to her. She drank it all and exhaled contentedly, beaming a happy smile at him.
"Whenever it comes to eating, you never cease to surprise me." Carrying the tray of empty plates and bowls, he chuckled.
"It seems like days have passed since my last meal." Ophelia mumbled, dabbing a napkin across her lips.