Bruises

Rowan

Soren didn't visit me after that day. I stayed in the hospital for several more days, even though I hated every second of it. The sterile white walls and the constant beeping of the machines were maddening, but my body needed time to heal. By the time I was finally discharged, I was ready to leave that place and never look back.

He sent a car to pick me up, but of course, he wasn't in it. I swallowed the sharp sting of disappointment and reminded myself that I shouldn't expect anything else. 

He wasn't my keeper, after all. At least it wasn't Rudolf who came to fetch me, I wasn't sure I'd be able to stop myself from strangling him.

When I got back to the house, I didn't bother speaking to anyone. I went straight to my room and locked the door behind me. All I wanted was sleep, actual sleep in a proper bed, not the half-conscious haze I'd endured in the hospital.