“I think she’s hurting, although I didn’t know where,” Irene said softly, feeling the cold water on her skin.
She added, “Even if she doesn’t say it. Maybe… we hurt her without knowing.”
The group fell quiet for a moment, internalizing Irene’s words.
Suddenly, Jackson stood up, bringing his body out of the water. “I’ll go get her.”
“But she doesn’t want to come,” Raven answered, looking at Jackson with her brows furrowing. “She might mistake it like we’re forcing her to do something she didn’t want.”
“She’s right,” Irene agreed. “Let her rest for now—”
“No,” Jackson immediately answered, shaking his head as he interrupted Irene’s sentence. “If she’s hurting, the best way is not to isolate herself in a room. She should go outside.”
His words were authoritative and firm, causing no o
