Chapter 3The knock on the door startled Rue. He was sitting on his bed, staring at the wall. He was so tired, exhausted, but he couldn’t sleep. Less now than before the kitchen incident. Since then, he’d only slept a couple of hours a night.
He couldn’t go on like this.
“Rue?” Gertrude’s voice was soft, and he winced.
Seconds went by while he listened for her footsteps to walk away, but she didn’t move. She had the other times he hadn’t answered.
“Rue, come on. I’m sorry, okay? I won’t touch you, and I won’t enter the room, but could you please open the door?”
She sounded desperate, and it made him feel like s**t. He tipped over to the side of the bed and pulled his knees to his chest.
“Honey, come on. I won’t force you to go anywhere. I won’t touch you, but I demand to know you’re a
