Lina hurried after Nelson down the dimly lit hallway, her footsteps quick and light compared to his heavy, limping ones.
“Nelson, wait!” she called, keeping pace beside him. “You’re going to make the bleeding worse if you keep moving like that. At least let me finish cleaning it properly.”
Nelson didn’t stop. He kept limping forward, one hand pressed to the cut on his forehead, jaw clenched tight. Blood was still slowly trickling down the side of his face.
“I don’t need your help,” he muttered, voice rough and tired.
Lina rolled her eyes but stayed close anyway. “You’re so stubborn. Fine. Bleed all over my floor then. See if I care.”
They reached the kitchen. Nelson paused in the doorway, looking around the large, modern space with its marble counters and soft overhead lights. He clea
