REED Returning from the mall, I found Kai freshly showered, back in his place at Avel’s side, looking a little more composed than before. He turned when I entered, and I walked over to him, handing him his aeruna first. "And then I got these," I explained, passing him the gift bag. He opened the bag and took out each item one by one: an insulated tumbler, a puzzle book, a massage ball, and a hot-cold gel pack to relieve some of the tension I knew Avel would be feeling when he woke up. I had no idea what to get when I got there, so I chose these because I knew Avel could use the gel after the trauma his body experienced. Kai stared at them, not saying much, and I could tell from the look on his face that nothing made sense to him. To him, it was probably like purchasing toys and cups,

