one hand.
He pointed toward her mouth.
Rosalie repeated it.
“You’re here.”
His brow furrowed.
Then his eyes widened slightly.
Rosalie stopped.
Gideon touched the bandage.
“What?”
The word barely emerged.
Rosalie leaned forward.
“What happened?”
He shook his head.
He pointed toward the water pitcher.
Rosalie poured water into a cup.
The stream splashed.
Gideon’s head jerked.
The cup froze in Rosalie’s hand.
He stared at the pitcher.
She stared at him.
“Gideon?”
His eyes moved toward her.
Not to her lips.
To her.
She whispered his name again.
“Gideon.”
His face changed.
He grabbed the notebook.
His writing was almost illegible.
Again.
Rosalie’s hands began shaking.
“Gideon.”
A tear slid down his cheek.
He touched his left ear.
Then the bandage on the right.
“Again.”
This time the word sounded clearer.
Rosalie covered her mouth.
“Gideon.”
He closed his eyes.
Tears slipped freely now.
Dr.
Mercer entered minutes
