It had to be killing him to walk, but when I asked if he wanted to stay behind, his response was an emphatic no with an edge of panic.
"Can I apologize again for snapping?" he said.
"No." I sat back on my haunches. "We need to slow down for you. You're in pain and you're not going to remind us of that."
"It isn't that bad. Really. I--"
"See? Gotta be a tough guy." I lowered my voice so the others wouldn't hear. "How's your head?"
"I didn't hit my head. Not yet anyway."
"You know what I mean. Your headaches."
"I'm fine." When I opened my mouth to protest, he clapped his hand over it. "I'm not pulling any macho crap, Maya. My head is fine. I'm getting twinges, but it's nothing I don't get everyday, even with the meds. I'll be okay." He looked around him. "And as soon as we get out of this place, I'll be even better. So let's hit the trail.
"Can I apologize again for snapping?" he said.
"No." I sat back on my haunches. "We need to slow down for you. You're in pain and you're not going to remind us of that."
"It isn't that bad. Really. I--"
"See? Gotta be a tough guy." I lowered my voice so the others wouldn't hear. "How's your head?"
"I didn't hit my head. Not yet anyway."
"You know what I mean. Your headaches."
"I'm fine." When I opened my mouth to protest, he clapped his hand over it. "I'm not pulling any macho crap, Maya. My head is fine. I'm getting twinges, but it's nothing I don't get everyday, even with the meds. I'll be okay." He looked around him. "And as soon as we get out of this place, I'll be even better. So let's hit the trail.
( Kelley Armstrong )
[ The Calling ]
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