I said. I pushed my left one up, showing four bruises, dark as ink spots. Simon paled. He rubbed his mouth, still staring at my arm. Simon's eyes widened, then he lowered his lids to hide his surprise. Derek's voice preceded him around the corner.I shrank back. I couldn't help it. As I did, a look passed through Derek's eyes. Remorse? Guilt? He blinked it away.
In an intense moment, the narrator reveals the dark bruises on their arm, indicating a troubling situation. Simon's reaction shows his concern as he processes the sight of the bruises. His initial shock transforms into a guarded response as he attempts to conceal his surprise, highlighting the seriousness of the narrator's condition.
As Derek approaches, the narrator instinctively recoils, sensing a complex emotional shift in him. His fleeting expression suggests feelings of remorse or guilt, before he quickly suppresses them. This interaction underscores a tension among the characters, hinting at underlying issues that may connect them and the narrator's troubling experiences.