30. 1 TRUE COLORS 1

Dr. Jamy Hansel sat on a bench under a small oak tree in the little cloistered garden below the hospital room where his student-assistant lay unconscious. He sat there, staring at the scuffed toes of his sneakers as if it held all the secrets of the universe and he was trying to tease them out with just his gaze. He looked so focused on whatever it was about his shoes that captivated him, that when the young man came to sit beside him, his head snapped around so fast, the newcomer flinched visibly.

“You are not welcome here,” said Dr. Hansel, recognizing who it was. In a plain sweater and jeans, wearing a disguise that turned his streaked blond hair a despondent black color, the young man who interrupted his reverie sat down beside him. He frowned, perhaps unhappy that he had been taken by surprise. Otherwise, the young man looked completely unconcerned at the doctor’s evident hostility.

A soft breeze lifted stray locks of silver from Dr. Hansel&rsquo