Chapter 31

Shen stepped onto the balcony with freshly brewed coffee for Bruce as he sat staring out at the river while the sun peeked over the mountainside. He craned his head passed Shen to look into the room, where I lay sprawled on the bed.

“Is he still sleeping?” he asked.

“He is pretty worn out. He will probably sleep for a long time if we do not disturb him,” Shen offered.

He knew me well enough to know that, if allowed undisturbed rest, my body would heal itself quickly. He was in no hurry to rouse me.

“So, the bedtime stories were true,” Bruce mused. “Wow. I’m having such a hard time grasping this.”

He ripped open the sugar packs Shen placed on his saucer and shook them into his coffee.

“I know,” Shen said. He watched Bruce reach over to grab the creamer from the tray he’d set on the small patio table that rested between their chairs before saying, “I feel responsible