Alice took a deep breath and looked away from Axel’s pained gaze.
“I can’t right now,” Alice said.
She tried to move past him, but he put a gentle arm out to stop her.
“Please,” he whispered. “Just for a minute.”
Alice could have pulled away, she could have refused, and he would have stepped aside to keep from pushing her too hard. But instead, she sighed and nodded before following him to one of the small waiting rooms.
After closing the door behind him, Axel turned and looked her in the eye. He gave her a soft smile, and Alice felt a painful twinge in her heart.
“Are you feeling okay?” he asked. “Have you been eating? Doing the stretches that the doctor recommended?”
Alice nodded.
“I have been quite obedient,” she said. “I am good at following instructions.”
Axel let out a mournful sigh and took a step closer to her.
“I miss you,” he whispered.
Alice looked up at him.
“I miss you too,” she said.
