Isabella extended her hand tentatively towards the raw scar on William's right shoulder. As her fingertips made contact with his injury, she uttered in a voice barely more than a whisper, "Try to be more cautious next time." William's eyes widened in astonishment. He had fully expected an interrogation, a flood of questions about how he got the scar and what he had been up to.
"I...," he started, trying to form some sort of explanation. But Isabella cut him off, her eyes never leaving the scar.
"You can tell me when you feel ready," she said, her voice soft but firm. With that, William closed his mouth, swallowing the words he had been about to say, and simply nodded in acknowledgement.
