"All done," Marianne says, the smile on her face genuine. She helps Louis sit up and looks him over to make sure the bandages are secure.
"Thank you," Louis says, his voice soft and sincere. "I really appreciate your help."
Marianne's cheeks turns pink and she looks away, unable to meet his gaze. "It's no problem," she mumbles, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
Hey, Marianne, you are Mario now, she cautions herself.
There is a brief moment of silence, broken only by the sound of their breathing. Then, Louis speaks again. "I have to ask - where have you been?" His voice is gentle, but there is an undercurrent of concern in his words. "I've been looking for you for the past month, but I couldn't find you anywhere."
Marianne's heart sinks. She hasn't realized how worried he's been. Then she realizes that she deserve his sorry also.
