Ryan and Jay had just finished their rounds in Esme's room when a quiet knock interrupted their thoughts. Both turned to see Helga at the doorway, carrying a tray with a steaming bowl of porridge and a glass of water. Ryan gave the tray a once-over, then nodded approvingly.
"Good. At least it's warm," he muttered, glancing back at Esme. "I'd rather not feed her anything right now, but she needs it." With that, he turned on his heel, excusing himself to check on Ray.
As the door closed behind him, Helga stepped forward, setting the tray on the bedside table. Esme watched her through half-lidded eyes, exhaustion dulling the sharp edge of her gaze. Helga, however, didn't reach for the porridge or even hand it over; instead, she sat down on a nearby stool, her expression hardening into a mask of steely determination.
