The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 289
But what about Leilani? She had saved Yvonne, yet she had left injured and alone, with no one asking her a single question.
Milford felt a tightness in his chest, a wave of indescribable guilt and self-loathing washing over him. He took out his phone, instinctively wanting to message Leilani. But his finger hovered over the screen, unable to tap send.
What could he say? Apologize?
His mother’s attitude had made everything clear. The Sherwoods would have nothing more to do with Leilani.
Slowly, Milford lowered his phone, his gaze dark and conflicted.
Meanwhile, back at her apartment, Leilani locked the door, shutting out the noise and malice of the world.
She took off her coat and found that the abrasions on her arms and knees had formed thin scabs.
The friction of removing her clothes caused the scabs to crack, and fresh, bright red blood oozed from the wounds.
Most of Leilani’s injuries were scrapes, covering a large area. The edges of the wounds were red and swollen, and even the slightest movement sent sharp pains shooting through her nerves.
She walked into the bathroom and turned on the faucet. Cold water rushed over the wounds, washing away the blood and dirt. As the water hit raw skin, she felt a stinging, burning pain.
The bathroom mirror reflected Leilani’s calm face. There was no visible pain, no grievance-just a near-indifferent blankness. It was as if pain were just a daily routine for her.
After her shower, Leilani dried off with a towel and changed into a tank top and shorts. It made treating the wounds easier.
She skillfully took out her first aid kit. She pressed an alcohol-soaked cotton ball onto the wound. The sting was immediate, but Leilani didn’t even frown. Disinfecting, applying medicine, bandaging-her movements were practiced and efficient. It was her body, yet she acted as if the flesh she was treating belonged to someone else.
Once she was done, Leilani stood by the window. The night was pitch black, and the city lights twinkled in the distance, prosperous yet distant.
The solitude allowed Leilani to briefly drop her guard. She let out a soft breath, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the gauze on her arm.
Thinking back to the events surrounding the accident, she became more certain. The attack today. was no accident. It explained why she had felt someone following them while she and Yvonne were shopping. It hadn’t been her imagination.
And perhaps the attacker really was targeting her, just as Gloria had claimed. Yvonne had simply
17:48
been collateral damage.
Just as she was deep in thought, the doorbell rang.
Leilani was pulled back to reality. She went to open the door.
Judie was standing there holding a huge bag of fruit and snacks, grinning broadly. “Leilani! I’m here to mooch off you again!”
Ever since the PR disaster incident, Judie and Leilani’s friendship had skyrocketed. Judie had asked Callahan for his apartment code and was temporarily staying at his place.
Since Callahan was away on a business trip abroad and Leilani was usually alone, he had given the code to Judie so she could keep Leilani company.
Judie had been showing up promptly at meal times to find Leilani. Her smile froze the moment she saw the gauze on Leilani’s arm.
“Leilani! You’re hurt!” Judie gasped, dropping the bag onto the floor with a thud. She rushed forward and grabbed Leilani’s wrist, her voice pitching up in alarm.
17:48
admin