"You never told me you had a funny sister," Elise says.

"Yeah... that's her alright," Aris said, still not meeting her eyes. He shifted against the pillows, trying to find a position that didn't make his ribs ache.

"She's really sweet," Elise found herself saying. "I can tell how much she cares about you."

Aris glanced up, a brief flicker of confusion crossing his face. "She... yeah, I guess." He paused, considering. "You're right. She did come all this way just to make fun of me." A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth despite himself.

Elise sat beside him. "It's nice, seeing how you two are together," her voice filled with longing. Something about her tone made him glance up. She was smiling, but it looked strained. Her eyes, distant, unfocused.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," she said quickly, then caught herself. Too defensive. She tried for casual. "Just been busy with... You know. Things."

Things. Aris felt the gap widen at her vague response. "Right. Things." He paused. "I realised that when talking to Malcolm, sitting here, that we never talked about what's been going on in our lives. Despite him being my uncle and teacher, we never talked beyond that, until well," he raised his needle-pricked hand. "It also made me realise that I don't really know what's going on in your life. What classes you're taking, what you're working on..."

But you do know, part of her insisted. Our study sessions, that night at the tower, all our conversations—

Do I? another part whispered back.

"I thought we were closer than that," she said, and immediately regretted it. The words felt both true and completely wrong.

Aris looked at her with concern rather than confusion. "I mean... I'd like to think we are. Or could be." He paused, searching her face. "It's just been hard to tell where we stand lately. With everything going on."

His response was gentle. "Maybe that's on me. I've been so wrapped up in my own stuff..." He gestured vaguely at the hospital room. "I probably haven't been the best friend."

Aris's kindness should have been comforting, but it only made the confusion worse. He wants to be closer. That felt right. We are close. That also felt right. But are we?

"I..." She started, then stopped.

—What am I supposed to say? Contradict him? Gaslight him? Make things worse?

"I think I've been confused about a lot of things lately," she said finally. It was the most honest thing she could manage.

She pressed her fingers to her temples, bracing for a familiar pressure behind her eyes that didn't come. It felt numbingly absent.

"Are you okay?" Aris's voice seemed to come from very far away.

"Just tired." Always tired now. "I should probably..." Should probably what? Leave? Stay? She couldn't tell what was appropriate anymore.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Yes. No. I don't know what there is to talk about. "Maybe later? When I'm more..." What? More stable? More real? "More awake."

"Awake from what?" The question escaped Aris automatically.

The words hung in the air. She stared at him, realising how little sense she was making.

—It's afternoon. Why did I say awake? Why can't I think straight?

"I..." She could feel him watching her, waiting for an answer that would make sense. But nothing made sense anymore.

—I'm losing it. Right in front of him.

"Never mind." She stood abruptly. "You need to rest."

"Elise, wait—"

"I'm fine. You're fine. Everyone's fine." The words tumbled out faster than she could think them. Stop talking. Just go! "I'll... I'll see you around."

"You don't have to leave—"

"Yes, I do." She was already moving toward the door, not trusting herself to say anything else that wouldn't sound completely insane.

Aris watched her retreat, confusion and concern written across his face. "If something's wrong—"

"Nothing's wrong." She paused at the doorway, not turning back. "Get better, Aris."

And then she was gone, leaving him staring at the empty doorway, wondering what just happened.

The silence surrounded him, making the whispers in his head louder. Doubt.

9 days until the armistice.