Nine

Zoraya

Jayden didn't come back for a few days after he left. I was starting to think that we would die of hunger when he suddenly showed up one evening.

He squatted before me and rubbed the back of his hand on my cheek.

"I'm sorry," he muttered in his bass voice, making me realize how much I'd missed him.

I was so excited to hear his voice again that I didn't realize that I had made a sound until I saw the raise of his brow and the lines on his forehead.

"I wish I didn't....."

He paused and turned away from me as if the words were heavy and wouldn't come out of his mouth.

"I'll go get you something to eat," he went out of my sight as soon as he said that, leaving me confused about his unspoken words.

The look on his face told a different meaning to his words, like he was only taking care of me because he owes me something.

I have nothing, so I wonder what it could be.

"You should clean yourself up and get ....."

He paused again like he was afraid of completing the sentence.

I don't kn