One Step Forward

Felicia walked out of the kitchen carrying a steaming teapot. Then she carefully placed it on the table and slumped in the armchair opposite the sofa where Raven and I sat. She looked tired after walking a few steps between the kitchen and her living room, as if for her, boiling water had become as exhausting as running a marathon.

I could see that Raven watched her closely, most likely catching all of the symptoms of… whatever kind of sickness drained her body. I shuddered at the thought of what must have been done to her to cause such a condition.

“I studied to become a nurse, you know?” Felicia smiled wryly as her trembling hand reached for the teapot.

“Let me,” I said, hurriedly grabbing the teapot and pouring the tea into our cups.

“Thank you,” she muttered and pulled a strand of her dull hair behind her ear. “I met Alistair during my practice at the hospital. I didn't know who he was, and he even pretended to be a doctor just to trick me into giving him my number.” Her lips twit