The guard looked at her. “Are you bleeding, Milna?”
She felt it, and her fingers were dry. “It just hurts a little.”
“She will heal quickly,” the guard said. “Much quicker than you would.” He jerked his head toward the room, so I went in.
As we walked, Milna whispered, “It is okay, Ms. Remy.” She looked up at me with huge doe eyes. “Do not worry for me. Pain is only temporary.”
“I know,” I whispered, very aware of my throbbing cheek. “But it made me sad to see you hurt, and when you were crying.”
“I cried because I am so weak and small. It is frustrating. But I will get stronger.” She looked right at me, serious, never smiling.
I glanced around, but nobody was near. “Does it scare you when the instructor yells at you?”
Her head tilted in confusion. “Of course not. She wants us to get stronger and be the best we can.”
Oh, my gosh. My abdomen clenched as if I’d been struck.
They weren’t human. They weren’t anything like us. How many reminders did I need before it would sink in?
