Page 193 of Mile High Ruin

“Why is everyone obsessed with feeding me today?”

“Because you look terrible.”

I stare at him. “That was unnecessarily honest.”

“You prefer lies?”

The question catches slightly.

I look away. “No.”

We end up inside the café anyway. I order tea because the thought of coffee makes my stomach turn for reasons I blame on stress, and Viktor sits opposite me without taking off his coat.

“How is your brother?”

“Not good,” I say. I hate the way my voice chokes on the two words.

His expression changes. “I’m sorry.”

I look down at the table. “They’re changing his treatment again.”

“Will it help?”

“I don’t know.”

That’s the answer I give everyone now.

I don’t know.

Nobody knows. Medicine becomes terrifying when the people using it stop making promises.

Viktor doesn’t offer reassurance. I appreciate him for that.

After a few seconds, he asks, “Do you need anything?”

“No.”

“Money?”

“No.”

“A different doctor?”

“No.”

“Anything?”

I shake my head. “I just need him to get better.”

Viktor says nothing. There’s no useful response to that.

We sit quietly for a while.

Then I look at him. “I asked you something before.”

“I remember many things you ask.”

“Why does Vadim hate you?”