Page 87 of The Lottery

The doctor claps her hands together, a soft smile on her face. “Well, there appear to be no major injuries. Still, you should come by my office for some tests. I’ll give you an ointment to help with the bruises..”

Lana pauses. “I… I would like to stay here a bit longer, if that is alright?”

“Of course,” says Dr. McCoy, her eyes wet and gleaming in the light. “Come by when you’re able. Sooner if you experience any vomiting, dizziness or unusual lethargy.”

Marek catches her gaze. “May I have a quick word, doctor?”

She nods, wiping her face with the back of her hand, and they both step outside.

A silence seeps into the room.

A heavy fog of misdeeds and misgivings.

“I’ve been with other men,” says Lana. So simply. So plainly. Her eyes devoid of the confidence they usually bear. “But I didn’t deserve this.” She buries her head into her hands, and muffles the scream that tears from her throat. “I didn’t deserve this.”

“No,” I whisper, wrapping her in my arms, holding her close, feeling her tears against my chest. “No. You didn’t.”

I do not know how long I hold her. But I know that it is not enough. Not enough for the sobs racking across her body to stop. Not enough for a smile to return to her lips

The door opens.

Silas walks in, stunning Lana and I into silence. His dark hair bleached at the tips is a mess. His eyes are red, the circles under them dark. There is hardness to his face, his jaw tight, muscle twitching.

But when he sees his partner, it melts away.

“Oh Lana… my dear Lana…” He rushes to her side, falling to his knees. “I overheard some of the crew talking about what happened… I… I’m so sorry. I should have been there…”

She lets her forehead fall against his, and they hold each other, eyes closed, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“I missed you…” she whispers.

“I missed you too.” He runs his hand over her hair, stroking it gently again and again and again, until all the tears have faded away, and all that is left on Lana’s face is a content smile.

“I think…” she looks at me with great compassion in her gaze. “I think I would like to return to my room now.”

I nod, taking her hand in mine and squeezing it, trying to channel as much love and support as I can into this one moment.

“Thank you, mon ami,” says Lana. “We’ll see each other soon, no?”

I nod, trying to keep my voice light. “Of course. Who else am I going to have lunch with?”

Lana chuckles, and then, with Silas helping to support her body, they leave the suite together as Marek steps back in. He crosses the length of the room and takes me into his arms the moment the door clicks shut.

I inhale him and I swear I can feel his pheromones interact with mine, changing my body chemistry by his mere presence. He clutches me and I cling to him, gripping him hard, as if the tighter I can hold him the easier I can make this for him. For us.

And maybe it does. The lines on his forehead seem to soften when we finally pull away from each other. “Was it right? Letting Silas see her?” he asks, quietly, almost to himself.

I nod. “It was right.” Something in her changed when she saw her partner. Though I’ve witnessed Silas and Lana at odds with one another, they still seem to share a connection.

Marek holds both my hands in his, bringing them to his lips, kissing my knuckles.

“I am glad you are here.”

“Where else would I go?” I ask. “You’re my home.”

I lean into him, resting my head on his chest, the beat of his heart a steady thump against my ear. He kisses my forehead, sighing against my skin as we both close our eyes and fall into one another. Just for now, he and I are all that exist. Just for now.

When we finally pull away, he walks over to his counter and begins brewing a cup of coffee. “It is almost day now. You should get some rest while you can.”

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