@vihilum , ❛ did you hurt yourself? ❜ for nancy wheeler.
he almost feels affront at the question on automatic. had she asked it first he'd have no qualms, but as it stands she's sixth and everyone previous has set an awful, unfair precedent so far. journalists sure are one goddamn rotten lot... yet her voice is kind and searching, and he holds no grudges against friends so all she gets is a horribly tired smile. she just wants to know, no holds barred, as she always does.
and while the answer would be 'not quite', he can't articulate as much with a tube stuck through his neck, so he just shakes his head. gingerly; mindful of all the cables criss-crossed around his hospital bed. the expectation that she'd believe him is frail; he wouldn't blame her if she didn't.
he looks mostly unharmed on the outside, after all. no signs of foul play. his cheekbone stings from an unfortunate meeting with hard concrete but he knows there's no bruise. there never is. it's always made lying that much easier for patricia when there's no proof of the contrary, and he's in no mood to try and convince anyone otherwise. the hawkins' post has swung round already, looking for a very clear-cut headline. 'teenager tears his own throat open, more on page 3'.
he gives her a surreptitious glance - room empty, habit unshakeable - and reaches out one unsteady hand to her bag. a small gesture makes the intent clear - pen and paper.
