As he returned slowly from the water closet, she watched him cross the room back to the bed. After a moment or two, she realized that she had been holding her breath as soon as he walked back into the room. More and more, she found herself attracted to her strange angel, and she was unsure of how to handle that attraction.
Erik noticed her staring at him and wondered self-consciously if it was the mask she was staring at. As he sat back down on the bed, she returned to his side in case he needed her assistance to lie back down. When she found he didn't need any help, she quickly returned to the nearby chair and sat down.
"You seem to be feeling better now," she said. "I guess your injuries weren't as bad as I originally thought. You should recover in no time."
"Yes, I'm feeling much better, and I owe it all to you," he said with an appreciative smile.
"Well, now that we know you'll make a full and quick recovery, I think it's time we discuss what has led up to today's events," she began apprehensively. "I think some explaining is in order here, don't you?" she asked.
Here it comes, he thought. All the questions I've been dreading. If I answer all of her questions, she'll leave like all the rest of them.
"Yes, I guess I do owe you an explanation, especially after all you've done for me after my failed attempt to transition smoothly from the second floor to the first," he said with a slight attempt at humor in his voice. He had hoped to try to keep things light as long as possible, but since he'd never faced conflict with Nicole before, he was unsure how she'd react to his inappropriate attempt to be humorous.
She noted his attempt at humor but ignored it. "I just want to know why you felt the need to hide from me and lie to me, to pass yourself off as my angel," she said.
He found himself getting annoyed, though he couldn't figure out why. Finally, he looked at her with raised eyebrows. "Do you see this?" he asked as he pointed to his mask. "This is my reason, the reason I stay in the shadows, the reason I have to remain anonymous. As I told you earlier, everyone who sees me usually turns and runs in fear, and I didn't want that with you."
"So you figured if I saw you, I would turn and run, too. Yes, you mentioned that." She looked at him intently, as if memorizing every feature of his face. "Why is it you think people run from you? Because of the mask? Well, Monsieur, masks don't frighten me, and I would very much like to understand why you feel you need to wear one. And why are you so confident that the mask is the reason everyone flees from you?"
"I cannot show you why," he said with more vehemence than he intended. After a pause, he let out a breath and closed his eyes. When he opened his eyes, he continued, "I appreciate all you've done for me today, but I think it's best that you return to your home and leave me be."
"Why? Why do you turn me away when all I'm attempting to do is get answers from you? Answers that I believe I'm entitled to," she asked. Her eyes were searching his as she wondered what he was hiding and wishing she could read his thoughts.
"Please. I can answer no more of your questions. I am too tired. It really is better if you leave me now," he said with more force this time. "Please go, or I will remove you myself."
Nicole pleaded again with her eyes but guessed from his tone of voice that he meant what he'd said about removing her himself. During the four months of lessons, she had already learned not to argue with him when he'd made his mind up. She stood up and gathered her things, and as she made her way to the door, she turned back and looked at him. He dropped his gaze and his shoulders, ashamed of the way he'd spoken to her. He knew he should apologize for the tone he used, but he was too afraid.
"If you want me to leave, then I shall do as you ask," she said with a touch of defeat in her voice. "Just one more thing, though, Erik. I don't desert my patients, so I will be back to check on you, and I hope you'll find the courage to talk to me." With that, she turned around and walked out the door.
He knew he should go after her, or at least call her back to him, but his strength failed him. He decided it was all for the best since he was confident that she'd leave sooner or later, and he felt sooner would be better before his attachment to her grew any stronger. His self-pity had taken a strong hold on him, and he felt it was his duty to prevent her from having to share in his misery.