Page 234 of Ricardo

The water is still running.

My hands are in hers.

The sink is streaked pink.

“Breathe,” she says.

I pull in air.

It shakes on the way out.

Victoria reaches for a paper towel, wets it, and gently wipes my cheek. “There you are.”

I look at her.

Her face is calm, but her eyes are wet.

“I got blood on you,” I say.

She glances down at the faint smear on the sleeve of her pretty party dress. “It doesn’t matter.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Stop apologizing.”

The words are quiet but fierce.

My mouth trembles.

She softens immediately and presses the damp towel to my other cheek. “I know. I know you’re scared.”

“He was bleeding so much.”

“I know.”

“I couldn’t stop it.”

“You slowed it.”

My throat closes.

“You slowed it,” she repeats. “You got help. You stayed with him.”

“I thought he was going to die.”

The words come out small.

Victoria’s hand stills against my face.

Then she sets the towel down and takes my shoulders.

“Dante is strong.”

I squeeze my eyes shut.

“He is strong,” she says again. “He is stubborn. He is young. He made it to surgery. That matters.”

“He passed out.”