Chapter 689

• Molly looked down at her shoulder as if seeing it for the first time. She gave a small, weary shrug, her eyes softening as they met his.
• "I'm used to it, Hugo," she said quietly, her voice small in the vast, dark woods. "It… it does hurt. But not as much as seeing you wake up. That hurt a lot more, thinking you were gone."
• A lump formed in Hugo’s throat. He reached out, gently taking her hand and squeezing it, despite the raw ache in his own fingers.