Everyone expressed a few more words of concern, but once they realized Eugene needed to rest, they all said their goodbyes and left.

Sylvia started to leave as well, but Eugene spoke softly, "Sylvia, would you stay with me a little longer?"

She nodded. "Of course."

After the others had gone, Sylvia walked over to his bedside, her brow furrowed. "I'm sorry—I didn't know you couldn't eat tomatoes."

Eugene immediately shook his head. "Please, don't apologize. It's my own fault; the smell was just so tempting. It's not your responsibility at all. My mom exaggerates how bad it is. It's really just a minor allergy-just a couple of red spots."

But Sylvia knew the truth-Vicky had said he'd had a high fever. That didn't sound minor at all.

"You don't have to pretend it's nothing," she said quietly. "If you can't eat something, just tell me. If anything happened to you because of something I made, I'd feel terrible."

Eugene dropped his gaze, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just wanted to know what you meant when you said it tasted good. I want to experience everything about you. That way, I feel a little closer to you."

"Eugene." Sylvia looked at him evenly. "Let's not see each other anymore."

with panic. "Why? Did I upset you? Am I making

nodded. "Yes. What you're doing... it's too much for me. I

don't like me, do you? So even the good things I do for

at him, her voice steady. "I don't like being indebted to anyone. If I owe money or a favor, I can pay

voice rose, almost desperate. "I don't

even more uneasy," she said. "If you had some ulterior motive, I could just play along.

led to emptiness. She knew how much

was heavy with sorrow. "I'm sorry.

Take care of yourself, and please

back, but she had already

and frustration knotting

and

hospital room and walked straight to billing. She gave Eugene's VIP room number and

*

offhandedly, "Mr. Winters has been discharged from the hospital. I

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