By the time Alessandro returned to the car, Bella had already wiped her face clean.
She sat upright, her breathing steady, her expression calm again. If someone looked at her now, they would not guess she had cried just minutes ago.
She looked up at him and gave a small nod.
"I'm okay," she said softly.
Alessandro studied her for a moment, searching her face, then nodded once in return. He didn't ask questions. He didn't push.
They drove back in silence.
The walk back to the ward was a return to a different world. The sharp, cold smells of the basement were replaced by the sterile, lemony scent of hospital disinfectant and the low, rhythmic hum of monitors. The contrast was jarring. It felt surreal, as if she had stepped out of a violent, black and white film and back into muted, over bright reality.
