Still, even if everyone pretended not to mention it, Zinnia could read every expression on their faces.
Especially Leanna Ford—when she visited, her eyes were swollen and red, but she forced herself to smile, as if pretending everything was fine.
Throughout her hospital stay, Zinnia never once asked about Landon. Not a word.
It was Yuri who came to see her on the day she was discharged.
After her parents finished the paperwork and she turned around, she saw Yuri standing outside the hospital building. There was a trace of grief in his eyes that she didn’t want to acknowledge, but he smiled at her anyway.
“Yuri.” She called his name and walked over.
All ten of Yuri’s fingers were still bandaged, the injuries clearly severe.
She opened her mouth, searching for words, but nothing came.
“Want to get some air?” Yuri offered.
Zinnia nodded.
Together, they sat down in the hospital’s small courtyard, a place meant for patients to recover. The moment felt oddly familiar.
Zinnia’s gaze fell to Yuri’s hands, wrapped thick with gauze. She finally spoke, quietly: “Thank you, Yuri.”
Yuri followed her gaze to his own hands, letting out a wry, self-mocking laugh. “Thank me? It still wasn’t enough—not compared to Landon.”
At his words, Zinnia fell silent.
It was a long moment before she gathered the courage to ask, “Is he… all right?”
She only realized how badly her voice was trembling once the question left her lips.
Yuri looked at her in surprise. “You don’t know?”
Zinnia pressed her lips together, lowering her eyes, and said nothing.

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