Chapter 57

I fell asleep again and woke up in the late afternoon. The room was dimly lit by the twilight, and I was roused by a gentle knock on the door. An elderly woman entered with a tray of food, moving with slow and steady steps.

"Good evening, madam. This was sent to you by Doc for your dinner," she said in a warm and gentle tone.

I accepted the tray gratefully and thanked her. "Thank you," I said, placing the tray on the small table by the window. The aroma of the food filled the room, but my mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Zairon and the day's events.

"Where is Doc now?" I asked as I arranged the dishes on the table. The meal was clearly for one person, indicating that Zairon may have already eaten elsewhere. It was disappointing that he hadn't visited me.

"He might be having a meeting with the mayor, Madam. He'll come home later," she replied. I thanked her again, and she left the room quietly, her presence fading away.