Chapter 36

• KEILAH
• I observed Ralph's handsome face intently, waiting with patience as he wrestled with the words, his reluctance palpable in the furrow of his brow. As he struggled to find the words, I felt the urge to reassure him, to let him know that he needn't share if it caused him distress, but curiosity was gnawing at me. I needed to understand the source of his deep-seated aversion towards humans, even if extracting the truth caused him evident anguish.
• With a heavy sigh, he closed his eyes briefly, gathering the courage to delve into the depths of his pain, to expose the raw wound that had festered within him for so long.