Page 69 of Innocent Until Proven Witch

Lisa stops. Confusion replaces her smile. "Reina?"

The distance between us suddenly feels enormous. I force a smile. The effort hurts. "You look busy."

Lisa narrows her eyes. "I am busy."

I nod. The conversation should continue. Instead, silence stretches between us. Lisa studies me the way healers study wounds. The way people look at things they know are broken. I hate it. Not because she's wrong. Because she's right.

"You came all the way here to stand outside?" she asks.

I laugh without humor. "Apparently."

Lisa folds her arms. "Come inside."

My smile falters. "No."

Confusion flashes across her face. "Why not?"

I shift my focus toward the patients, toward the townspeople, toward the people who have spent the last few days debating whether I deserve chains. "Lis..." The word catches in my throat.

Lisa's expression softens. Understanding arrives. Slowly. Painfully. "Oh."

I look away. The deafening silence feels unbearable. Eventually I say quietly, "I don't want them turning on you too."

Lisa stares at me. For a moment she says nothing. Then she walks out of the clinic, straight toward me.

My stomach drops. "Lisa⁠—"

"No." She stops directly in front of me, close enough that I can't avoid her. "You don't get to decide that for me."

The response fazes me.

Lisa points toward the clinic. "I know exactly what people are saying." I remain silent, because we both know she does.

Lisa continues. "I hear every rumor. Every accusation." The frustration building inside her finally spills over. "And every single person who suddenly became an expert on storm witches."

Lisa notices. Good. Maybe that's why she said it.

Her expression softens slightly. "You're my friend."

The words collapse harder than they should. My throat tightens. Lisa reaches out and squeezes my arm. "I don't care what they're saying."

I look away, because suddenly my eyes burn, and I absolutely refuse to cry outside a clinic. Lisa notices that too. Unfortunately.

"Reina."

I inhale slowly, then nod once. The knot in my chest loosens slightly. Not completely. Enough.

A patient calls from inside. Lisa glances over her shoulder. Duty wins, as it always does.

"I have to go."

I manage a smile. "Go save lives."

A grin appears. "Someone has to."

The response sounds familiar. Comforting and normal. After a very long day, I feel a little lighter.

Then Lisa points a finger at me. "And stop avoiding me."