Lib Novel Page 125
A sigh made her body shudder as she steeled herself against the memory. “My mother…we didn’t have the money. Insurance didn’t cover some of her treatments and there was nowhere to go. I became a nurse because I wanted to help those who didn’t always have the money to get the treatment they needed. I don’t know if I was any good at it,” she breathed a laugh through her nose, “but I tried.”
“I’m sure you were perfect.”
A soft smile spread across her face at his words.
“Tell me about you. Your family or…life on Hudo III back in the day.”
His shoulders stiffened and the small circles he’d been drawing underneath her knee with his fingers stopped.
“I…” he began. “I don’t have a family.”
Nia stopped moving and a part of her wished she hadn’t asked the question. “I’m sorry. Did they…are they no longer alive?”
“They are alive and well.”
Nia blinked at him. “So…you don’t talk to them anymore. You had a falling out?”
“I didn’t fall out. I was kicked out.”
Her eyes widened at that and her mouth opened to give him a reply then closed.
She didn’t know what to say.
“I…I’m sorry.”
Ka’Cit turned to look at her and his gaze was unreadable once more, that wall that she was noticing he erected behind his eyes was in place.
“Don’t worry about me, ta’ii. They had good reason to. My momor spared me.”
Nia’s brows furrowed a little as she fought to understand. How could sparing him involve kicking him out?
“After I left, I got a ride on a cargo ship here, to Hudo III. I’d heard of a lot of Merssi living here so I thought it would be an easy place to start over.”
She didn’t know what to say.
“How old were you?”
He tilted his head a little and it seemed as if he was calculating it in his head. “Around eight revolutions?”
Nia’s jaw slackened.
They’d kicked him out when he was eight years old?
What kind of family would do that to a child?
He stood then and moved toward where he’d discarded his clothes.
“I should get you something to eat.”
Nia watched him move, her mind swirling with questions she didn’t feel comfortable asking.
It was clear that whatever happened between him and his family had created a scar that was still raw.
The past may hold pains you’d rather not relive…
He’d said that just a few moments before and it was evident now that he was speaking from experience.
Maybe he’d open up to her about it.