The best case scenario would have been a simple no - at least then, to some extent, they could rest easy. Admittedly, for the moment, that she had not said yes either was almost a blessing in itself. He hadn't had time enough to absorb the possibility, let alone to begin searching for a solution. What they would do if she was pregnant... well, they would cross that bridge if they came to it. There was no sense in broaching the subject if it could be avoided. (Ari prayed it still could.)
Instead, Zelda didn't know. Something in the way she said it made him soften unexpectedly. Suddenly, he felt nothing but sorry for her, that his youngest sister had already been agonising over the prospect, possibly for weeks, perhaps entirely alone. It must be terrifying.
He lifted his eyes to the ceiling for a moment, exhaled slowly in something like defeat. "Alright," Ari said, gaze cautiously alighting on her again. "That's alright. I'm sure you're not." If he could only force himself to pretend she was a stranger, any other patient; that these questions were not near enough life or death to her. "Your monthly cycle... have you had it, since then?"
Instead, Zelda didn't know. Something in the way she said it made him soften unexpectedly. Suddenly, he felt nothing but sorry for her, that his youngest sister had already been agonising over the prospect, possibly for weeks, perhaps entirely alone. It must be terrifying.
He lifted his eyes to the ceiling for a moment, exhaled slowly in something like defeat. "Alright," Ari said, gaze cautiously alighting on her again. "That's alright. I'm sure you're not." If he could only force himself to pretend she was a stranger, any other patient; that these questions were not near enough life or death to her. "Your monthly cycle... have you had it, since then?"
