Chapter 105: Confrontation and Clarity

The hospital cafeteria was a study in contrast: a place to nourish themselves that seemed to leach the life force from its occupants. Around the clatter of plastic trays and hum of vending machines, Nathan and Alex sat opposite each other, insulated in taut silence amidst a sea of muted conversations. Nathan's coffee cooled, untouched, in front of him. Alex's sandwich lay half-eaten, forgotten beside him. The air hung heavy between them, thick with unspoken words and barely contained feelings. "So," Alex finally said, his voice tight, "are we going to talk about this?" Nathan's eyes rimmed upward from his study of the tabletop. "About what, precisely?" Alex leaned forward, his voice low, but the intensity was there. "About why you're really here, Nathan, About what you're hoping to gain from all of this." One flicker of his eyes and Nathan's face had masked the hurt. "I thought we'd been through this. I'm here to help Olivia. That's all." "'Is it?" Alex pressed, unable to keep th