18: A DUAL EXISTENCE: NAVIGATING LOVE AND TURMOIL

As I handed him a thicker blanket, Bob's expression remained inscrutable. His eyes, usually a vibrant shade of green, were now clouded with a complexity of emotions that I struggled to decipher. There was an unsettling tension in the air, and I could feel the weight of his unspoken thoughts. "Why do you keep avoiding me?" he asked suddenly, his voice edged with a mix of frustration and vulnerability. "I'm not avoiding you," I replied cautiously, trying to choose my words carefully. "I just want to make sure you're comfortable and get better." He scoffed, his eyes narrowing. "Comfortable? Is that what you think I need right now?" His tone had an edge of bitterness, and it sent a shiver down my spine. "Bob, please, let's not argue," I pleaded, sensing the storm brewing within him. He stood up abruptly, pacing the room like a caged animal. "You never understand, do you? You treat me like I'm some kind of monster." "I don't think you're a monster," I countered, my voice trembling sli