I wake up slowly. I see Lan Zhan sitting near me. He looks so still and beautiful. I look at my arm and I see a bandage. Everything feels numb and the pain is still there. I try to sit up but I belch and spit out a little bit of blood. It could be because of Future me. I blame him. Lan Zhan hears me in distress. He comes over and sits me up. He takes a cloth and wipes my mouth. Then he sits on my bedside. 

"How are you feeling?" He asks.

"Terrible." I sigh.

"Why did you reach for his hand?" He asks. 

I let out a breath and I turn away.

"Because I'm a monster." I say.

"No." He grabs my hand.

I look at him.

"You're nothing like him." He says.

"At least there's one person who believes that." I lean back.

I grip my stomach. I never realized it until now, but I'm starving. Lan Zhan seems to know and opens a the lid to the bowl. Thank God, lotus and rib stew. I reach for it. My hand shakes. I wince. Lan Zhan puts my hand back. He takes it.

"You need to rest." He puts the spoon in it and stirs it. 

He takes a spoonful. I look at him surprised.

"You're serious?" I look at him.

He just looks at me. I'll take that as a yes. He reaches his hand out and I drink the spoonful. 

"It tastes really good that or I've been starving." I say.

He takes another spoonful out of the soup and I drink it. At least he still cares about me. At least he doesn't think I'm a monster.

"Lan Zhan." I say.

He looks at me.

"Do you really think I'm not a monster?" I ask.

"Yes." He nods and gives me another spoonful. 

I smile widely at him. I take the spoonful.