Carmen's face flushed. She turned and leaned against Zac. "That's more like it!"
She met my gaze as she turned her head. Her eyes were clear and sober, also filled with blatant provocation.
Zac also turned and saw me. He hastily pushed Carmen away, gently placed a blanket over me and wheeled me closer to him. "Liz, why aren't you resting? Why did you come out here?"
I shook my head without speaking, focusing on picking at my food. Just moments ago, I had signed a surgical consent form for a private hospital overseas.
Being trapped in that cave for so long had allowed toxins to permeate every part of my body. Not only was I unable to speak, but my vision and hearing were now also failing. My health was in a terrible state.
The hospital advised me to eat well and take in more nutrients over the next few days. They were concerned I wouldn't last until the surgery scheduled in seven days. I needed to eat more, to have enough strength to endure until then, to appear on Zac's dissection table.