His Silent Luna (Verity and Felicity) novel Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: VERITY THE TRUTH

Verity’s Perspective

An uneasy silence stretched between us, growing heavier with each passing second as he kept his unwavering gaze fixed on me. I deliberately shifted my eyes away, focusing on anything in the room except him. Despite his efforts to seem less imposing, his presence still carried a weight that pressed down on me, making my heart race.

He remained seated, his body motionless, yet I could sense the relentless activity behind his eyes. That sharp, calculating look hadn’t wavered since I failed to offer him any guidance on how we might communicate now that he knew I was mute. I fought the urge to squirm under his intense scrutiny, but my fingers clenched the bedsheet tightly anyway, betraying my discomfort.

After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice slower and more deliberate this time. “Can you read?”

I shook my head, feeling a wave of shame wash over me, stronger than I had anticipated. His eyebrows twitched slightly as he leaned forward, folding his hands in front of him in a gesture that was both patient and probing.

“Can you write?” he asked next.

Again, I shook my head, the weight of my limitations settling between us. He exhaled deeply, a sound that suggested he found my inability troubling. Honestly, I felt the same way—trapped in silence and isolation.

For a brief moment, I thought he might give up; that he would stand, his stern expression unchanged, and walk away as abruptly as he had arrived. But instead, he rubbed a hand along his jaw, eyes narrowing in contemplation.

“Alright,” he murmured quietly to himself, as if convincing himself to keep trying. “Alright.”

Then, turning his attention back to me, he asked, “Can you mouth words to me? Slowly?”

Surprise flickered across my face. I hadn’t considered that method before, but it sounded promising—a way to bridge the gap between us.

After a brief hesitation, I gave a tentative nod.

He relaxed slightly in his chair, leaning back just enough to ease the tension. “Let’s try this. I’ll ask a question. You mouth the answer. I’ll do my best to guess.”

This time, I nodded with more confidence.

He drew a breath, lowering his voice to a softer, gentler tone. “How old are you?”

Slowly, I parted my lips and mouthed the words: “Twenty-one.”

His eyes narrowed as he studied my lips carefully.

“Twenty…” he murmured, trying to decipher the shape. “Twenty-two? No. One. Twenty-one.”

A small wave of relief fluttered within me as I gave a slight nod.

“Okay,” he said, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth—the first trace of warmth I’d seen from him since he arrived.

Tapping a finger thoughtfully to his lips, he continued, “Now, your name.”

That question felt heavier, almost sacred. My name was the one thing I still possessed completely—the last piece of myself that no one could take away.

I hesitated, then slowly mouthed, “Verity.”

He frowned, attempting to repeat what he thought he saw. “Vera?”

I shook my head and tried again, enunciating carefully, “Verity.”

“Valerie?”

Another shake from me.

Leaning in closer, he watched my lips intently, as if trying to decode a secret message. “Ver… it… ee…”

He paused, brows furrowing as the word finally clicked. “Verity?”

I nodded slowly.

He held my gaze for a long moment. “Verity,” he echoed softly, almost to himself. “Truth.”

My heart thudded painfully at the strange weight his words carried.

After a lingering look, he sighed softly and pushed himself up from the chair.

“That’ll be all for today,” he said, the cold edge returning to his voice.

I watched him step back, the authority in his posture unmistakable even as he reached for the door handle.

“The doctors and nurses will be in shortly,” he added. “They’ll continue your treatment. Just… cooperate with them.”

I gave a small nod, my throat tight but something unspoken passing between us now.

He paused at the door, then turned back slightly to meet my eyes one last time.

“I hope you recover quickly, Verity.”

The way he spoke my name made it sound different—like I was finally being seen, truly recognized as a person.

And then he was gone, the door closing softly behind him.

I stared at the empty space he left, trying to understand the strange warmth blossoming in my chest.

Verity.

Truth.

My name carries meaning.

Maybe that’s all I have left to hold onto right now.