"Kaia, what's the matter?"
She barely managed to choke out, "They all saw me. You saw me without my face covered."
For a second, Markus was puzzled. Then he remembered her habit of hiding her face because of the scars on her body. Understanding dawned on him, and he quickly ordered everyone to leave the room. "Everyone, out. Now."
The medical staff filed out quickly, leaving them alone. Markus turned back to Kaia. "You have your privacy now. It's just me here."
She trembled beneath the bedsheet, her voice a mere whisper. "But you're here too."
He reached out, gently pulling the sheet down just enough to see her eyes. "Kaia, don’t worry. I've seen you without your face cover before."
Her eyes widened in horror, and she started to hyperventilate. "I'm a monster. I’m damaged goods!" Her
