I tuck his arm through mine, and he doesn’t resist as I lead him to his room. Throwing back the comforter, I smooth the sheet and fluff up the pillows. He gingerly starts removing his shirt, but he winces when he tries to get it over his shoulders. Taking the initiative, I guide him over to the bed and have him take a seat. Taking one sleeve at a time, I slide the shirt off his arms then over his head. I shudder. There are black and blue marks all over his torso. Those guys really did a number on him. He’s going to be sore for days. I bend down to loosen the laces of his boots. Gripping him behind the knee, I pry one off and then the other. Scooting back, he rests his head on the pillows and I draw the sheet over him. The wall unit air conditioner is running on low, but it’s still stuffy in here. I crank it to high and glance around for a chair, but there isn’t one. Since there are no other options, I lower myself onto the bottom corner of the bed. His eyelids flutter open as my weight shifts the mattress.
