You tried your best to broach the subject gently. “Can I ask about the bandages? Or…would that be impolite?”
Clearly unamused by the question, he replied bluntly. “Yes, it would be impolite.” The stranger made a dismissive gesture towards you. “You don’t see me mentioning your poor posture or lack of good decision making skills, do you?”
Oh, this evening wasn’t going to end well. Not appreciating his thanklessness given your generosity, you handed it right back to him. “To think that I let you stay with me- I afforded you that courtesy, and you-!“
“Yes, you did that. That was not any of my doing.” You’d never heard a man argue so calmly. “ This stranger didn’t seem to have actually taken offence to anything you’d said, instead entertaining himself by just watching you work yourself into a tizzy.
The moment between you lingered in complete silence. But you still had that nagging urge; maybe it was the briefcase, or maybe it was a misplaced sense of guilt for blowing up at him like that…