Octavia E. Butler - Earthseed, Book 1 -… [2107]

Emery, with Tori gone to sleep against her, looked to see what Bankole was doing with me, then jumped and looked away, her hand going to her own side. … “I didn’t know you were hurt so much,” she whispered. — , Octavia E. Butler - Earthseed, Book 1 -…, 2107

Note

A body does the exposition: Emery flinches and clutches her own side, disclosing her hidden wound before any dialogue confirms it. The involuntary gesture — hand to her own matching spot — is a small piece of characterization that reaches back and re-reads her earlier quietness.