Chapter Three: The Good Doctor

♡

Mrs Dawson stiffened just as the girl entered into the kitchen.

"Joe?" She greeted Joan fondly with a coy wave of the hand.

The oversized woolen sweater she wore rolled up her arm as she waved Joan.

"Good morning, Nike." The latter fondly responded with a smile.

"Good morning, ma." Nike greeted Mrs Dawson as she neared.

"What are you doing here..." She asked. "So early in the morning?" the woman smartly added on noticing Joan's suspicion.

"I'm actually here-"

"I invited her over. Good morning, Nike." Mr Dawson tapped the girl's shoulder as he entered into the kitchen in his nightie.

Nike stiffened.

Mr Dawson politely signalled Joan to leave the kitchen and she complied.

"Honey, Nike called me very early this morning and she told me something very important."

Mr Dawson poured himself a coffee as he spoke. "Coffee?" He offered Nike- she nervously declined.

"Sit," he instructed. She did.

"What's this?" Mrs Dawson questioned her husband.

"Honey ... sit."

Uneasily, she did.

"Nike, you have something to tell us?" Nike nodded.

Mr Dawson nodded as he sipped his tea.

"Go on," he instructed.

"It was... few days ago. Mrs Dawson called my phone and she said..."

"I know!" Mrs Dawson cut in. "Nike, I know you're a good friend to my daughter and I'm sorry for dragging you into this.

I got the substance I gave you to add to Rena's food from a ... a church sister. I didn't know it was poisonous.

Rena refused to go to the hospital so I thought about intoxicating her and taking her there to be admitted and be properly treated of this stupid disease.

But I only made her worse..." The woman burst into tears and her husband comforted her.

"Yes but that's not what I came to say." Nike explained.

The couple simultaneously looked up at the girl in curiosity.

"The thing is ... I don't think the substance is responsible for Rena's critical condition because, for the past few weeks, she had refused to take her medications."

Nike fidgeted with her fingers- nails painted a deep blue. She continued;

"I tried, but... she was adamant. In her own words, 'God would heal her."

Mr Dawson and his wife froze at Nike's words.

♡♡

Nurse Kivu pushed a metal trolley into the ward.

The shoes on her little feet made faint clicking sounds as she marched along the carpeted floors of the ward.

She left the trolley at the middle of the room and threw the light blue curtains open as sunlight filtered in to brighten up the the ambiance.

The petite fair-skinned lady glanced around the room and her eyes landed on a brownskinned girl on the bed who was fast asleep.

She had recovered quite quickly and her heart rate was surprisingly steady and healthy.

So, she was no longer hooked up to the intravenous machine- it was an unusual impressive improvement.

Momentarily, the girl opened her eyes; she was awake.

"Good morning," said the nurse.

She was quite soft spoken with a hint of enthusiasm in her voice. She was a fragile-looking woman, but not in an unhealthy way.

"Good morning," the patient replied.

"I've come to give your medication." She explained.

"Oh."

"Yea ... here, I'll help you sit up." Nurse Kivu helped her sit up on the bed, but she didn't need the help all that much.

From the tray, the nurse retrieved a platter- breakfast.

"Is that for me?"

"Yea, it is." She looked up from what she was doing and replied.

"Oh I'm sorry but I don't think I can have anything right now." The patient spoke politely.

"Its normal but you still have to eat a little at least, since you're going to be taking some medication."

She explained, wearing a subtle smile.

"Oh .... Right." The patient finally concured.

♡♡♡

The alarm clock had been beeping since 5:00am that morning.

Sunlight filtered into the bedroom and reflected upon the bed Maxwell laid on. The young man lazily turned to his left and hit the snooze button on the alarm clock.

"Shit! Am late!!" He exclaimed nervously and plucked himself out of bed.

In the bathroom mirror, he stared at his reflection, judiciously scrubbing his teeth.

The young man had hardly had any sleep thinking about his poor patient and her pathetic condition.

It saddened him so much that there was nothing he could do to help her.

It was too late for any more medical options ... she was done.

But what amazed him was how healthy and strong she seemed, regardless of the fact that the dreaded disease had taken over her system.

If only there was a way she could enjoy the little time she had left.

He really wanted to help her- he knew he could. He planned to speak to Stella about it.

"You do know you're not meant to be emotionally attached to your patients, right?"

Stella asked, once he told her about his thoughts.

Maxwell sipped his coffee and leaned across her table.

The woman was quite a sassy critic and it came in handy since he, on the other hand was care-free half the time.

"I know, madam professional." He teased, placing the cup to his lips again.

Stella shrugged.

"I'm just saying because people die everyday... and last time I checked, you have no power over death."

Maxwell suddenly looked distant. The words echoed inside of his head.

"No, I didn't mean it like that." Stella was always so brash with words- so blunt.

"No, its okay." He said in a hoarse tone that didn't interpret the situation as 'okay'.

"I didn't mean to remind you of her. I know she passed away as your patient. Am sorry." She apologised, still unable to cushion her words.

"Its alright." Maxwell half heartedly replied and put down his cup.

Stella was speaking of his ex-girlfriend- she'd died as his patient..

And that was about all that Maxwell was comfortable enough to talk about; The rest of the details terrified him.

But in all, his mind was resiliently fixed on bringing a glint of happiness to his patient.

Yea, it was quite true that he had no power over death but he was hell bent on rendering its essence useless.

Again, there was just something that simply intrigued him about the girl; she was just so ... unusual.

♡♡

Rena stood at the window of her hospital room, taking in the view of the mountains afar off.

She heaved a sigh, feeling her heart lighten.

She no longer felt as weak as she did the previous day.

She was shockingly stronger and the practitioners no longer had to monitor her closely.

Only nurses came from time to time to administer drips, medications and take samples for tests- especially the petite light-skinned nurse who must have been assigned to her specially.

Rena didn't feel the sickness; she didn't lately.

But there were the doctor's reports ... and this continous heaviness in her heart, coupled with hope that drowned.

And it was clear- four months.

"Three months and twenty nine days," she corrected in a mumble.

It was fear that killed her even faster than the disease.

But what she wasn't sure of was if it was the fear of not leaving enough behind or moving forward to meet too little.

Rena didn't know what to feel anymore. She felt ... empty.

She gripped the metal bars of the window and heaved another sigh.

"Renie," a familiar voice echoed behind her.

She spun- it was daddy.

"Daddy!" She exclaimed in delightful surprise.

"Mummy!" She reached out and hugged her mother as well.

Rena's eyes searched behind her parents as if expecting something ... or someone- Nike!

Nike hadn't come to see her. Her belly knotted.

"Where's Nike?" She asked her parents.

"Rena," Mr Dawson began. "You need to rest first. We got you a loaf from Mandy's bakery."

Rena smiled and received the plastic bag from her father.

"Thank you. I've been resting for quite a while now." She assured them. "But what about Nike and why isn't she here yet?"

Her parents stared at her with frozen expressions.

"Nike would soon be here but, firstly we need to talk to you."

Mr Dawson helped his daughter sit on the bed.

"What about?" She asked, looking up at him curiously.

"Your health," he replied.

"I know, daddy. Look, I won't argue anymore. I've decided that staying in the hospital is the best option for me."

Deep down;

She'd decided that accepting death was the best option for her.

"This must be how God wants to heal me,"

This must have been how God wanted her to die; she didn't really want to live for anything- except Nike of course ... and probably Mandy's.

"I've decided to use the time I'll be in hospital to focus on the things that truly matter,"

She'd made up her mind to do all the things that made her happy before she passes and to no longer hold back.

"I know I'd make it through this."

She always wondered how possible it was to get a pink coffin.

Mr Dawson stared at his child with eyes that had begun to water.

"Mummy, don't worry too. You need to calm down- I'm fine. And please, do tell Nike to visit me soon or I'll be mad at her."

She made a subtle frown and reached for the plastic bag with the logo of Mandy's inscribed on it.

Then, she smiled.

Mummy and daddy soon left the hospital, leaving her with words of hope and comfort that didn't even scratch the surface of her heart.

Her mind was fixed on one thing and that was making the best of her time and finally finding herself.

Besides, she didn't find herself in the God all this while.

She was tired of trying and .. if anything, she was even more lost now.

She wanted something similar to ... a bucket list.

At that point, she didn't care what or what not the church, mummy or daddy would say; so long as she wasn't hurting anyone or herself. Right?

She was quite sure she knew the best for her.

Besides, she wouldn't be around to bear how dissappointed her parents would be.

She always wanted to experience only a multitude of things but the few of them were;

To be as confident as Nike was, to meet and mingle with other young people of her calibre, to go to the mountains, to fall out with Jenna one last time and the final addition ... to be romantically involved with a man- at least for the first time.

And her pick was the doctor.

She liked the doctor.

Infact, she had for quite a while, but was too traumatised then to know him on personal terms.

Rena knew Nike was the only one confident enough to do all of the things on her list as she had already done all of it, of course.

That was the reason she needed to speak with her best friend urgently and for the first time in a long while, Rena felt excitement spring up in her.

She sat on her bed, sheepishly smiling to herself when the doctor walked in.

Suddenly, she stiffened.

"Good day. How are you feeling today?" He asked in his sonorous voice, with pocketed palms as he slowly advanced towards her.

"I'm fine. Good day." Rena adjusted on the bed as he neared.

She observed him; he wore a blue and grey checked shirt over brown trousers, and then the coat.

"Uhm ..."

Rena noticed that he struggled to say something so she averted her eyes to make it easier.

"Did you know fresh air is essential for your health especially now?" He asked in a professional tone.

"Yea," she muttered almost inaudibly.

"The Institute has a garden behind the second block." He continued.

"Ok."

The man was silent for a while. Rena felt quite uneasy. Was she supposed to say something?

"I-" she began.

"Its beautiful," his words clashed with hers. "I'm sorry ... did you ... want to say something?" He apologetically asked.

She quietly shook her head in reply. He nodded.

The young doctor took in a deep breath and adjusted his cream-white coat.

"Would you like to see it? The fresh air there is great!" He remarked.

"Okay," Rena agreed. She stared up at the man; there was a glint in his eyes.

Maxwell offered a palm in an attempt to help her stand.

She didn't need it all that much, but she took his hand.

The doctor took her to the garden. It was located behind the second block of the Institute.

Since Rena was strong enough, she walked, but took little steps behind him as they went, making the young man slow down his strides.

"Are you okay?" He would ask at several intervals and she would make a small nod.

She was still in a hospital dress.

He was quite right- the Institute garden was impressively beautiful.

Rena's mouth hung in mid air as she stepped in.

Her school field was the most beautiful representation of nature she had seen upclose before now.

As she stepped in, there were rows of white lilies lining the walkway.

Maxwell studied her expression keenly but she was way too mesmerised to worry about his gaze at the moment.

A number of orchids were artistically paired with beautiful-looking green plants in clusters at both sides of the garden.

Red and pink roses elegantly lined the cream-coloured fence that acted as a demarcation from the white walls of the Institute-building.

And as they went deeper into the sanctuary, Rena took in the sight of more white lilies planted meticulously to spell the initials of the hospital; CMI. An unconscious smile came to her lips.

Then she noticed the glass dome ceiling that curved above like an upside-down bowl.

The dome dimmed down the garden a bit since sunlight couldn't penetrate through it but soon, she also spotted the white and golden lights that hung from it.

The warm lights gave the entire place an ecstatically elegant allure.

At the heart of the garden, there was a small artificial spring and a two way bush path right after it that led back to the entrance.

They stood there for a while, taking in the scene.

"Are you tired, do you need to sit?" He asked and pointed to a wooden bench facing the spring.

She looked up at him with a glint in her eyes- she was content and amused.

Noticing that she didn't understand him the first time, he repeated himself.

"Do you want to sit?"

He placed his large hand on the small of her back as if to guide her to the bench.

"No. I'm fine. I just want to go back to the ward." Rena replied and shrugged his hand off.

The man stood for a while in shock ... or was it perhaps disappointment?- Rena didn't know.

Though she was certain of one thing and it was the tense atmosphere she had accidentally created between them both.

She saw the man's shoulder slouch in disappointment but couldn't blame herself entirely because she had begun to get uncomfortable with the whole situation.

Rena turned around and started going back the way they'd come.

The doctor swiftly followed behind her.

♡♡♡

"You did what?!" Nike exclaimed once she was updated about her friend's encounter with the doctor.

"Nike-e-e, what else do you expect me to have done?" Rena ran her hand over her bushy, un-braided hair. "It was getting awkward," she added in a whisper- face, reddened.

She relaxed in the chair, facing her friend who had colonised her hospital bed.

Nike played along.

She was marvelled that her friend lit up with so much happiness, despite her condition.

She hoped for nothing to change that but got a constant lump in her throat, a heaviness in her chest and a wave of stubborn doubt whenever she recalled that her friend wouldn't last long.

"So that meant he wanted to be alone with you. Open your eyes! This man likes you."

Nike swallowed a huge dollop of the tub of S'n'C yoghurt she'd brought to share.

"Nikee-e-e..."

"Renaa-a-a..."

"Isn't it too early to come to that conclusion? ... I mean..."

"Hmm, church girl. Who certified you as judge over that?!" Nike teased and took another spoonful.

"You'll finish this thing. I thought you brought it for me." Rena snatched the tub of yoghurt from the glutton.

The girls shared quite similar qualities since their personalities had mingled over the years.

For one, Nike loved food in a gluttonous way while Rena loved food as an art. The latter admired nature's decor while the former was rather enthusiastic about interior designing and artificial decor.

The one thing the girls had in common was their lackadaisical attitude towards fashion and style.

In the sense that, Nike was always in an oversized sweater and sneakers with Rena nursing a large shirt over denim.

Now that Rena was with the yoghurt, Nike could focus properly.

"And that reminds me. Nike?"

"Hmm?" She replied in a bored tone with eyes longingly fixed on the tub.

"I ... I have a bucket list." She sputtered with enthusiasm.

Nike's heart skipped a beat, but soon returned to normal once she studied her friend's mood- she was ... okay.

Surprisingly.

"A bucket list?"

"Yea. And I need you to help me."

"With what?"

"The bucket list! Focus!" Rena scolded.

"Oh, sorry." Nike blinked back to attentiveness.

"This yoghurt is mine. Keep off for crying out loud." Rena teased but her friend wasn't distracted by the dairy, but simply shocked at the statement.

"Bucket list," the words played on her lips.

"Yea!" Rena was still quite enthusiastic. "And ... mmm ... he's a part of it."

"He like your fine doctor?" Nike asked in curiosity..

"Shhh. Nike, code word." Rena whispered.

"Sorry, I meant your fine lab goat."

"Lab coat!!" She scolded.

"Sorry, coat. I've just been thinking about goat meat lately." Nike explained.

Rena rolled her eyes in slight frustration and continued;

"I want to do these." She handed a piece of paper to Nike.

The latter read through it carefully- her eyes widened with every line she read. By the time she was done, she was moping like a fool.

"Church girl!" Nike exclaimed.

"What?!" Rena retorted in annoyance.

"Rena." She called her softly this time.

"Hmmm."

"I know you'd like to make the best of the time ..." Nike paused- she felt the heaviness again. "The time you have left but, I know you and I know there are things that matter more to you than all these." Her voice was serious this time.

Rena was silent and still.

Her friend continued; "To want to see the mountains is you but you're scared of heights. To be like me..." Nike smirked. "I'm not all that great as you think. Mingling with other people, Rena you're opportuned, privileged and if anything, other people should be lining up to meet you not the other way around.

Again, I know Jenna is a bitch," they both chuckled. "But I know what you want is to reunite, hmm? Rena don't allow this phase swallow the beauty in you; you're a pure soul ... and as for our fine lab goat,"

Nike's suddenly stiffened and changed her tone.

"I think we should order the goat roasted or do you prefer braised?" She nervously winked at Rena.

The latter felt confused until she noticed her doctor's presence in the room.

"This man no dey knock?!" Nike whispered with a mischievious smile. Rena shrugged her off.

Nike had smartly changed the topic once the doctor entered and thanks to her mispronunciation of the code word 'lab coat,' they were easily able to change the topic to that of a goat meat dish.

"Good day, ladies."

His sonorous voice echoed in the room.

Rena stiffened on the chair she sat.

"Hi," Nike waved with a casual smile as her oversized sweater rolled up her arm.

The doctor walked towards Rena where she sat on the chair.

"It's time for your checkup." He took his thetoscope off his neck and pocketed one of his palms.

"In that case, I'll leave." Nike jumped off the bed and bent to Rena's side. "You don't need to lift a finger; he's falling already," she whispered and took Rena's yoghurt before leaving the room.

Maxwell adjusted the glasses on his nose and heaved a sigh.

"How are you feeling this evening?" He asked.

She nodded.

He smiled a knowing smile and turned his head to the left as though amused by something.

"You know," he leaned on the brick wall with a cool countenance. "I can't really understand what you're saying if you don't speak actual words." There was amusement in his voice.

He tried not to burst into laughter so kept a smirk.

"Oh. I'm sorry. I'm fine," she properly replied.

A few moments passed before anyone spoke.

"Do you still get such thoughts?"

"Thoughts?" Rena repeated nervously with a hint of confusion.

"You know, ..." He leaned closer to her and whispered the last words- "suicide."

Rena looked up at him, feeling a lump in her throat.

Her heart raced.

"No," she mouthed.

He nodded.

Outside, the sun had begun to set by the mountains. It was quite an ecstatic time of day.

Oh how Rena loved to watch the sunset!

She thought it was beautiful.

"You seem to like the sunset a lot. I notice." He said looking towards the open window.

She glanced at him- the sunlight that bounced off his spectacles prevented her from seeing his eyes.

She breathed in deeply and looked at the window as well.

"Yea, I do ... it's beautiful," she replied in her soft, nasal tone.

"And the mountains. Have you ever been to the mountains?" He asked absentmindedly.

The words simply slid out of his mouth as he took in the mesmerising view.

"No, but I've always wanted to. I'd love it." She spoke softly.

The evening breeze swept across the room.

Rena felt the chill of the wind as her feet touched the marble floor.

"Sit on the bed. You'll catch the cold," he warned instructingly.

She instantly obeyed.

Then, he walked over to the cabinet at a corner of the room and retrieved a thick velvet-coloured blanket.

"Lie down."

"Hmmm?"

Her eyes widened at him.

"Lie. Bed." The man repeated in a bland tone.

"Oh ... bed," she muttered absurdly and laid down on the bed.

"Not so stiffly," he remarked with a serious expression as he covered her with the blanket.

Rena stiffened even more.

The man looked down at her with the same expression but this time, there was a distant look in his eyes.

She froze- embarrassed.

Was she supposed to say something?..

"Thank you," she muttered, but he didn't even move.

He just stood there with the bizarre expression, staring.

Rena closed her eyes slowly, pretending to fall asleep.

Seconds passed but she could still feel his warmth.

She gave it a bit more time and by the time her eyes snapped opened, he was gone.

Rena could breathe again,

And she did.

In that moment of solemnity, Nike's words rang in her head as a distant bell.

'Don't let this phase swallow the beauty in you..'

So there was beauty in her.

And if there was, it meant that she'd found herself in this God all this while afterall.

She was beauty.. at least in Nike's words and Nike meant a whole lot to her and if she thought there was beauty in her then Rena would take it upon herself to believe that.

She made a split second decision to take it upon herself to believe this God and whatever it was that He was doing with her.

The evening breeze swept over her once again as sleep took her consciousness.

♡♡

It was morning again..

Nike rolled out of bed with a pang in her chest and a slap of realisation.

Her best friend wasn't going to be with her for much longer.

She knew it wouldn't be noble to keep anything from her, especially the guilt of the err she had done.

Nike knew Rena as a loving, wonderful and understanding soul and she would definitely forgive.

Also, the err was beginning to become a burden too heavy for her to bear; she decided to let the cat out of the bag.

After she had breakfast and freshened up, she slid into a red Xl cotton sweater and a pair of jeans.

She'd also decided to stop by at Mandy's and buy her friend a loaf of their best stuff.

She felt enthusiastic about the whole thing and anticipated getting it off her chest.

She'd never had to feel such guilt about her friend before ... well except when they were younger on Rena's birthday when Nike ate her cake in half, thinking it was one of the dishes in the buffet.

"Okay..." she heaved a sigh and studied herself in the mirror, standing sideways with her brown leather tote strapped to her shoulder.

She wore a short, black bob wig with little strands of red. Then, she combed out the extension and dashed out of her apartment, heading for the Institute.

When she arrived and walked into the room, Rena was being served breakfast while she chatted with a petite nurse who seemed familiar.

"Nike!" Rena exclaimed, once she sighted her friend.

"In the flesh.." she mouthed weakly as a knot formed in her stomach.

She walked down to Rena's bed and set her tote down.

"Mummy and daddy just left." Rena explained.

"Oh! You're really shining this morning," Nike teased and stole a little piece of the omelettes on her friend's plate.

Her counterpart chuckled and slapped her greedy hands off.

The nurse stood idly in the room, holding a metal tray.

"Oh!" Rena exclaimed. "Nike, meet Kivu."

The nurse waved shyly.

"Hi," Nike waved back as the oversized sweater rolled up her arm.

"Kivu, this is my best friend, Nike- and sister!" She added enthusiastically.

"And sister!" Nike remarked with the same positive energy.

The nurse smiled warmly at the girl's bond.

Then, Nike remembered that she needed to tell her friend something important.

"Mmm. Rena I have something to talk to you about." She muttered to her friend.

"Uhm, Rena I'll just come back for the plates," nurse Kivu announced and left the room.

"What is it? Did you bring my usual?!" She stretched forth a hand and did a cheerful dance on the bed she sat on.

Nike chuckled nervously and retrieved a plastic bag from her tote.

Then she handed it to Rena.

"Yay!!" The latter exclaimed and dove into the baked treat from Mandy's. "You said you had something to tell me."

"Yea."

"Well?"

"You see ... I don't want you to be upset with me. I need you to understand me."

"Understand what?" Rena asked with her mouth half-full.

"Did you remember ... the attack you had?"

Rena nodded. "But it was quite faint and I can't completely remember."

"Rena ..." Nike heaved a deep sigh. "It was me. I ... I caused it."

"Hmm?!"

"Yea, me."

"No, I mean I don't understand. What do you mean?"

"I mean ... that day, you had the attack.." Nike had begun to cry. "I added - I added something to ... to the loaf I-"

Rena let the baked treat she held drop to the ground.

She thought Nike was joking but there were tears.

If it were a joke, she wouldn't be crying- Nike hardly cried.

"Nike ... you're joking. You didn't. You're joking!" Her voice shook and her eyes had begun to water as well.

"No. It was your mother; she came to me and she was worried.

You were giving up on treatment and she was scared. The plan was..."

"My ... my- mummy? ... The plan?!" Rena exclaimed.

"The plan was to drug you and get you admitted in the hospital but ... but, we didn't know it was poisoned." Nike looked down and sobbed.

"So the poison shortened my days!" She had reddened with rage.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I just wanted you to get better; Rena, I was scared. I'll break the bank and do whatever I can to get you to recover."

"Even attempt to kill me?!" Rena got a bit violent and shoved Nike.

"I'm sorry..." the latter cried even harder.

"Shut up! Shut up!! Am dying, Nike. I'm dying..." she burst into an anguished cry and slid to the ground.

Rena pulled the bedsheets with her, causing the dishes with which she had been served breakfast to crash to the ground.

Nurse Kivu momentarily dashed into the room on hearing the ruckus.

She advised Nike to leave the room and tried to calm her patient down.

♧♧♧

It was sunset in Crawford.

Rena sat on her hospital bed clothed in a blue-green hospital dress.

In front of her sat Mr and Mrs Dawson conversing with her doctor.

They were about to sign the release form since in their opinion, there was no reason to keep their daughter there at the Institute for much longer.

She wasn't improving and neither was she diminishing- at least not physically.

Mr Dawson held his wife, comforting her as he explained to the doctor how he wished for his daughter to stay close to them during her remaining days.

Rena on the other hand sat idly on the bed- not moving.

She looked stale, like a statue; seeming so lifeless.

The young doctor glanced at her at regular intervals, breaking his attention and sometimes making Mr Dawson call his name.

He saw the girl's sadness; it was quite intoxicating.

He wondered what she truly wanted and hoped her parents were reasonable enough to consider.

Maxwell studied her pityingly- she was nothing but a shell of herself.

A knot formed inside his stomach once the realisation that he was about to fail another patient hit him.

Mr Dawson called his attention again.

He cleared his throat.

"Pardon, sir?" He blinked back to reality and asked the man; "Were you saying something?"

"Yes. I was asking where we could sign the release form."

"Oh, down the hall at the receptionist's desk." He explained.

Mr and Mrs Dawson rose from their seats and hurried out of the room to sign the forms for their daughter's release from the hospital.

Then, it was just Rena and the young doctor in the room.

"You're quiet ... are you okay?"

She was still.

He wondered if really she could hear him.

"Uhm, Rena?" He called her name and tapped her gently on the arm.

She still didn't respond.

He shook her a bit harder this time and she blinked rapidly.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yea..." her voice drifted off.

"Its fine if you don't want to leave."

"What ... is the use? I don't have a choice anymore."

"No ... you always have a choice."

"Maybe not now."

"Why don't I..." he picked up a file, then dusted it up and continued; "Make up a medical excuse for you to stay here for one more day?"

"Is that necessary?"

"For you ... I mean, in your condition- I, Rena you need it."

"It's just that ... it's just, I don't know ... I don't know what to do with my life anymore." She burst into tears, placing her face in both palms.

He placed a palm on her shoulder and rubbed it- she didn't shrug his hand off so he proceeded to rub her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her.

She broke down even further and her sobs grew louder.

Her body quaked quite violently.

Then, he hugged her.

Maxwell felt her body feel lax in his arms.

She didn't move- the girl just sat there,

not reciprocating his action but she was calm.

He receded and sat on the chair before her.

"Do you want to go home to your parents?" He asked softly but sternly.

She shook her head- still lowered.

"I understand," he touched her arm. "Do you want me to convince them to let you stay here?"

Rena snifled.

"I'll be fine," she said sternly and dried her watery eyes and face then laid down on the bed.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***