Broken Reliance, Renewed Longing

“Co—Cora, are you alright?” His voice trembled as he asked. 

The pipette I was holding slipped from my grasp. Benjamin’s slap had been so forceful that it caused the tube to break, sending a sharp fragment piercing into my palm. The pain was so excruciating that it made me break out in a cold sweat, leaving me speechless.

Not long, news of the accident spread through the company. The department’s chief hurried to the scene, his urgency evident as he insisted on sending me to the hospital immediately.

Later, I found myself in an ambulance, the siren blaring as we sped through the streets. Benjamin insisted on coming along, visibly anxious and frantic. He was like a cat on a hot tin roof, desperately urging the driver to go faster and shouting angrily at the red lights.

He looked at me with genuine concern, wiping the cold sweat from my forehead and gently patting my back in an attempt to reassure me, as if he were more frightened than I was. Even as we arrived at the hospital, he wanted to accompany me into the operating room.

“You can’t go in, sir,” said a nurse, blocking him at the door.

Benjamin's eyes were filled with worry as he kept his gaze fixed on me, following my every movement until the operating room door slowly closed. 

“Don’t be scared, Cora. Everything’s going to be okay. I’ll be right here when you’re done,” he reassured me. His insincere expression was so grating that it made my stomach churn. The forced smile and concerned words only deepened my discomfort and I couldn’t suppress the wave of nausea that overwhelmed me. I ended up throwing up.

After the surgery, I was wheeled into a general ward. The room was sterile and dimly lit, its walls adorned with the dull, calming hues typical of hospital decor. I lay there, the throbbing pain in my hand a constant reminder of the ordeal I had endured. I lost track of time, drifting in and out of uneasy consciousness.

Through the haze of my discomfort, I could faintly hear voices just outside the room. Benjamin and Rachel were talking in hushed tones.

“It’s my fault. If it weren’t for me, Cora wouldn’t have been hurt,” she said, her voice heavy with regret. “I should’ve taken it when she scolded me; a little grievance isn’t a big deal. I guess I’m just not strong enough. I can’t even handle the smallest inconvenience without falling apart. I truly feel guilty for what happened to her.”

“If Cora can’t get better, I’m willing to pay any price,” she added.

The girl’s soft voice quivered with barely audible sobs, her attempt at strength betraying a vulnerability that tugged at the heartstrings. Even as a woman, I couldn’t bring myself to blame her, let alone a man who seemed to have an instinctive protective nature.

As expected, Benjamin tried to calm Rachel. He moved closer to Rachel, his expression softening as he reached out to her. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, offering a reassuring squeeze. 

“Hey, don’t be too hard on yourself,” he said, his voice soothing. “It was an accident. Cora will be okay. The fact that you’re owning up to this shows how much you care and what a strong person you are. We’re all here for her. Right now, we need to stay hopeful and supportive.”

His comforting words were accompanied by a warm, steady gaze. “Just because she’s injured doesn’t mean you’re at fault. In fact, you’re the victim here. She shouldn’t have been scolding you and the injury wasn’t your fault. Don’t get too caught up in it, Ray.”

“You really think it’s not my fault?” Rachel hesitated, looking at him with concern. 

“Of course, it’s not.” Benjamin nodded earnestly.

“Cora should be waking up now. I’ll go check on her,” Benjamin said and with that, the conversation came to an end.