Broken Reliance, Renewed Longing

The prognosis was bleak. The nerve damage was so extensive that I couldn't move my hand at all for the time being and there was a significant chance it might never regain its full range of motion. I stared at the medical report, each word clear, yet the full scope of the situation seemed to elude me. I was so engrossed in the report that I didn't notice when Benjamin quietly left the room. It was only when I finally set the medical record aside that I realized I was alone. The once-bustling hospital room had fallen eerily silent, overwhelmed by a deep sense of confusion and isolation that seemed to close in on me.

“How is she? Is she ok- What happened to your face?” Rachel’s voice, filled with shock, cut through the silence from outside the door.

Benjamin took a deep breath before responding in his usual calm and measured tone. “It’s fine. Cora’s upset about her injury and she vented out a bit. Nothing I can’t manage.” 

“Just because she’s injured, doesn’t justify her for taking her anger out on you. Hitting you on the face, of all places. How can you show up looking like that? It’s outrageous!”

Benjamin sighed, clearly trying to keep his composure. “Her mood is just a little messy right now. She’ll get over it in a few days. Let’s not provoke her further.”

Rachel, still fuming, shot back, “What? Am I just supposed to sit here and watch her walk all over you? She’s—”

“That’s not what I meant,” Benjamin interrupted gently. “You’ve been here for hours. You should get some rest. With Cora out, your team will need you. Don’t let this delay your work.”

Rachel’s frustration seemed to waver, her expression softening as she tried to regain her composure. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle things while Cora’s away,” she said, her voice tinged with reluctant determination.

Unable to endure the tension any longer, I threw open the door to the hospital room. 

“This is a hospital. If you’re going to gossip, do it somewhere else!” I snapped, my voice echoing off the sterile walls. With that, I slammed the door shut, the force of it reverberating through the hallway. Benjamin and Rachel stared at each other in stunned silence, the abruptness of my outburst hanging heavily in the air.

I returned to my bed with a weary sigh, feeling the weight of the day’s events settle over me. As I lay back and closed my eyes, the exhaustion overcame me and I drifted off to sleep.

Benjamin and I grew up together; we were childhood friends who knew each other's families well. I was aware of his family’s financial struggles, which drove his relentless pursuit of success. Yet, he never let on about his hardships, always maintaining a façade of gentleness and grace.

He was relentless in overcoming any obstacle in his path and I once believed that I was an exception to his ruthless ambition. But now, I saw him for who he truly was. Even if his selfishness wasn’t deliberate, someone like him—so blind to the needs of others—didn’t deserve my love. 

As someone who relied on my hands for my career, what would become of me now that they were ruined? Benjamin had destroyed my career, yet he treated it as a minor issue, trying to shirk responsibility. He caused me great harm, so I reported him to the police. He was detained for only half a month and had to pay a small bail. My parents traveled from our hometown to support me, their faces etched with heartbreak when they saw me. Their disappointment was palpable as they shook their heads, their silence speaking volumes.

“I can’t believe he did this to you. We always thought he was a good man, even treated him like a son,” my dad said, his face stern. “If he ever shows up again, I’m going to make him regret it.”

“I’m so sorry this happened to you, honey,” my mom said, her concern evident as she gently caressed my face.

The week I spent in the hospital felt like a blur of sterile white walls and endless medical procedures. When I finally returned to work a month later, it was with a mix of relief and trepidation. The physical demands of my job had been replaced by the mental grind of catching up and managing my rehabilitation.

Benjamin seemed unaffected by the incident. To my dismay, I learned that the manager had even spoken up for him, defending his actions as unintentional. The company’s operations continued smoothly, as if my brief disruption hadn't made a dent. One day, as I returned from upstairs with a report, the usually quiet lab was in an uproar.

“If you’re so pissed about it, don’t take it out on me! It’s not my fault. I have a lot of things to do and none of them are easy. If the clumsy Cora hadn’t had that accident and left a mess for me to clean up and if she hadn’t insisted on sending Benjamin to jail, everything would be fine. There wouldn’t have been any project delays and we wouldn’t be in this chaos. This is a group project and I’m not the only one to blame here. If I ever hear that this gets to the manager’s table, I’ll show you what I can do to end your career!”

Rachel’s commanding speech, full of self-righteous indignation, initially seemed reasonable and caused the other two girls to fall silent. Rachel strutted away victoriously, her head held high. As she turned her back, I quickly stepped in front of her.

“What did you say? Do you know that I can sue you for defamation?”