I walked out of the exam room and followed the nurse’s directions to get checked in.
Life in the hospital was quiet, even peaceful.
That sterile scent of disinfectant slowly started to wash away the pain I’d been drowning in.
But sometimes, I’d still wake up in the middle of the night, gasping Sebastian’s name like a reflex.
Five years–it left marks deeper than I ever admitted.
“Elara, I brought you some chicken soup.”
Nathaniel walked in wearing his white coat, carrying a pink thermos that looked comically out of place in his han
I put down my book and gave him a look.
“You really didn’t have to bring me anything again. I’m starting to feel guilty.”
It all started because I got lazy one evening and skipped dinner.
He caught me gnawing on a cold dinner roll alone in my room.
Since then, he’d show up now and then with home–cooked meals.
Nathaniel pulled up a chair, opened the thermos, and poured the steaming soup into a bowl.
“Well, you’re my patient.”
“Can’t I go a little above and beyond?”
I took the bowl, and the warmth soaked into my hands and somehow, my chest too.
I used to make chicken soup all the time.
But it wasn’t for me.
It was always for Sebastian.
Back when we were broke, barely making rent, I’d save up for a small fryer chicken on the weekends and cook him something decent.
Growing up in foster care, chicken soup always felt like the ultimate comfort food.
I sipped it slowly, savoring the taste, then asked without thinking,
“Dr. Nathaniel… do you have a thing for me?”
11:58
Chapter 7
I’d suspected it for a while–just didn’t have the nerve to ask
The moment I said it, I regretted it.
“Wait–no. I mean–forget I said that. It was a dumb thing to blurt out—”
Nathaniel went quiet for a beat, then said softly.
“Yeah. I like you.”
The room froze around us.
I turned toward the window, needing something–anything–to break the moment.
It was spring outside.
New leaves, fresh air, blooming trees.
I raised my hand and gently touched the bandages on my face.
My voice was low.
“You shouldn’t like me. I’m not someone worth liking.”
Nathaniel set the bowl down and looked me straight in the eyes.
“I think you’re absolutely worth it.”
I stared at him for a second.
Then asked, “You wanna hear my story?”
“Before I turned sixteen, I was a happy orphan. I know that sounds weird.”
“But I was smart, cheerful, worked hard. People liked me.”
“Then I got into Milton High.”
“Best school in the county–also the most divided by money and status.”
“As a foster kid with no family, no name. I became a target fast.”
“At first, it was just cruel words. Then it got physical.
“They locked me in the girls‘ bathroom overnight once.”
“I was only found the next morning by a janitor.”
“They tore my clothes, took humiliating photos, and posted them on school forums like it was a game”
“They burned my hair. I fell from a window.”
11.58
Chapter 7
“And the guy I dated for five years?”
“He was only with me to get back at me–for her.”
“The word I heard the most back then was ‘disgusting.”
I looked up at him.
“Dr. Nathaniel don’t you think I’m disgusting too?”
Nathaniel reached across and gently held my hand.
“Elara, you are not disgusting.”
“The disgusting ones are the people who hurt you.”
Something in the way he said it made me smile.
“Thanks.”
We didn’t talk for a while after that.
The silence felt thick, like it had weight.
Then Nathaniel asked, “Elara, have you ever thought about going after them? Like legally?”
I blinked at him, caught off guard.
He bit his lip.
“Sorry, I just realized… in your whole story, the bad guys walked away clean.”
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
He leaned forward, voice low and steady.
“I want to help you.”
Tears welled up in my eyes.
“But I don’t have proof anymore… no one ever took my side.”
Nathaniel pulled me into a gentle hug.
“I minored in psych during med school.”
“Studied bullying and trauma cases.”
“There’s this saying–there’s no such thing as one case of domestic abuse.”
“It’s always the first time and then a million more “
Chapter 7
“Same goes for bullying.”
When someone gets off on controlling and hurting others, they rarely stop.”
“You’re not the only one they’ve hurt.”
“If you can find the others, bring them together… you guys are the evidence.”
Tears slipped down my cheeks.
“But… after my fall, she left the country for school.”
Nathaniel gave me the smallest, most confident smirk.
“Just tell me her name.”
“Her school, where she’s staying.”
“I’ll handle the rest.”
