Chapter 9

Clara POV

The smell of antiseptic and the beeping of machines were nothing new in my life anymore. I stood next to the hospital bed, watching the little child on the bed, whose chest rose and fall weakly. Thank goodness I'd left the meeting as soon as possible, if not the case might have turned out differently.

I swallowed hard the lump formed in my throat as I adjusted the IV line. Memories flashed before my eyes again. Memories from the moment the little child was brought into the orphanage. Zara, that was her name. She was just eight, fragile and quiet but with the eyes of sadness no child should ever have. She was brought in barely two months ago, scared, malnourished with a compiling file of medical records.

Zara fought against Leukemia- blood cancer and this has made her lose so much strength. I’d promised Zara on the day she arrived, that she would be okay, that I would do everything in my power to make sure she gets her bone marrow transplant in which I was not stopping at nothing till I see she is alive and healthy.

I reached out for her face, gently caressing it. “ You are not going anywhere, not on my watch” I whispered to her ears. Staring at her reminded me of someone- Someone I might know.

“ You might have to take a rest” , the sound of Dylan's voice, pulled me out of my thoughts.

I didn’t even glance at him, I couldn’t take my eyes off Zara. “ It would have been a different case if I’d gotten here any later”

“She is still here, all thanks to you” he responded.

“She reminds me of her, Bruno’s daughter” I finally said. My mind drew back to that fateful day, the one where I was humiliated and disposed. That was where I’d briefly met her-Bruno’s daughter. I could remember her tiny little voice when she called daddy, the smile on her face when she ran into his arms, she looked like a really sweet child.

“You are crying!” Dylan exclaimed.

“She was there that day. The day that Bruno wanted me out of his house. I met Nellie. That was the day I realized Bruno has a child outside our marriage…. And she seems sweet” I broke into tears.

Even after these years, I thought I’d fully moved on, from the pain, from the humiliation but that was all lies I told myself just to feel better. Having the memories flashed back in my head, felt totally new. Like a fresh wound in my heart but then again, I have to, for the treatment, for Nellie. Dylan was right, the little child does nothing, she deserves to live and not to be punished for her father’s actions.

“You are thinking about her father?” Dylan asked, sounding worried.

“I will be lying if I say no” I responded, my voice shaking.

“More reason why you should meet with him, even if not for anything but for Nellie” he gently removed the strand of hair on my face.

“You think so? Will I be able to face him again? What if he tries to bring me down-

“Hey..” Dylan placed his hand on my face. “Look at me,” he continued. “ There is nothing to worry about. You are no more that Clara, that one who used to hide behind her shell. This is the new Clara, the one that worked on herself, builded her path to the top. You need to see how you are being respected and worshiped. And Bruno, he doesn’t come close at all. Just one word from you and he’d vanished from the surface of the earth. I am sure he knows that already and he won’t dare mess with you. Dr Clara Benson”

I didn’t know when a smile flashed across my face.

“Yeah, that is it. The smile I want to always see on your face” “And we are doing this together, for Nellie. Take your time with Zara, I will inform your secretary to set up a meeting with Bruno and I’m coming with you together” he pathed my shoulder with a smile on his face.

And just like that, every one of my worries moved from a hundred to Zero.

“I blessed the day I met you” I murmured out, staring into his eyes.

“No, I am grateful you allowed me into your life. You gave me a chance in your life and I promise to be your safe space forever” he said, from his eyes I could tell he meant every single word.