Chapter 63: Give Us a Chance

Nelly opened her mouth only to close it again. “Oh, you’re right!” She exclaimed after a few beats. Thanks for reminding me. Oh, God.. I didn’t leave any space on the other pieces as well. I need to readjust the whole thing!” She sighed in dejection.

Will watched her fret without saying a word. She reached under a stack of books and pulled out a few pieces of paper. There were some drawings and numbers on it. Her hand reached up to her hair and patted around. When she couldn’t find the pencil, the crease between her brows deepened.

Will picked up the pencil from the floor and handed it to her. “Thanks!” She accepted it only to see the broken lead. Only then did her eyes move to the figure standing opposite her on the workbench. Will sighed. “How long have you been at it?”

“What do you mean?” Nelly put the broken pencil down. She seemed dejected. “I mean.. how long have you been trying to make this machine?”

Her eyes darted around at her notes, seemingly to consider the answer. “I had some thoughts about it when I was treating Cecilia. I started gathering information that time. But I wasn’t really going to do it because I didn’t know how to make a machine. I thought Sammy could help. Then, Sammy could make good use of it as well. I started sketching these,” she pointed at the pieces of paper, “and thinking of ways to continue the treatment without the machine. Let’s say.. at least a week?”

Will continued staring. It was a simple question. She told him the whole process. And she’s not sure of the timespan she started working on the machine. It sounded really concerning. “Um.. maybe two weeks?” She looked around her workplace, seemingly lost. “And this is your progress?” He gestured at the mess around the table.

“I found a way to keep the patients going,” she said, “and a new way of diffusion where their bodies could absorb the nutrients needed without putting too much strain on them.” Will blinked. “Sorry. I’m hopeless when it comes to creating machines,” Nelly fidgetted with the papers in front of her, “all I can do now is do my best in the area of my expertise while trying to make the machine.”

Will finally nodded. “Well, good try,” he smiled at her, “but leave it to the expert. You do what you can. Leave the machine to me.” That took her off guard. “You can make the machine?” She beamed at the thought of the solution to her major problem.

“I can try. Now, tell me what it does.”

Chad walked into the room. The same room with only a single bed and a bedside table. On the bed, laid the unconscious Stacy. The curtains were pulled open, allowing an abundance of natural light into the room. The window was slightly open and a vase was on the bedside table. The flowers were fresh. Nelly did a good job in maintaining a good environment for her patients.

There’s a chair in the room now. Chad took a seat facing her. He observed her unconscious form. As he watched, the lines on his face softened. Knowing her past made it harder to not have sympathy for her.

‘She can hear you,’ Nelly’s words echoed in his mind. He pondered a bit before speaking. “Sammy..” He immediately felt dumb. But he pressed on. ‘She can hear me,’ he thought, ‘I have to choose my words wisely.’ He looked at her, feeling that he should say something to her but nothing came to mind.

He reached for her hand and clasped it between his. Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to feel her, the presence of the person in front of him, to focus on her and only her, and not what he should say or do.

He didn’t know how long he stayed that way. Memories of her flooded his mind. The first time they met, she was wearing a Viper jacket and walked around town like she didn’t have a care in the world. She took down many of his men like it was just a stroll in the park. She was very energized then. She’s a girl with too much energy, she even jumped from the second floor and escaped. He chuckled at the thought.

She contributed a lot as well. He liked how she always stood out of nowhere and proposed something brilliant. He had spent time with her in the workshop, watching the intensity of her focus as she worked on a new invention.

And there was her determination when she talked about a future where there’s no more evil in the world. The drive and hatred that burnt in her eyes when she talked about teaming up to kill Hank. She was so full of life, determined to push forward even when all odds were against her. He’d thought that she was guarded, detaching herself from any form of relationship while maintaining intense independence. Little did he know the story behind her childhood that steered her towards the path she took and the amount of determination needed to shape herself into who she is today.

He leaned forward and planted a kiss at the back of her hand. “Thank you for holding on. You’ve worked hard.”

“You don’t have to fight so hard anymore. It’s always you worrying about others. When you stay here, you always think of ways to help us, even if you didn’t show it. You helped me with the strategies, proposed ways to make things better with the disguise of formal collaboration. You worry for Nelly, even when you’ve just met. You were always alert to everyone’s needs, trying to do something or remind us while showing that you didn’t care. We appreciate your efforts. We see them, and we cherish them. I do. I know the others do as well.

I know you were lost. The person you cared most.. the only person you considered family and the reason for you to push forward in this world.. didn’t turn out as the person you thought she was.

But I want you to know that you still have us, all of us. We are your family. I know you are really upset, and I know that it’s really hard, but I hope you will slowly let go and look around you, at the people that really care for you, see your worth and appreciate you. Give us a chance. When you are ready, you simply have to turn around. We will be here with you. Always.”