Beyond Her Lies

HER middle finger came into motion. Twice. The tall brunette nurse in the green scrub, scribbling something on a notepad noticed the movement in her hand and paused for a moment to observe the patient in bed before going back to the notepad.

Then her index finger where the pulse oximeter was placed came into motion. It tapped the bed twice and went back to being zilch in a matter of seconds. No sooner did both her index and middle finger move simultaneously, but the nurse failed to notice any of this as she was arranging the pet bottles containing her tablets, a jug half filled with water and a mini pill crusher in the small cart she had her colleague wheel in earlier.

Then there was movement in her eyes as she blinked compulsively on opening them; slightly, but enough to track the retreating figure in the room. It shuddered close almost immediately as the brightness of the well lit room hit her.

When they came open again, the room was dim. The lights had been turned off.

The nurse was just by the door rolling away the cart. She glanced over her right shoulder to take a good look at the woman in the bed before exiting the room. This was when she noticed her eyes.

Quickly, she rushed over to the bed side, crouching down beside it while she allowed her eyes do a thorough examination of the woman's face; she was blinking, her fingers were moving and did she just make a sound?

A wide grin appeared on her face and she exclaimed incredulously. "You're awake!?"

Almost like she could not believe her own statement. More affirmatively this time she cried out, "You're awake!"

The next thing, her long legs were sprinting out of the room, down the hall and into the elevator. She continuously tapped the button for the fifth floor until the elevator doors jammed closed. When it flew open again, she dashed through the hallway in search of the doctor whom she found outside his office conversing with a man. He gave her an eerie look when she halted right in front of him just before the man walked away. Her hands were placed on her knee with her head down as she panted heavily. Though she managed to find her words.

"She is awake!" she whisper yelled in between breaths.

"Adelina Delgado is awake!"

...................

Manuel and Lupe Delgado fared into the office in fret, although Manuel did well to conceal it. Lupe's on the other hand was glaring. Both of them took the seats across the desk while they awaited Tony, who was speaking with the interim nurse that had been checking Adelina's vitals before her awakening.

Lupe was visibly agitated at the thought of their daughter awake and just as much, dreaded the news the doctor might reveal. She had been in her kitchen, making dinner when Manuel rang her from the office to inform her of Dr. Tony's urgent request for a meet up today.

Fear gripped her.

The name Dr. Tony and the word urgent seemed to create quite a scene in her head about her daughter. What could be the reason for this?

Without thinking any further, she raced out of the kitchen, into her room, threw on a long black gown with a similar black scarf she placed over her uncombed hair and in no time, had the driver speeding them towards the hospital.

Manuel arrived just in time to see her alight from the car and together, they proceeded to Tony's office to hear the news that will either make their hearts dance in joy or leave it broken forever.

Lupe was becoming impatient with waiting for the doctor to attend to them and the million and one questions she wanted to ask. Noticing her restlessness, Manuel covered his palm in hers soothingly, and with the other hand, rubbed the small of her back softly.

"Be calm, miel. I am sure our daughter is fine."

Her shoulders fell reluctantly. She did not want to hear what the doctor had to say. Although, her curiosity took over the better part of her, while she prayed silently that it would be good news.

Just then, Tony walked into the office with a smile on his face which gave the Delgado's a bit of hope.

"I am sorry for keeping you waiting," he apologized before taking his seat in front of them.

He leaned forward with both hands placed on his desk. That smile was still plastered on his face.

"So. . .?" Lupe jeered impatiently. "How is my daughter? Can we see her?"

Tony emitted a soft chuckle.

"In time, Mrs. Delgado. As we speak, she is being transferred to another room," he tried to mollify the anxiety of the woman.

"As for how Adelina is doing," he halted, looking for the right words to sum up the explanation, which earned him a frown from both Lupe and Manuel.

"She is fine," he decided to go with that as he could not have described her situation any better.

"Recall that about a couple of years ago, she entered a minimal conscious state after her four months in a coma?"

To this, Manuel and Lupe nodded in affirmation.

Four months after Adelina had slipped into a coma, the doctor informed them that her condition had changed. She was now conscious but only to minimal level which meant she could reach for objects, smile and even track person's in the room but she was not fully awake as this was characterized by the inconsistency in her environmental awareness. So, he had urged them to visit her every day with family photos, for up to six hours which could be very receptive on her route to recovery.

Tony continued. "When the nurse told me she had woken up, I thought it was just one of the usual, but we still had to observe her for a few hours. Within that couple of years, she had undergone a deep brain surgery and about a week ago, we administered Zolpidem to her. Reasons why her state has progressed."

They both looked confused as neither of them seemed to comprehend what the doctor was saying. Sensing, their confusion, he proceeded to reveal what they were presuming in clearer terms.

"Adelina has regained full consciousness."

Lupe sprang to her feet, squealing in excitement like an eight year old who had just been handed a pack of candy. In that moment, she could not care less about any other thing other than the fact that her daughter was awake. Her baby girl was finally awake after three years in a coma, or whatever the doctor called it.

"S–so, you are saying she can talk now, eat on her own, walk–" she was sputtering when Tony cut her off.

"Hold on, Mrs. Delgado," he started with a laugh. "As at now, these things might be a problem for her. She has a case of atrophy, as is normal in every comatose patient. Which means she will have to undergo physiotherapy, psychological assessments, occupational therapy, speech therapy. Basically, a rehabilitation program for a while. It will take months, but there is a ninety-five percent chance she will walk again."

Chance? Ninety-five percent chance? That didn't sit right with Manuel and his countenance changed. But not Lupe. Adelina being awake was all that mattered.

"Good news is, she does not have amnesia. We have run some diagnostics and an MRI scan to ascertain this."

"And the bad news?" Manuel asked assuming there was one since almost every person who started a sentence with that phrase always had a not so positive information lingering somewhere.

"Well Mr. Delgado, there really isn't any bad news. Adelina may have trouble recalling a few events but that is just it. To be frank, she is a very lucky woman. To have survived after such a long period without any damage to the brain. It really is a rare case."

Lupe was relieved. About three years back when Tony confirmed that Adelina had suffered a traumatic brain injury which was the reason for her comatose state, he also informed them that most likely, when she wakes, as it is in most of the cases he had treated, she might suffer from a brain damage which could lead to her loss of memory. But as he said now, she is a lucky woman.

"For now, she will remain in the hospital for her rehabilitation program. And yes," he immediately added noticing the look on Lupe's face. "She will be allowed visitors during the hours. But, she mustn't be exposed to overwhelming emotions, films or anything along that line. It could be traumatic for her."

They nodded in understanding, all smiles and thankful for the blissful news they have just received.

"Can we see her now?" Manuel was the one to ask this time.

Tony rose a finger. "Just a second."

He dialed a number on the landline. After a few seconds on the call, he informed them. "You can see her now. She has been transferred to another room. He got up from his seat. "I will take you to her."

Nicolás had been in the hallway, pacing outside the doctor's office. He was leaning into the wall just beside Tony's office while his feet tapped nervously on the floor when the door flew open. He exchanged looks with the doctor, scrutinizing his face briefly as if trying to detect any solemn expression that will confirm all that has been going through his head in the past half hour. Not having much success in this, he quickly pulled his mother to his side to ask.

"What happened Mamá?"

By now, a bead of tears had escaped Lupe's eyes and she revealed the news with a gladdened heart.

"Adelina has regained full consciousness."

Nicolás' eyes widened in surprise which was followed by a wide grin that formed on his face. When he had come by the house earlier to see his mother, he was greeted with news that she left for the hospital about an hour ago. He fretted and without thinking followed suit. He had almost bust into the room when he was told that his parents were in the doctors office but on second thought this time, he resigned to remain at the door.

"Gracias a dios Mamá! I thought it was something else," he exclaimed in relief. "Have you seen her?"

She shook her head in refutation. "We are going there right now. Come on." She tugged at his hands gently, practically dragging a quite stoned Nicolás behind her.

All together, they rode the elevator to the fifth floor and to the right; room 23B precisely. Two nurses were just making their way out of the room Adelina had been transferred into when they came upon them.

"Is she awake?" Tony asked the women and they nodded in affirmation before disappearing down the hallway.

The doctor was the first to go in. Manuel followed behind him, and so did Lupe and Nicolás.

Immediately Lupe saw her daughter, her bags dropped to the floor and she brushed past Tony across the room, to the bed side. She crouched down beside her, kissing her all over; her eyes, her hands, her cheek before encircling her in a tight hug as all the tears of joy she had been holding back fell freely from her eyes.

"Mijá," she whispered in between sobs.

Both Manuel and Nicolás had tears in their eyes as well. It might not have brimmed as Lupe's but it was very evident.

All Adelina could do was smile at them as her mouth could not muster all the words of love she wanted to sing to her family. It was now she really felt alive, not two hours ago when she had awoken. But now. Seeing her family again.

ADELINA felt relief from constantly inhaling that repugnant hospital smell of antiseptic and flowers and drugs for three weeks. How she managed to stay in there bed ridden for three years still came as a surprise to her. Just as the news that she had been in a coma for three long years. She had begun her in-patient therapy program at the hospital which mostly gave her the hump. Learning to eat, walk, talk, all over again got her exhausted. She had read on atrophy one time but never envisaged how frustrating it could actually be, until now.

Frustrated would be an understatement to describe her feeling of vulnerability everyday.

On the stipulations of the doctor, Tony, she ate vegetables and fruits. Never real food as she had demanded food from a nurse. It was very important she ate healthy as he informed that it would go a long way in ensuring a quick recovery. And since she had wanted nothing more than to leave that hospital, she reluctantly complied.

By now, she could eat on her own and speak well enough. Although a few times, her speech had come out slurred. To some extent, she could also walk by herself, but only a short distance which meant she mostly had to move about in a wheel chair.

Before her discharge day, Tony revealed that she would be needing a therapist who would see to her recovery for the while she was going to be at her parent's house.

Adelina was the happiest when her mother told her she would be coming home. If she was being witty, leaving the hospital meant she was going to have to confront the incident of three years ago. Something she was determined to keep at bay.

Simone Miller was the one to bring her home; her best friend since the third grade. They attended the same high school and both went to colleges' in the same city.

Inseparable as Lupe had labeled them years ago, they did everything and anything together ranging from causing mischief and getting punished. Together.

At some point, people envisaged that they were not identical twins as Simone was a tall blonde with the slender figure of a typical vogue magazine model. White pale skin tone, rose red heart shaped lips and large hazel eyes. Miss Photogenic as voted in a beauty pageantry she enrolled in when she was younger.

In contrast, Adelina was a fair heighted olive skinned woman who had auburn brown hair which she usually has trimmed up to her shoulders. With bow shaped lips and small brown eyes, she never found pageantry something she would venture into. Even if they were completely dissimilar in both character and physique, they were still dubbed as 'twin' despite Simone being a couple of years older than Adelina.

The driver pulled over in the driveway and Adelina was wheeled out of the car irrespective of all her assurance that she could walk to the house which was not much of a distance from the driveway.

"You really did not have to wheel me in this thing. Look, it isn't even a great distance. I can make the walk," she whined for the umpteenth time which made Simone groan out in frustration.

"You seem to have forgotten me Adelina. When I am determined to make something happen, it always does. Now, you are going to stop whining because I won't let you walk and hurt yourself," she intoned with finality.

Oh Adelina remembered her all too well. So, even when she complained about it, she knew it was pointless. She was just hoping to play the pity card with Simone. Miserable effort.

Her eyes wandered to Simone's hand on her shoulder, to her long index finger adorned in the vintage Edwardian ring. Her lips curled into a small smile. A lot had happened in the three years she was away. Although, this was one of the few things she suspected will definitely happen. It was only a matter of 'when?'

"I was wondering when you both will come to your senses to realize you were made for each other."

Simone chuckled following Adelina's eyes. "Well, Nicolás had always been a jerk to me when we were little. In a million years, I never imagined us getting married."

"I always knew," Adelina continued. "From your constant bickering every and any second of the day." She laughed. "You both were the perfect definition of drama."

Simone smiled ecstatically, rubbing her shoulders. At least Adelina's sense of humor was still intact.

"You have no idea how glad I am that you are here. My wedding just wouldn't feel right without you as my maid of honor." She patted her softly in the shoulder. "Welcome home Adelina."

Now, they were just a few steps away from the front porch of the three storey French Normandy mansion. She glanced around the house vindictively. How much she had missed this sight.

Simone drew open the double front door and wheeled Adelina into the mostly dark room. Except for a candle lit in the middle of what she suspected to be a cake, the living room was dark.

Just as she was about to ask where everyone had gone, the voices came out in a loud boom.

"Welcome Home!!!"

Then the lights came on, followed by the fall of balloons exactly where she sat and the huge banner up front that read, 'Welcome Home Adelina.'

She had startled. Knowing her family, she expected a sort of celebration when she returned. A party, quite the party. However, she was very grateful for this, for the familiar faces that greeted her. Her parents and brother, a few extended relatives and her cousin sister, Olivia, who was already a matured young lady by now compared to the last time she had seen her.

Manuel came towards her with a small box, handing it to her.

"Welcome home Mijá."

He encircled her in a bear hug and when they pulled apart, he urged her to open up the box. When she did, her mouth dropped open. Typical of her father to present her with gifts like this. She had almost forgotten what it felt like.

"But Papá, I can't even drive in this state."

He shrugged his shoulders impassively. "You will soon."

Her face lit up with a beam. "Thank you Papá."

Following this was a bunch of other presents Adelina had to spend half an hour unraveling. When she was done, she made her way to the dining table where assorted treats had been dished out.

Her eyes popped. Real food.

Without wasting even a second, she grabbed a plate and served herself a couple of 'empanadas' which she delved right into almost immediately.

"Should you be eating that?" Olivia emerged from behind her, with her eyes squinted in concern.

"No, she shouldn't," came Simone's voice.

She raised a brow at Adelina, snatching the plate from her palms before handing her a bowl of charred salad.

"This is what she should be eating," she gestured to Olivia who was already laughing at the scenery that had just played out.

"Somethings never change," she remarked, recalling how Simone used to always chide Adelina and tease her about everything and anything, make sure she took her drugs whenever she was sick and practically slept at her place every Halloween night like she used to when they were younger. Adelina described her as 'a little too much' but she loved the fact that Simone always looked out for her.

Adelina on the other hand, heaved a sigh. She managed to take a forkful of the salad before setting the bowl down. Not at her welcome party was she going to torture herself with this 'hell' in disguise of a meal.

Both Olivia and Simone drew out a chair from the table and got comfortable in it. No sooner had all three of them started to laugh at each other's mention.

"So Olivia, I hear you are in your senior year," Adelina changed the course of the conversation from the teases they had been throwing her way.

"Yes," she replied rather unenthusiastically. "I just hate the fact that it has to be in a school in El Salvador."

Manuel Delgado was one to send his children to their homeland for high school. According to him, it ensures they never forget their root. It was the same with Nicolás and Adelina. Simone even had to school there as well because she did not want to get separated from Adelina.

"If it makes you feel any better, I graduated high school there as well."

"Yeah," Simone nodded. "Me too. It is pretty fun there. Do you not like it?"

Olivia shrugged. "It's not that I do not like El Salvador. You see, Papá was supposed to send me there three years back. But with everything that happened at the time, he resigned to enroll me in a high school closer to home. I had gotten so accustomed with everything. I was even going to run for Student Body President this year, and all of a sudden, he is shipping me to a boarding school in El Salvador. It sucks." She concluded with a grim.

Adelina smiled knowingly. "You could still run for Student Body President over there."

"I know, I know," she attested. "It is just going to be really hard. You know, I am new and all. I don't have the popularity I had back here. And then there are the popular kids over there." She shrugged again. "I don't think it is something I want to do anymore."

Simone patted her in the back. "Whatever makes you happy dear."

She looked at her skeptically. "Really?"

Adelina didn't fail to notice this.

"Let me guess, she threatened to fly to Salvador and deal with anyone that tries to bully you?"

Olivia's mouth opened in surprise. "How accurate!"

Manuel and Lupe were watching them converse and laugh heartily and at some point, tears brimmed in Lupe's eyes. He pulled her to his chest.

"It's very real Mi amor. Our daughter is back."

A bead of tear dropped down her left cheek. Seeing all three of them together, smiling and laughing, filled her with unimaginable joy she had not felt in years. And seeing Adelina reminded her of how close she was to losing her daughter.

"I still can't help but wonder about that night. I really want to know what happened that night Manuel."

He huffed. "I do too."

"What got our Adelina so intoxicated and all messed up with swollen eyes from crying? When I think back to that day, it breaks my heart. I want her to talk to me. Tell me when something or someone is bothering her. I don't care if she thinks she has out grown that."

"I understand how you feel Miel. But remember what the doctor said? We mustn't expose her to overwhelming emotions right now," he recalled and Lupe shook her head in understanding.

Something happened that night which has left Lupe wondering for years. She only hoped that when she finally confronts Adelina about it, she wouldn't shrug off the question as she always does whenever she tries to have those kind of conversations with her.

Adelina approached them with a huge smile on her face. Her face was glowing compared to how it had been in the hospital. Although her skin was still somewhat pale and she looked quite lean, she was still very much curvy and beautiful. And her smile still held that sensational aura.

"Are you enjoying yourself, Mijá?" Lupe asked, going over to wheel her closer to where she had been sitting.

"Yes Mamá, thank you so much for this. It is exactly how I wanted it."

Manuel chuckled. "You know, I wanted to make it big, trust me." They both laughed at this. "But on second thought, decided to save the grand celebration for your twenty-ninth birthday. And no Mijá, you cannot refuse that."

Adelina smiled, nodding in surrender. "I won't." She glanced around the room before saying, "I noticed Nicolás left early."

"Oh yes," her father affirmed. "He had some business dealings to finish with the McCurby's."

Adelina's expression went still at the mention of that name. She dreaded hearing it the entire evening, even when she knew it was quite unavoidable. Luckily for her, she hadn't seen the one face she needed not get even a glimpse of and nobody had mentioned him much to her relief. At least, until now.

"GET this to the draftsman now and make sure to inform him that I need another layout-" he stopped, pursed his lips and continued. "A better layout on my desk by the morrow," Nicolás ordered to his personal assistant who quickly dashed out of the office to do as he was told.

He heaved a sigh of exhaustion as his large brown eyes fluttered close for a few seconds while his fingers dug through his dark brown slicked back quiff. He was looking rather distraught in frustration and stress.

"The layout was not suitable for the intent project?" Theo stated in question, stalking towards the settee in Nicolás' office to take a seat.

He sighed again. "They want something more . . ." his voice went off in a trail as he searched his thoughts for the right words to describe what they had said when they phoned him earlier to reveal that the layout did not meet the standards of the project they had mapped out.

Not having much success with this, he went with, "sophisticated," as they had out rightly told him.

"Although, I can not help but nurse the thought that this has got something to do with the scandal three years ago. It's apparent they have doubts with us handling the funds for the project."

Theo breathed out, swaying his head apathetically.

"Just in case the second layout isn't very 'sophisticated' to their liking," he air quoted the word sophisticated with his fingers. "Homey Real Estate Company has reached out again. And they are very much interested in a similar structure and even better, for a higher price."

Nicolás' eyes widened in surprise. "I - I thought the price negotiations with Homey fell through?"

"Well, they changed their minds after the little téte-a-téte I had with the managing director. I mean, it will be a shame not to have the Delgado Construction firm on your project."

For the first time today, Nicolás' face lit up with a bright smile as he jammed knuckles with Theo. "That is so good man. You are the best." He exclaimed in clear mitigation.

"Miles behind Adelina," he reiterated inaudibly although Nicolás caught that.

Talk about blurting out something that has been on your mind since forever.

Nicolás was already making his way back to his seat. He took off his navy blue blazers tossing it to the empty settee as he adjusted his rolled up sleeves and undid a couple of buttons on his shirt, dragging his tie below his neck so that it hung loosely around his collar before getting comfortable in the black leather office boss chair.

His eyes rested on Theo's and he furrowed his brows deeply at his remark before placating, "My sister is just as good."

The only sound in the room came from Nicolás' keyboard as he tapped on them continuously, waiting patiently for Theo's next question which he was very certain was going to come.

"So how is she?" Theo broke the silence.

Exactly the question he was expecting. He gave him an eerie look but Theo did well to shroud his emotions which earned a chortle from Nicolás.

"Really Theo? You can not still be interested in her?"

He immediately took a defensive stance, shaking his head vehemently as he asserted adamantly. "Who said I still am? This is just me worried about a friend."

"Hmm. . .worried about a friend." Nicolás was still wearing that eerie expression smiling all too knowingly.

"Plus," he continued. "McCurby makes it very clear to stay away from her every time the opportunity presents itself. And believe me, I have heard enough of it."

Nicolás laughed. Typical of him. In reply to his question, he answered. "Well, Adelina is doing okay."

"When will she be returning to -"

Speak of the devil. Just then, Jonathan McCurby's glorious presence 'blessed' the place as he stepped into the office. He was clad in a boone embroidered cuban collar shirt which he matched with a pair of perfectly fitted white chinos jeans and a black pair of loafers on his feet.

His inky tousled lob hair, which were not so messy today was gelled up in a bang; a style Adelina especially loved to see him wear. Those hazel eyes narrowed slightly at Theo when he noticed him seated in the room.

They barely spoke, more like never spoke, except he had to sternly warn him to stay away from his fiancé and all the time, Theo needed to remind him that they work together, more so, in the same department; which made it inevitable for them not to run into each other or even speak as he always had to report directly to her most of the time.

Adelina had worked as the Marketing Manager in the Delgado Construction firm and Theo West, the vice, at least, until three years ago. After the accident which left her comatose, he took charge as the Marketing Manager in the firm.

Without saying another word, Theo stood from the settee and made to leave. They need not communicate this to themselves - neither of them could stand the presence of the other. Jonathan was who Theo described as 'arrogant and ill-mannered, wondering how in God's green earth such a nice, smart and beautiful lady like Adelina fell in love with him'.

While Jonathan delineated Theo as 'incessant and clingy, doesn't know when to give up and accept no for an answer.'

When Theo closed the door behind him, Jonathan sighed, drawing out a chair across Nicolás before getting comfortable in it. They shook hands very briefly and Nicolás went back to typing on his keyboard.

"Welcome back McCurby," he had said not looking up from the monitor.

Jonathan folded his arms as he stared at him. "Is that all Nick?" his husky voice came out in a soft hollow.

Nicolás rose his eyelids just above the monitor to look at him briefly. "What? Were you expecting some sort of welcome back celebration? Amancio will be more than willing to throw you one at his club."

Jonathan only rolled his eyes. This was Nicolás' typical 'work mode' but he managed to show a little interest in his friend he hadn't seen in four months.

He let out a small smile. "So how was Paris?"

Jonathan leaned back in the chair, crossing his leg over his thigh. "Ah. . .Nicolás, you know how it is. One business meeting to the other."

Nicolás nodded knowingly still tapping on the keyboard. "Well, it's good to have you back."

After some seconds of silence, he went ahead to allay the only thought that has been in his head in the last couple of months. "I heard the situation with Adelina."

"Hmm. . .? What situation?"

Whether Nicolás was intentionally trying to rile him up with his unruffled attitude or he was just busy as he looked, he was certainly doing a good job getting him upset. "Man, will you at least hear me out for a few minutes? I'm not speaking to myself here, am I?"

Nicolás threw his hands up in surrender, as he looked up from the monitor at Jonathan, unapologetically. He ducked his head slightly. "What's up?"

The frown remained plastered on his face as he continued. "The situation with Adelina? I was heading to your parents house but then this occurred to me. Before I see Adelina, I need to know how to approach her. I mean, three years is such a long time. I need to know what to say and what not to–"

Nicolás wore a bemused expression on his face which led Jonathan to wonder what he found so funny. "What?"

"Wow McCurby!" he exclaimed, quite surprised. "Paris sure changed you. On a good day you would saunter in there just like that and seduce her with all of this," he motioned to his physical features.

"What can I say? The French's are just too nice. Four months is more than enough time for me to catch a little bit of that. But just a little." He made a gesture with his thumb and index finger.

Nicolás laughed. "Go see her with this attitude and everything will be good."

Jonathan was about to reply when his phone rang. On seeing the caller ID, he almost groaned out before tucking it back into his pockets. It was his father, as expected, calling to remind him of their scheduled meeting a few minutes from now.

"I have got to go now Nick."

He rose from the seat, going towards the exit. He was just by the door when he turned to ask. "Did she speak of me?"

Nicolás' head shot up as he tapped the power button on the monitor. "Not with me."

Jonathan shook his head.

"I'll come around tomorrow and later, you and I could get a drink or two. You really look like you need it," he said when Nicolás was stretching every part of his body, yawning loudly.

He tipped his head in reply and with that, Jonathan was out the door.

Simone cackled at Olivia's remark whilst clutching her hands over her chest, feigning hurt. It was a shame Olivia did not fancy the white dress as much as she did. It looked 'fly' as she had portrayed.

Lupe was seated in the cream colored sofa in the living room. Olivia was sprawled on the floor beside her making sketches of wedding dresses on her sketch pad. Simone was seated in the chair across Lupe, holding out a magazine which she flipped at intervals awaiting their reaction to every dress she revealed to them. While Adelina was in her wheel chair, mostly unconcerned with what they were conversing about and only muttered a 'hmm' whenever she was asked anything at all.

She was consumed in her thoughts; thoughts about what happened before her accident and how she intended to leave it there. Thank goodness, she survived the ghastly accident and awoken with no permanent damage to her body or brain. She felt like she had been given an undeserving chance at life and decided she wasn't going to spend even a second trying to understand what happened those years back.

The door flew open and Manuel, accompanied by Dr. Tony and an unfamiliar man who looked to be in his early thirties walked into the living room. Manuel went over to where his wife was seated and kissed her on cheek before plopping down beside her on the sofa. Tony greeted the women in the room and immediately delved right into introducing the man who stood beside him.

"This is Easton Blaine," he divulged. "He will be Adelina's therapist while she continues her out-patient therapy here."

As expected, everybody's eyes travelled to scrutinize the physical appearance of the man clad in the blue scrub. He had on a black leather coat and a white pair of white sneakers on his feet. On his wrist was a black watch. His Caesar cut hair was combed perfectly and very much suited his clean shaven jaw. Blaine's look presented that of one of those doctors in the popular film series, Grey's Anatomy.

Everyone seemed impressed with the man except for Lupe, whose frown telegraphed displeasure.

"He looks young, Tony. . ."

Tony laughed.

"He is thirty four and the best in-patient therapist we have at the hospital at the moment. I had him transferred for the mean time because Manuel here, wanted only the best for Adelina."

Manuel to this, nodded with a smug on his face.

"I assure you Mrs. Delgado, he is very qualified for this."

All the while, Adelina remained silent. Like everyone else, she had taken a good look at Blaine when he walked in. Not that she was not impressed with his physical appearance as everyone was, but she didn't care to be. The most important thing was her getting back to her feet again. Who does the job well shouldn't be so much of a concern to her. Plus, her mood had been foul before they came in.

Easton Blaine on the other hand only smiled softly when Lupe made the remark of him being young and perhaps inexperienced. Just like Adelina, he hadn't said a word. When he came in, he took his time to observe the woman in the wheelchair who was serene the whole time.

"So as stipulated," Tony continued. "He will work on Mondays through to Saturdays -"

Lupe did not let him finish as she interrupted curtly. "What happens on Sundays?"

Adelina shot her stare.

"I believe Adelina will be fine without him for just a day. I mean she was doing well on her own yesterday right? Also, Blaine could always run through her medications to either of the helps around and they can take care of it on Sundays."

Another frown of displeasure. Lupe did not like the idea. Adelina needed first hand treatment and care everyday till she recovers. So Sunday would not be an exception.

She was just about to protest when Blaine spoke up, noticing the woman's displease. "I can come in for a few hours on Sundays."

Everybody's gaze turned to him as those words came out of his mouth in his calm soft voice. Though, Adelina remained unfazed.

"That is very considerate of you," Manuel commended. "You will be paid handsomely for your dedication."

Blaine shook his head in refutation. "That wouldn't be necessary Mr. Delgado, it's what I do everyday."

Both Manuel and Lupe were quite pleased with Easton Blaine already as was Simone and Olivia who had winked at Adelina when Tony introduced Blaine as her therapist.

"Well, that settles it," said Tony. "He will see to Adelina's out-patient therapy from tomorrow."