As David stood at the foot of Amanda's hospital bed, a wave of concern washed over him, mingling with guilt and regret. Seeing her battered face and fragile form tore at his heart. He had watched her suffer from a distance, powerless to intervene when he had so desperately wanted to. The very sight of her invoked a deep sadness, a realization that he had let her down.
When Amanda questioned his presence, her voice filled with disbelief, David felt a sharp pang of sorrow. Her words underscored the isolation that enveloped her, the distrust she had cultivated from her experiences. As the class president, he understood why she found it hard to believe that someone like him could genuinely care for her well-being. He wanted to reach out, to show her that his concern was real.
But then came her laughter—unexpected and haunting. As she laughed through her tears, David was left bewildered. Her laughter, juxtaposed with the pain in her eyes, filled him with confusion and helplessness. Was this a coping mechanism? A desperate attempt to mask her despair? He felt a tightening in his chest, as if the act of being there for her was rendered meaningless by her struggle.
When Amanda told him to leave, asserting that she was "perfectly fine," he was struck by the weight of her words. Beneath her facade of strength lay a profound vulnerability that tugged at his heart. He longed to comfort her, to assure her she wasn't alone, but her rejection made it clear she wasn't ready to accept his support. A sense of frustration welled within him—frustration at the cruel circumstances that had brought them here, at his own powerlessness to change her situation.
In that moment, David was caught in a turmoil of emotions. He admired her resilience, but sorrow lingered as he contemplated the fragility of her spirit. He knew he wanted to help her, to prove that he cared, yet the reality of her pain loomed large. It was a fragile moment, one that left him questioning how best to support her when she seemed so determined to push him away.
"I'm sorry for not helping you then " he muttered, tears streaming down his face "But I'll do anything to help you now. I'll do anything. If you need my help just tell me. I promise to help you." He rambled.
Amanda just stared at him. Her face expressionless. The tears dried up.
"What can you do ?" She whispered.
Then she chuckled dryly. "Just go please, I want to be alone" she muttered and laid on the bed turning to face the other side.
David stood uprooted , unable to move. His heart broke and the tears continued flowing. He always knew he was a weak person. Look at him. Sobbing in front of the girl he loves. How pathetic.
He wiped his tears away and took out a piece of paper and a pen from his pocket, then he wrote his number and kept it on the table beside the bed.
"I wrote my number.... If you want anything just text me, I'll reply immediately. If you want to just talk I can do that too" he said but Amanda said nothing.
"I'll leave you now" he muttered then turned to leave when he got to the door he turned to look at her but she was still lying on the bed with her back facing him. "Bye Amanda" he muttered and left the ward closing the door behind him.
Amanda's shoulders jerked up and down and she started sobbing again, into her pillow.