บท 25: Mind-numbing pain - 2

That mind-numbing pain was absolute!

Caroline crouched on the floor, unable to bear it anymore, and her eyes could only see the feet of the man who had pushed her. But soon, that started becoming blurry.

"Get away from her!"

Echoed a deafening voice, and the next second that man was pushed far away from her as if some magnetic field had pulled him. Astonished, Caroline looked up and saw Morpheous standing inches away from her. Nostril flared, a vein pulsating on his forehead, and his eyes ... Well, they flickered in a faint hue of fiery blue.

'What even?'

His face looked feral and murderous. There was something so different about his demeanor that it outright scared the hell out of her. He didn't look like the Morpheous that she knew. More than her pain, his sudden transformation started to bother her.

She knew it was not her hallucination, but she was scared to even look at him. Her mind was so occupied that she didn't even realize when she was lifted and taken to the imaging room, and only when Dr. Van tried to place her hand on the table that she could feel the pain rising back again.,

"Ahhh….."

But amidst the pain, her memories drifted to the day she met Morpheous, the moment when he had opened his eyes. It was the same flicker of blue. That day she assumed it to be just a reflection of the overhead lights, but today they screamed at her amidst the rim of amber around them.

A few minutes later, she saw Morpheous barge inside the imaging room.

His body language wasn't polite at all. His face looked mournful, and she could tell he was searching for her from his worried eyes. And the moment she lifted her eyes and looked at him, she could see his expression soften.

'Was he that worried?'

"Does it hurt?" He asked her after everyone had left.

But instead of bothering to reply to his question, she threw him one of hers. "What is wrong with you, Morpheous? Your eyes ... they sort of changed color, and you pushed…"

"My eyes?"

"Yes, your eyes were like ..."

But he lowered his head in response. "I just ... I just got worried about you. I should not have done that. I am sorry. I will apologize to that man. He was not in the right mindset. I should have understood. And I am sorry that I didn't bring you in sooner. I was just so ..."

His eyes had a hint of sadness. The more he looked at her hand; his shoulders slumped as if in defeat. His eyes were perfect arbs of amber now, and she wondered if what she saw was real or a figment of her ...

"Are you avoiding my question, Morpheous? Why did your eyes change color? I don't know, but I think I saw it right. It had happened the first time you woke up too."

"Change color? I don't know what you are talking about, Caroline," and saying that, he sat next to her on the bed. "May I?"

She looked at his outstretched hand and deliberated for a second before nodding. For a moment, she wondered why she was even letting him but then decided to blame the morphine for her behavior.

He slowly reached out for the broken elbow, his fingers caressing her joint lightly. But she could only look at him.

'Why was he so affected? Does he care that much about me?'

She could instantly feel relief surging in, followed by numbness.

'Wow! The morphine has really kicked in!'

His touch, the care in his eyes, and his proximity sort of unnerved her---bringing out her vulnerable self. The version that she had hidden from everyone around her.

"I am fine, Morpheous. You don't have to worry. It would be a minor operation, and …" Her voice suddenly trailed away, and she could feel his expression change as if he was able to read her mind.

"What is it? What are you scared of, Caroline? Tell me. Please."

That voice! And that goddamn please!

She was melting!

"I am scared if… What if I may not be able to move my hands as before? You know how important hands are to a surgeon, right?"

She looked into his eyes in search of comfort, but they gave her more than that. His other hand that rested on his knees was clenched into a fist as if he was stopping himself from doing something or saying something. And that's when she instantly regretted opening up in front of him.

'Why did you even tell him such a thing, Carol? Are you out of your mind?' She mentally rebuked herself.

"Morpheous! OT7 is ready. Let's take her." Manila came in and announced, disturbing whatever was building up at that moment.

"I will take her. Can you cross-check if all medicines are ok in the OT room, Manila? Last time there was a goof-up." Morpheous requested.

"On it!" she said and left immediately, and she saw Morpheous opening his mouth to say something but preferred to stay silent eventually.

"Why do I feel you are hiding something from me too? Why do I feel there is more to you than meets my eyes? I trusted you, then why can't you trust me?"

He sighed as if he was surrendering and got up from the bed to help her lie down. As he held the back of her head, his face inches away from hers, he muttered, "You know me more than anyone does, and it scares me, Caroline."

"What do you mean, Morpheous?"

"Nothing. Do you trust me?" He asked as he lifted his head.

She had no idea how to answer that question, and she hated the fact that he was being so dismissive about everything.

"Do you trust me?" he asked again with eyes that bore deep into her soul.

"I guess!" Her hesitation was evident.

"Just hold onto that bit of trust. I promise you that nothing will happen. Your surgery will be absolutely fine. I give you my word."

She looked into his eyes, wanting to understand why he was sounding so sincere, but she could feel her eyes getting heavy, and suddenly everything started to blur.

"Morpheousssss!"

The stretcher wheels squealing against the floor made her open her eyes. And she saw Manila and Erica steering her bed to the ward.

Seeing her open her eyes, Manila asked, "How is the pain doctor? Let me know if you need a bit more Morphine."

'Pain! Oh, yes, pain. She should feel pain. But where was the pain?'

"I don't feel any pain!" she mumbled.

"It's the local anesthesia, my dear. It wears out a bit later. Till then, you are good to go."

"How was the procedure?"

"Smooth. They finished in like twenty-five minutes or so. It looked major in the x-ray image, but apparently, it was just a hairline crack. Such a relief."

"What?" she asked in surprise as she had seen her X-ray, which was so not a hairline fracture.

"How is that even possible?" she mumbled.