Inside the office, the others exchanged surprised and puzzled glances. After a brief silence, the doctor chuckled and remarked to Cristofer, “You make a loving couple. Many couples with children can grow tired of each other due to life’s small annoyances. But you two are different from them. I believe you’ll have a happy life together forever.”
The doctor was giving his blessings to Cristofer and Estelle, but instead of feeling happy, Cristofer felt a deep sadness when hearing this. ‘I used to want to spend the rest of my life with Estelle, but it’s impossible now,’ he thought. With a forced smile, he nodded and asked, “Doctor, are you going to perform a bone reduction for me like last time?”
“Yes, unfortunately. If you had been more cautious, you could have avoided the pain of a second bone reduction,” the doctor remarked. He then called over his assistant and rolled up his sleeves. “This time, you may experience more discomfort than before. Don’t worry. Let me know if it becomes too much, and I’ll be gentle.”
“Alright,” Cristofer replied calmly. He looked at the children and said, “Doctor, could we wait for their mom to return before we begin?” He was concerned that the children might get scared if they saw the scars on his legs, and he didn’t want Estelle to witness the treatment process either. So, he wanted to wait for her to come back and then ask her to take the children outside.
Understanding Cristofer’s request, the doctor agreed with a nod. He then instructed his assistant to prepare for the procedure.
At that moment, Yohan stepped forward and assured, “Dad, I’ll take care of my sisters. Don’t worry.”
Seeing this, a nurse who was standing nearby offered her assistance and said to the children, “The doctor will be treating your Dad. Why don’t we wait for him outside the office, okay?”
“Okay!”
“Thank you,” Cristofer nodded to the nurse in gratitude.
After the nurse left with the children and closed the door to the office, Cristofer turned to the doctor and said, “Doctor, we can start now.”
The doctor’s task was to perform a bone reduction for Cristofer. This meant he needed to put Cristofer’s dislocated bone back into its normal position within the joint and also mend Cristofer’s leg bone, which had been broken again the previous night. Both processes were painful, and Cristofer would have to endure them without anesthesia.
Meanwhile, Estelle returned with a bag of medication. She knew that Cristofer’s leg was severely injured and had witnessed how challenging it was for him to stand up. However, she had no idea just how painful the treatment process would be. As she approached the office door, she heard Cristofer emitting muffled groans from within, causing her to freeze in place with her hand on the doorknob. Her heart ached at the thought of the pain Cristofer was enduring.
Standing outside the door, she couldn’t muster the courage to enter. She couldn’t alleviate his pain or share in it; all she could do was wait anxiously for him.
Inside the doctor’s office, the only sounds were Cristofer’s groans. Several minutes later, Estelle, who felt as though each second was an eternity, finally heard the doctor’s voice.
“It’s done. I’ll have my assistant put your legs in a cast. You must use your wheelchair and avoid walking until you’re fully recovered. Remember that,” the doctor said gently.
“I understand. Thank you, doctor,” Cristofer replied weakly, his forehead soaked with sweat.
Seeing Cristofer’s shirt drenched in sweat, the doctor handed him a tissue and said sympathetically, “You must have been in a lot of pain just now. It’s okay to scream or shout if it helps. No one here will judge you. We’ve seen many patients cry out and yell during these procedures.”
The doctor recalled that the last time he treated Cristofer, Cristofer had only emitted a few muffled groans. He had never encountered a patient as strong as Cristofer and couldn’t help but admire his endurance.
Taking a deep breath, Cristofer accepted the tissue and wiped his sweaty forehead. He smiled faintly and explained, “My children are outside. They always see me as an invincible superhero. I need to maintain that image for them. Besides, as their father, I should set a good example, especially for my son. I hope he can be as strong as me.”
“You really are a wonderful father,” the doctor remarked as he noticed Cristofer looking better. He then instructed his assistant to begin applying the plaster to Cristofer’s legs.
Estelle clenched her fists so tightly outside the door that her knuckles turned white. She felt a persistent, sharp pang in her heart as if something were continuously pricking at it.
Estelle stood outside the door, lost in her worries for Cristofer. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn’t hear a nurse approaching her until the nurse spoke. Startled, Estelle quickly pulled her mind back to the present and realized that she had stood there for a long time.
With an apologetic smile, Estelle replied to the nurse in a hushed tone, “I’m sorry, I was lost in thought and didn’t hear you. What did you say?” She thought the nurse might be about to discuss Cristofer’s condition with her.
The nurse moved closer to Estelle and explained, “I just wanted to inform you that family members can accompany patients during their treatment. If you’re concerned about Mr. Hans, you can go inside and stay with him. These treatments can be quite painful, and many patients find comfort in having their loved ones by their side.”
Upon hearing the word “family,” Estelle’s smile faltered, and her uneasiness was visible on her face. Sensing her discomfort, the nurse observed Estelle’s pallor and added, “Mrs. Hans, it’s clear that you’re deeply worried about Mr. Hans. You should consider going inside to let him know you care rather than waiting out here.”
“I see. Thank you,” Estelle said and forced a smile out of politeness. I certainly want to keep Cristofer company. ‘I want to go inside so much, but I can’t do that. He’s a proud man. And he’s unwilling to show his weak side to others. If I go inside, Cristofer will be embarrassed. For him, it’s more painful than being killed when others see his weak side.’
The hospital corridor was bustling with people, patients, and their families. It seemed like everyone had someone by their side, offering comfort during tough times. Estelle couldn’t help but notice that, in moments like these, no one had to face their pain all alone.
Estelle recalled hearing about different levels of loneliness. The lower levels included activities like dining or going to the movies alone, while the highest level of loneliness was having to visit the doctor all by oneself when seriously ill.