When it came to removing all the scars from her body, Garrison was the one who signed off, following a procedure similar to cosmetic surgery.
However, it was much less risky than cosmetic surgery since it didn’t involve bones. The extensive laser treatment on her skin was very painful, from her neck to her feet. It felt like being lightly burned, a pain that was bearable but impossible to ignore.
Winifred was already a light sleeper, and with such pain, she couldn’t sleep well at all. She had to rely on sleeping pills and a sleep aid device to force herself into slumber.
She grew tired of staying in the hospital. Garrison asked the doctor and confirmed that she could recuperate at home, so he brought Winifred back. It was rare for them to have some time alone together.
Another reason was that Winifred felt more anxious in the hospital, and a bad mood could significantly affect her treatment.
Winifred wanted to walk home; the distance from the hospital wasn’t far. She used to always take a car and would watch the scenery flash by through the window without having time to look closely.
She longed to go outside, but there were always bodyguards at the door saying she couldn’t leave without Garrison’s permission.
Even if she did go out, they would follow her closely. Winifred always listened to Garrison and felt that having them follow her was too troublesome and took away the fun of shopping. She preferred staying at home.
She could only learn about the outside world through her phone or tablet or listen to Garrison describe it to her.
This time, with Garrison accompanying her, Winifred mentioned wanting to walk home as a form of exercise. Garrison agreed.
But Winifred forgot that many parts of her body were wrapped in bandages, making walking difficult.
Feeling downcast, Garrison called for someone to bring a wheelchair.
“I’ll push you back. We can stroll around the square. Do you know what day it is today?”
“What day?” Spending every day at home, she had lost track of dates and didn’t even know what day of the week it was.
Garrison replied, “Today is Valentine’s Day.”
Valentine’s Day”I’ll take you out for a good time, and we’ll have dinner outside tonight.”
Winifred happily agreed.
Without needing Winifred to say anything, Garrison had already planned to take her out today. After all, it was their first Valentine’s Day together, and he had made arrangements in advance.
Having known Winifred for so long, he understood what she liked. They left the hospital and went first to a restaurant he had reserved. Since it was Valentine’s Day, the restaurant was beautifully decorated with couple’s seating and a bouquet of roses on each table.
When the steak arrived, Garrison thoughtfully cut it for her. Watching Winifred chew slowly with a fork, he couldn’t help but think of the past Winifred, the young lady from Gentry Estate.
The memory of rescuing Winifred from a sack where she fought for food like a wild dog seemed like a distant dream now.
Noticing Garrison’s gaze while eating steak, Winifred looked up. “What’s wrong?” she asked, puzzled.
“Nothing,” Garrison replied as he poured her half a glass of juice. “How’s the taste? Do you like it?”
“Yes, it’s delicious.”
“The first time I ate here, I thought you’d love it if you came,” he said. Whether it was food or surroundings, he always remembered Winifred’s preferences wherever he went, planning to bring her there someday and share it with her.
Winifred sensed something different in Garrison’s gaze-like he was looking at someone else through her-and felt uneasy. Her face had undergone plastic surgery; perhaps Garrison was thinking of the old Winifred when he looked at her now.
No matter past or present, she was still Winifred. That hadn’t changed. But in her heart, she felt like two different people-without memories or appearance or confidence-and without family… When psychologists advised her to accept who she was now, how could she?
She had become too prone to overthinking, only causing herself pain in the end.
Next on their agenda were an art exhibition and a concert.
Winifred felt out of place with painting and music but found herself familiar with them once there.
She wanted to touch the paintings and play the violin; when she tried, a sharp pain shot through her fingers.
Looking at her hands, she asked, “Did I used to know these things?”
Garrison hadn’t noticed anything unusual about her. “Yes, you used to paint beautifully and play the violin.”
Whether painting or performing on stage with a violin, Winifred had always been captivating, like a diamond under sunlight.
“But I can’t do these things anymore. My hands can’t manage them.” Her hands had long been problematic; even using scissors caused her hand to tremble non-stop. With little strength in her fingers, painting and playing violin that required dexterity and strength were impossible to her. Her hands were practically useless now.
Just like her voice and feet had defects that couldn’t be fixed anymore.
Winifred’s intense feelings of loss burst forth; Garrison immediately sensed it and understood what she was thinking.
“Medical science is advancing rapidly; within a few years your hands and voice might be treatable.”
“And if they are treated? I still won’t know how,” Winifred sighed bitterly while looking at her hands. “What happened during those years?”
Seeing fear in Winifred’s eyes made Garrison lean down and embrace he. “Those years were when I failed to protect you. But everything will get better; isn’t everything improving now?”
Winifred actually wanted to ask about those blank years, about her enemies, her family and places where she’d lived, but whenever she tried asking Garrison, he avoided answering her directly; hearing guilt in his voice made her stop asking altogether.
“Hungry? Want something to eat?”
Winifred shook her head. It wasn’t even five yet; she wasn’t hungry after having steak for lunch which digested slowly.
Garrison took Winifred out for a movie, a romantic one released on Valentine’s Day. They looked like any ordinary couple, buying popcorns and holding drinks together
Many couples filled theater seats already.
Halfway through the movie, Winifred fell asleep, making Garrison smile helplessly. The movie plot wasn’t attractive to him either. Before it was finished, he carried Winifred in his arms and ordered the assistant behind them to push the wheelchair.