ATTACHMENTS

Chapter 5: Too close.

Hale didn’t wait for her reply.

“If existence alone is enough… Why does it bother you so much that I noticed you paused? Why does it matter that I saw the last eyelet on your shoe? Why are you here at all if simply being is valuable enough?”

Amber’s heart dropped,. her eyes narrowing.

“How did you know I’m from Angola?”

For the first time, she held eye contact. Curiosity mixed with clear impatience in her eyes.

Hale leaned back slightly, unfazed..“Is that the only thing you took from everything I just said?”

A pause.

Amber didn’t blink.

The question still hung unanswered.

Not denied. Not confirmed.

Just… redirected.

Amber’s heart was still beating fast, but she refused to look away. The discomfort in her was already present in her vibrating fingers on her laps.

“You didn’t answer my question,” she said, with a cracked voice. “How do you know I’m from Angola?”

Hale watched her for a long second, completely calm. Then he breathed out, almost like a sigh of disappointment.

“You’re still focusing on the wrong thing, Amber.”

He moved back to his seat opposite her and sat down slowly, crossing one leg over the other.

“This morning you stood in front of everyone and declared that life has value simply because it exists. Yet the moment I mention something personal about you, something you didn’t offer, you become defensive. You want control over the information. Over how much of yourself is seen.”

Amber opened her mouth, but Hale raised a hand slightly.

“Tell me honestly,” he continued leaning in with his tone, quiet but sharp. “If existence alone is enough, why did you leave Angola? Why fight for a scholarship in a country where people sometimes look at you like you don’t belong? Why drive all the way here?

Amber felt heat rise in her face, her butt became warmer. “That’s different. Growth matters. Ambition matters.”

“Growth toward what?” Hale asked, hands dragging his beards. “Excellence? Success? Or are you simply afraid of living an ordinary life? A life that just… exists?”

He paused, letting the silence stretch.

“You argued that a man in a coma has the same value as someone chasing a purpose. But deep down, you don’t believe that. Because if you truly believed it, you wouldn’t be here right now. You wouldn’t care that I noticed your hesitation in class. You wouldn’t care that I read your file.”

Amber gripped the edge of the couch. “You’re twisting my words.”

“I’m not twisting them,” Hale said softly. “I”m laying your words before you”.

His eyes still fixed on her.

“So I’ll ask you again. The same question from this morning, but this time without an audience. Is life valuable on its own… or only because of what we attach to it? And before you answer, think carefully. Because the way you live your life right now is already answering for you.”

Amber sat there, the weight of his words pressing down on her chest. The house suddenly felt smaller.

She wanted to argue. She wanted to push back hard.

But for the first time, she wasn’t sure her answer would sound as convincing as it did in the lecture hall.

“I… I don’t know anymore,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Hale didn’t smile. He simply watched her, eyes steady, as if he had been waiting for exactly those words.

“Good,” he said softly. “Now we can begin.”

Hale didn’t wait for her reply.

“If existence alone is enough… Why does it bother you so much that I noticed you paused? Why does it matter that I saw the last eyelet on your shoe? Why are you here at all if simply being is valuable enough?”

Amber’s heart dropped,. her eyes narrowing.

“How did you know I’m from Angola?”

For the first time, she held eye contact. Curiosity mixed with clear impatience in her eyes.

Hale leaned back slightly, unfazed..“Is that the only thing you took from everything I just said?”

A pause.

Amber didn’t blink.

The question still hung unanswered.

Not denied. Not confirmed.

Just… redirected.

The silence in the room has become significantly uncomfortable for Amber. Her eyes fixed on the table, heart cold with loud thoughts.

Hale stood and walked towards the window, staring at the garden. The sound of birds singing was no longer comfortable Amber.

“Are you here because you want to understand…” he said softly, “or because you’re afraid I’m right about you?”

Amber opened her mouth to respond, but the words were absent. Was it that the words are too heavy for me or I don't have anything to say? She questioned her mind. She stood up, trying to answer like standing would elevate her morale, but still couldn’t find the words.

Her eyes drifted towards Hale's appearance and his composure. She noticed the way he never blinked first.

Hale took one more step forward. “You argue that life has value simply because it exists. Yet you left Angola. You left your family behind for a scholarship in a foreign country where people sometimes treat you like you don’t belong. If existence alone is enough, why does that pain you? Why chase excellence so desperately?”

Amber felt her chest tighten. “That’s not fair. Growth matters. Ambition matters. I want to be better. For myself and for my family.”

“Better than what?” Hale asked, his voice calm but cutting. “Better than simply existing? You see how quickly your own philosophy collapses when applied to your real life?”

Her gaze lingered on the line of his jaw before she caught herself.

Before Amber could reply, the door opened quietly.

Frances entered carrying a small tray with fresh tea and biscuits. She paused when she saw how close Hale and Amber were standing. Her eyes moved between them for a brief second.

“Excuse me, sir. I brought some tea,” Frances said softly, placing the tray on the center table with smiles like it never leaves her cheeks.

“Thank you Frances.” Hale didn’t step back. He kept his eyes on Amber for another moment before turning slightly toward Frances.

“Thank you” Amber's voice chipped in with a mild voice.

“Frances,” he said, his tone measured. “Tell me something honestly. Do you think a person’s life has value simply because they are alive… or does it only become valuable through what they do and who they attach themselves to?” His eyes fixed on the pulse point at Amber's throat.

Frances wiped her hands on her apron and thought for a moment. She looked at Amber with kind but knowing eyes.

“Master Hale, Frances began, folding the hand towel she had into her apron.

“I’m just an old woman who has seen a lot,” she began.“To me, value comes from love and connection. Just breathing is not enough.” she paused. “I’ve buried two husbands and raised children that weren’t mine. Some people live long lives and leave nothing behind but their name on a grave.” She coughed, Amber rushed as she poured water to her which she drank. She continued. ”Others live short but touch many hearts. To me, value comes from connection. From love. From pain. From trying. Just breathing is not enough. You have to matter to someone… or to something.”

Frances gave Amber a small, gentle smile. “But that’s just an old maid’s opinion.”

“Please don't end your contribution that way. It matters too.” Amber said. Feeling eased.

“Thank you, Frances,” Hale said as Frances walked away.

As soon as the door closed behind her, the room felt even smaller. Hale turned back to Amber.

“You see?” he said, stepping even closer. “Even Frances understands that attachment creates meaning. Yet you still fight it with everything in you.”

Amber’s back touched the edge of the bookshelf. There was nowhere left to go. She no longer felt the gentle breeze from the windows.

“You use everyone to prove your point,” she whispered. “Even your maid.”

Hale stood close enough for her to hear the change in his breathing.

The room had gone completely still.

“You keep looking at me like you want answers,” he said quietly. Eyes fixed on her.

Amber swallowed. “Maybe I do.” shifting her glance to the wall across the room, then slowly, she brought her eyes back to his. He was already waiting there.

His eyes dropped briefly to her lips before returning to her eyes again.

That tiny movement alone made her heartbeat stumble.

For one dangerous second, neither of them moved.

Then Hale stepped back abruptly.

“No,” he muttered, more to himself than to her.

Amber frowned slightly. “What?”

Hale turned away, running a hand through his dreads.

“You should go home, Amber.”

The rejection hit harder than she expected.

“Why did you invite me here if you were just going to push me away?” she asked softly.

Hale looked at her over his shoulder. His expression was unreadable now.

“Because,” he said quietly, “I wanted to see whether curiosity would win over caution.”

A pause.

“And now I know. Go home”.

He left the room with Amber's heart cold and surprised. Suddenly, the walls felt tighter, air heavier, and the night colder.

“Amber dear, Hale said you wanted to leave. Hope all is well?” Frances walked into the room, rubbing her wet hands on her apron.

Amber was quiet. She bent over to pick up her bag.

Yes I did. It's already late. Gotta go.” Amber forced a smile off her face.

“Permit me to walk you out.” Frances smiled. Walking towards the door.

“Sure.”

Amber walked to the mirror next to the shelf, looked at herself, then nodded in disbelief and walked away.

“I want to believe you're a very smart girl. Don't let Hale get into your head. We all have our own views. It must not be perfect. But we should believe it.” Frances said as they walked out of the house.

“He's not in my head. It's just that I don't know, He just has his way of making me confused and doubtful and…oh!” She looked down, fighting to keep the tears from spilling over.

“Listen dear” , Frances pulled Amber by the hand and halted their movement.

“Don't feel bad, Sometimes learning is difficult, sometimes curiosity creates confusion. But above all, know why you want to grow.” Frances leaned in as she hugged Amber.

“I'm fine. I'm fine.”Amber forced a fake smile onto her face, trying to look like she was fine which was rarely seen by the rays of the lights from their stands.

“I better be heading home while I can.” Amber hugged Frances one last time as she walked to the gate.

She turned again to wave to Frances then her eyes moved to the image of Hale as he stood in a window, looking towards them.

She entered her scooter and zoomed off. She didn't look back again. But she already knew he was still there.