Wounded Heart

Chapter 15 A new house

The next day, Elena rose with the sun. She made her way to the city, her heart drumming a rhythm of hope and uncertainty. Her destination: Jason's office.

As she entered, the air felt heavy with anticipation. Jason greeted her with a warm smile, his eyes holding a mix of sympathy and resolve. "Well, Elena," he began, his voice gentle yet firm, "I could only secure the position of a cleaner for you here at the hospital."

A grateful smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I understand, Jason. You went above and beyond already. I wasn't even sure you could pull this off considering..." Her voice trailed off, the weight of her past hanging in the air between them.

Jason nodded, his expression softening. "But if you're not satisfied, I can speak to some of my colleagues, see if they can work out something better for you. The pay for this job is decent, though."

Elena shook her head, her gratitude overflowing. "Oh no, Jason, this is a really nice job. I'm more than grateful for your efforts." Her words were sincere, a testament to the gratitude she felt towards him.

Jason smiled, relief evident in his eyes. "Alright then, you can start right away, if you'd like."

Elena's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? Wow, thank you so much, Jason," she exclaimed. Barely 24 hours ago she couldn’t even get the job of a street sweeper.And she owed it all to Jason's support.

During the lunch hour, Jason arrived to pick up Elena, his presence a welcome interruption to her routine. She attempted to decline his invitation, but Jason's persuasive charm won her over, and soon they found themselves seated at a quaint café, their plates filled with savory dishes.

As they ate, a comfortable silence settled between them, broken only by the clinking of cutlery and the soft murmur of conversation around them.Yet beneath the surface, a current of unspoken worries and unaddressed concerns lingered,

waiting to be acknowledged.

"I followed you yesterday," Jason confessed suddenly, his gaze steady yet gentle. "I'm sorry, it wasn't intentional, but I was worried about where you sleep. And I must say, Elena, I'm quite disappointed that you didn't see me as a friend enough to ask me for help. I mean, under the bridge, really?"

Elena's breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening in disbelief at Jason's revelation. She had never expected him to delve into the depths of her personal struggles, let alone take it upon himself to ensure her well-being.

"I... I didn't want to burden you," she admitted softly, her voice laced with guilt.

Jason reached across the table, his hand finding hers in a comforting gesture. "Elena, you're not burdening me," he insisted, his eyes filled with sincerity. "You're my friend, and friends help each other in times of need."

Tears welled up in Elena's eyes as the weight of Jason's words washed over her, dispelling the walls of isolation she had erected around herself. She blinked back the tears, her gratitude mingling with a newfound sense of vulnerability.

"Thank you, Jason," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I've rented a small apartment for you," he revealed, his tone tinged with warmth. "It's nothing fancy, but it's manageable. And the neighborhood isn't half bad."

Elena's heart swelled with overwhelming gratitude as she stared at the keys in disbelief, the weight of Jason's generosity almost too much to bear. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.

Jason squeezed her hand gently, his eyes crinkling at the corners with a reassuring smile. "You don't need to thank me, Elena," he assured her. "Just promise me one thing: that you'll accept my help when you need it."

I will pay you back when I receive my first payment, and I will treat you to lunch."

You don’t have to Elena but if that’s what you want then it’s fine.

As they delved into their meals, their conversation meandered through various topics, providing a welcome distraction from the rigors of their respective duties. However, their moment of respite was short-lived as Kate, a fellow doctor at the hospital, made her entrance into the cafeteria.

At the sight of Elena and Jason dining together, Kate's expression twisted with thinly veiled disdain. She strode over to their table, her voice dripping with contempt as she addressed Elena.

"Oh my God, Elena, is this you?" Kate exclaimed, her tone laced with condescension. "I mean, who would have thought that our very own excellent student would end up a cleaner? What a waste of knowledge."

Well Kate nice to see you too, it has indeed been a while.

Jason's jaw tightened at Kate's remarks, a flicker of anger flashing in his eyes as he rose to Elena's defense. "Kate, that's enough," he interjected firmly, his voice carrying a note of warning. "Elena is doing what she needs to do, and she's doing it with dignity."

But Kate's scornful gaze remained fixed on Elena, her envy simmering just beneath the surface. "I'm just saying it's a shame who would have taught to see someone with so much potential throwing it all away," she retorted, her words dripping with malice.

Kate attended same school as Elena and Jason.They had been in the same school for years, yet to him, she was just another face in the crowd.

Kate's heart twisted with envy as she watched them, her mind swirling with questions that had haunted her for years. What did Elena have that she didn't? She had often asked her self.

She choose to work in the hospital to be close to him, yet he doesn’t even notice her.

Well, before you cause more scene than this I think we should go Elena.

Yeah.. I’m done too.

Kate just stood watching them leave.