Slender
1440 Words
Nicholas received immediate first aid at a clinic owned by Nathan Hamilton, his uncle and Giselle’s brother.
Nathan had given Giselle and her unborn son a special bracelet so they wouldn’t lose contact, even though Giselle never contacted him again.
Throughout this time, Nathan kept an eye on Giselle and Nicholas. He even helped Nicholas secure a medical scholarship so he could follow in the Hamilton family’s footsteps.
Using his skills and the clinic’s advanced equipment, Nathan treated Nicholas until he regained consciousness two days later.
Nicholas felt his entire body stiff and in pain. He also heard the sound of a heart monitor as he slowly opened his eyes and saw the hospital room’s white ceiling lights.
Nicholas looked confused.
He turned his head in all directions, feeling uneasy and on high alert in case someone appeared suddenly.
His heart raced, and one hand clenched into a fist. His other hand searched for something to throw when he heard footsteps approaching the room.
The door opened slowly.
Nicholas tensed up again while still lying down because his body was stiff.
However, he froze when he saw Nathan emerge from behind the door.
“Uncle?” he said.
Though they’d never met, Nicholas recognized Nathan from the photo Giselle always kept in her wallet.
At one point, Nicholas had even believed Nathan was his biological father until Giselle explained their true relationship.
“Don’t get up yet!” Nathan ordered.
He carefully changed Nicholas’s bandages and clothes, making Nicholas feel embarrassed.
Unfortunately, Nicholas’s weakened state forced him to accept Nathan’s help.
“I sent a message to your mother saying you were working overtime at the hospital.” Nathan glanced at Nicholas’s phone and took a deep breath. “You even left your phone unlocked.”
Nicholas swallowed hard, feeling embarrassed.
He hadn’t expected this to happen to him.
He was also surprised Nathan had the same idea: not to tell Giselle about his condition.
“How did Uncle know?” Nicholas asked in a hoarse, stuttering voice.
“The bracelet you’re wearing sent a signal to me. All this time, I’ve always been near you!” Nathan replied.
Nicholas was stunned again. His pupils dilated as he stared blankly, processing every word Nathan had just spoken.
So many questions flooded his mind. Questions demanding answers too difficult to voice.
All Nicholas’s questions were held back, locked at the edge of his lips. Nathan understood them through Nicholas’s expression.
“The Hamilton family never truly abandoned Giselle, Nicholas!” Nathan stated.
He pulled a chair up to his nephew’s bed, began tidying the bandages from Nicholas’s injuries, and started telling the story.
“Giselle left of her own free will. She didn’t want to burden our family, even though our parents were overjoyed about her pregnancy.”
“If what Uncle says is true—“
Nicholas shouldn’t have finished his sentence.
“Giselle was a young girl who fell in love. Your father made false promises that made her forget everything and abandon her mother!” Nathan exclaimed. “We tried to convince her to come back, but her shame and sense of responsibility for her mistake made her leave. That’s why the family asked me to watch over you.”
Nicholas raised his arm and examined the wooden bracelet he’d worn since childhood.
His mother had given him the bracelet to protect him from danger and evil in the outside world.
Could his mother have meant Nathan? Their guardian angel?
“So this bracelet sends a signal?” Nicholas murmured.
“Yes, through heartbeats and pulse. I can tell when something’s wrong by significant changes!”
Nicholas smiled at Nathan’s explanation.
“Was it Uncle who sent me all the medical books?” Nicholas asked again.
“Not just me!” he replied. “When I told the Hamilton family how smart you are and how ambitious you are to become a doctor, they were thrilled! They also sent books, a stethoscope, clothes, and everything else you needed for college!”
Nathan’s face lit up, and he felt massive relief finally sharing all the Hamilton family had done for Nicholas and Giselle.
He gently stroked Nicholas’s head.
His eyes shone bright and gentle, making Nicholas feel loved and as though he’d found the father he’d longed for.
“You’re never alone, Nich!” Nathan said. “You have no idea how much I wanted to bring you home when you got the highest grade at graduation!” Nathan’s voice trembled.
His eyes also welled up with tears.
He smiled at Nicholas.
“I didn’t know we were still considered family, Uncle. Mom never mentioned anything about you guys,” Nicholas explained.
Nathan nodded.
“Yeah, your mother had a lot of pride. Her ego was high, too. But now you know, so you can help us reunite with her.” Nathan added.
“Yes, Uncle, I’ll help! If what Uncle said is true, then I will.”
Nathan not only settled matters regarding Giselle but also cared for him until he was sufficiently recovered.
He even arranged for Nicholas not to get into trouble for taking days off from his duties as a specialist doctor at California Medical Center.
Nicholas didn’t know how Nathan managed it.
One thing was sure: On the fourth day at the clinic, Nicholas was forced to leave, though not fully recovered, due to a call from Dr. Hans, Nicholas’s mentor and supervising physician at the hospital.
Nicholas thought it was about a patient he was treating or related to the thesis he was writing under his mentoring schedule.
However, he was shocked to find August and Paula standing in Dr. Hans’s office, glaring at him.
The disappointment and anger he’d suppressed flared again. Yet, he tried to stay composed in front of Dr. Hans.
“Did you call me, Doctor?” Nicholas asked.
“Yes.”
Without preamble, Dr. Hans handed Nicholas his thesis and gave him a stern expression that made him uneasy and confused.
“What’s going on, Doctor?”
“You stole Dr. August’s research data for your thesis, Nicholas?”
The question caught Nicholas off guard.
He turned abruptly and fixed his sharp gaze on August, who stood calmly, expressionless.
Behind him, Paula looked down, seemingly sad.
“Paula has testified that you told her to seduce August so you could steal his research data!” Dr. Hans added.
Nicholas’s heart pounded.
He tried to approach August, but Dr. Hans shouted first.
“Answer my question, Nicholas!” he demanded.
Nicholas took a deep breath and glared at Dr. Hans. “I didn’t do it, Doctor! This is all a false accusation!” Nicholas shouted back.
“But I have strong evidence, Dr. Hans. Besides, how could Dr. Nicholas have obtained such important research data if he didn’t steal it from me?” August said confidently.
“What evidence are you talking about, Dr. August?” Nicholas asked, clenching his fists tightly and struggling not to punch August in the face.
“The surveillance cameras in your house!” he answered loudly.
Nicholas’s gaze shifted to Paula, who was still avoiding his sharp stare.
What other lies and tricks was she concocting this time? He felt like she was stabbing him repeatedly in the back.
“I’ve already handed the footage over to you, Dr. Hans.” August turned his face toward Dr. Hans.
“But Doctor, I’m certain the evidence has been tampered with! I couldn’t have done it. You clearly know where I got the research data!” Nicholas exclaimed.
Unfortunately, Dr. Hans was no longer on Nicholas’s side, even though he knew the truth.
“But the evidence says otherwise, Nicholas!” Dr. Hans said. “Even your fiancée has confessed everything.”
“But the two of them—“
Nicholas’s mouth locked again.
In the face of evidence and credible witnesses, his words wouldn’t be heard.
Nicholas also couldn’t bring his personal story into the workplace.
His heart burned with anger. His face reddened up to his ears, and he clenched his teeth tightly.
Paula seemed to notice his fury. She turned her face and body away from him.
“Don’t deny it anymore, Nicholas! Admit your mistake and replace all the research data!” Dr. Hans ordered.
“But how can I, Doctor? If I do that, my graduation date will be delayed!” Nicholas refused to accept the supervising physician’s demand.
“Then choose!” Dr. Hans replied. “Do you want to change your research data and face the consequences, or do you not want to graduate at all?”
***
- Writer
