"I'll take care of you for the rest of your life, Thomas."
"Wait!"
I screamed. "If you cut off my hand, your career is over too!"
She shook her head slowly.
"Thomas, Dean Edwards is my mentor. She won't let things spiral that far.
"Don't worry. I have the connections to stay in medicine. I'll protect you for the rest of your life."
"She's already given up on you!"
Her body went rigid.
Then a soft laugh:
"No, she hasn't."
Bang! "AHHH!!"
A scream tore from my throat, raw and inhuman.
Sweat beaded across my forehead, mingling with tears as they slid down my face.
For a single promise of "save him," Nellie Sullivan was willing to go this far.
I couldn't feel my right hand anymore.
I didn't dare turn my head to look.
I didn't dare imagine what my right hand looked like now.
"Thomas, it's okay, it's okay, don't be scared..."
A towel wrapped around my right hand.
Nellie pressed her lips to my right wrist.
"Don't worry. I'll stay by your side for the rest of my life."
I heard my own voice, trembling:
"Get... away from me."
"Thomas..."
"GET AWAY FROM ME!"
Through my ragged, heaving breaths, Nellie let go.
"Thomas, I'm sorry. But until the dust settles, I need you to stay here. Chad's reputation can't be tarnished."
I laughed through my tears.
"You're that afraid I'll walk out and tell the truth."
"I'm sorry..."
The door closed in front of me.
The room plunged into total darkness.
My consciousness followed it down.
When I woke again, it was to Nellie gripping my arm and shaking me.
"Thomas! Thomas, wake up! Why is Gregory Henson coughing up blood again? You saved him, didn't you?"
My right hand was numb. Dead to all sensation.
I stared at the wild-eyed woman in front of me.
A cold laugh escaped my lips.
"With injuries that severe, follow-up treatment has to keep pace. You really thought one surgery would fix everything?"
"You—"
Nellie's grip on my arm tightened.
"Why didn't you say so sooner!"
Then something clicked. Her expression shifted to panic and she released me, seizing my left hand and dragging me toward the door.
"Hurry! Stabilize Gregory's condition! If something happens, Chad will be held responsible!"
"Nellie!"
I summoned every ounce of strength I had left.
"My hand is gone!"
She froze mid-step.
Slowly, her gaze drifted to my right hand.
Her pupils contracted.
"It's fine..."
Her voice came out thin, barely a whisper.
"You can do it with one hand."