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He swallowed as she laced her fingers with his, trying to be supportive… and he was a stranger. Why was she doing this – and why was he hanging on so tightly to this thread of hope?
It took him a moment, but he spoke openly to her – the words torn from a very dark part of his soul.
“I’m scared,” he admitted. “What if it’s still bad, and they have to take more?”
“Then we deal with it together,” she whispered tenderly, her dark eyes searching his. “I know we are strangers, but I think between the two of us, we are strong enough to deal with whatever comes next together.”
Max nodded – and looked away, feeling tears of panic sting his eyes. Bless her. Daphne didn’t let go of his hand as she called the nurse back over. He was silent as they took his vitals, and when the nurse moved to look at his leg, he must have made a noise because Daphne moved so fast it startled him. She was leaning over the bed protectively, glaring at the nurse.
“Before you just yank that sheet back, how about a little dignity?” she hissed, and he could have cheerfully kissed her for that moment. “He’s a man, not a body, so let’s make sure he’s covered… and talk us both through what you are doing.”
“Of course, Mrs. Collins.”
The sheet was pulled back gently, and his hospital gown was tugged into place covering him, chancing a look towards Daphne to see her reaction. She was pale, with two pink splotches darkening her cheeks, her lips pinched and nearly disappearing as she frowned.
“Does it look bad?” he whispered.
“No,” she admitted. “I expected worse.”
And Max couldn’t help it – he looked.
His head spun as he saw that they had amputated his leg just below his knee. The skin was pulled tightly, and the wound looked angry where it was stitched together. He expected some raw, hacked-off stump at the end of his leg like you saw in all the horror or war movies but this wasn’t it. A choked, panicked, bitter laugh escaped him, and he met Daphne’s alarmed gaze.
“Is it weird that my big toe itches?” he said. “Am I losing my mind, ‘cause it’s sure not there.”
“No,” the nurse began, looking up at them and nodding. “It’s called a ‘phantom limb,’ and it’s not unusual to feel an itch or a sensation that it’s there. Mrs. Collins, if you’ll look right here – you’ll see a bit of redness. I’m going to put some ointment on there, but we want to watch for this.”
“Is it bad?” he asked hoarsely, interrupting the duo.
“No,” the nurse smiled. “Truthfully, it’s looking pretty good.”
He nodded abruptly and stared as she pointed at a few stitches, talking to Daphne, and then began treating it before bandaging it back up. Within moments, she was collecting everything and smiled at them.
“I’ll bring you a tray, Mrs. Collins. Mr. Collins, try to get some rest. We’ll be back in about four hours to check your vitals again.”
And with that – they were alone.
“Thank you,” Daphne said quietly, taking her seat again beside the bed.
“For what?”
“For braving all of that and giving me a chance to ask questions.”
He stared at her in disbelief.
“Daphne,” he began. “I’m the one who should be thanking you…”
“Yeah, you should,” she interrupted, laughing softly and smiling at him – causing him to chuckle in awareness. She really was something, and despite being a stranger, he couldn’t ask for a better advocate or friend.
And felt a twinge.
Ortega had been his best friend – and still was. Max couldn’t imagine what the other man was going through right now, and he’d saved his life. If Ortega hadn’t been stubborn or strong enough to have knocked him out, he would have fought this tooth-and-nail… and probably have died.
Instead, Max was sitting here in a hospital feeling better than he had in weeks, and married to a strange yet amazing woman.
“Daphne?” he began again and saw her watching him. “Thank you for having my back and talking some sense into me. I don’t know that I could have done this alone.”
“Sure, you could,” she replied, leaning forward and resting her other hand atop their two. He was still holding her hand, hanging on to it like a lifeline… and honestly liked how soft it was – and just how nicely it fit his.
