A Million Reasons | K. Danvers ✔

[65] Bitter Truth

• July 03, 2017 •

Mon did not break his word and told them truthfully about the messages he had received and intentionally ignored them so that his parents would think he hadn't survived and would leave earth. He also told them that if he had the slightest idea that it would backfire so immensely he would never have done that.

He felt terrible at being a root cause to the death and injuries of so many people due to that explosion in the trade center. But most importantly, he was feeling twice guilty as Zach had become a part of it too.

He knew very well how much Kara cared for him, he had seen her distress when they had found him injured. And knowing that he was directly or indirectly a reason for the destruction that had almost killed Zach made him feel horrible.

He had vowed to never do anything that would make Kara sad, which was precisely the reason he had chosen not to pursue a relationship with her since she was already very much taken with Zach. But right then, he had caused a lot of pain not only to Kara and Zach but also to hundreds of other people who were innocent yet paid the price of Mon's negligence.

"I know I don't deserve to be forgiven," he spoke in a low guilt-ridden voice after explaining everything truthfully just as Richard had demanded from him, "but please believe me that I would never intentionally hurt any of you. You all are my friends, my family, the only family I respect and want to be with. I... I just didn't want to leave. But I know it was very selfish of me to not consider the consequences, I truly didn't want any of this to happen."

Silence gripped the room and Mon knew he should have expected it. His negligence had caused a lot of destruction and they were standing on the brink of another attack by the Daxamites. That attack could be the start of an intergalactic war and only chaos would hit them all if it wasn't stopped.

Richard was the first to break the silence as he spoke up, "so now your parents are thinking that you must be saved from our captivity but you don't want to give yourself up, which means there will be more attacks..."

"I will give myself up," Mon replied in resignation, "if that's what it takes to stop any such incident from happening again then I'll have to. I already feel so guilty about everyone that got affected due to this. And... Especially Zach... If I had told you guys earlier, if I had replied to my parents, he would not have to go through such a lot."

The silence was even thicker after that reply and Mon felt as if there was something else that had caused everyone to turn deadly silent. So he turned to see what they were looking at and he fell into silence as well.

"Kara..." 

His face turned ashen to see her standing there and it was evident that she had heard every single word. The pain and hurt on her features were enough proof of that.

"Kara, wait!"

But she had left immediately, knowing that if she stayed her anger would get the better of her and she might end up doing something she would regret afterward.

"Don't go after her," Connor who had reached there with her stopped Mon, knowing full well that Kara needed to be alone, "you stay here and solve this mess along with us."

Mon had no choice but to agree though he knew that if he didn't get to talk to Kra, it would destroy the friendship they had. He had tried his best to bury away his feelings because he didn't want that friendship with her to get affected adversely.

But there was no way to save it as it had all crumbled down. The most he could do was find a way out with the rest of the team to stop his parents from attacking further.

***

• July 04, 2017 •

Zach had been shifted to a private patient room after six hours of close observation in the ICU. He was conscious and the anesthesia had worn off completely but he was still kept on pain management until the recovery sped up.

His left side was still frozen as it would take time and therapy for him to get his mobility back. The damage his nerves had suffered couldn't be healed with just one surgery but there was hope that with time he would get better enough to stand up on his feet and walk as well.

But his career as an Olympic qualifier had undoubtedly come to an end. There was no way he could recover in time for the World Championships, and even if he miraculously did recover, he would not be able to run.

Zach was aware of that and despite all the reassurance given to him by his family and friends, he was crestfallen. The injuries he had sustained might not be as painful to him as compared to the knowledge of never being able to achieve his dream.

And even though he tried his best to not worry the people close to him but it showed from his demeanor that he was internally suffering.

He was that sort of highly ambitious person who could go to hell and back to achieve his goals. Hence being so close to the target yet being snatched of the opportunity struck him deep.

"Zach, dear, breakfast is here," Morena's voice shook him out of his thoughts and he looked up.

Right then Morena was staying with him and as breakfast had arrived, she took the seat beside him, adjusted his bed up so that he was in a sitting position and then helped him to eat. 

He couldn't eat on his own because he had been prescribed complete rest for his body to heal properly. So far, his family had been taking care of him a lot but he had started to feel the helplessness already. He did not want to burden them but was helpless in that situation.

And it was kind of an extra layer over the entire disappointment of not being able to compete. For Zach, it was the worst situation he had ever gotten stuck in. But seeing everyone around him worrying for him and giving him hope made him feel that he shouldn't weigh them down. So he tried his best to hide the emotional turmoil going on inside him the best he could.

"Mom," he spoke up after he had had breakfast, right hand reaching out towards her, "can I say something?"

"Of course, honey, you can tell me anything," she gave him a reassuring smile, taking his hand and didn't get up from the seat beside him.

"Thank you," he mumbled, eyes flickering in sadness, "thank you so much for taking care of me and putting up with me. I... I know it's difficult and..."

However, she stopped him before he could complete the sentence, sensing that his voice was being weighed down by sorrow and pain, "Zach, dear, why do you think like that? There's no need to say thanks. We're family and we know if any of us got hurt, you'd do the same too."

He nodded, reverting his gaze as he felt he would break down to tears. He had never thought of Morena as any different than his own mother but he remembered life without a caring mother figure. 

He did not remember his biological mother as she had died when he was very young but he had felt the absence a lot while growing up. So now that he had Morena who had filled that empty space, he was very grateful.

"But still, thank you. I'm so grateful I have you, Mom. You're the best."

Morena patted his head gently, knowing he not only needed care at the moment but also a lot of comfort, "don't overthink right now. All we want for you is to recover quickly so that you can go back home with us. And it would make all the difference if you stop burdening yourself with these unnecessary thoughts."

"I know..."

"It will take time but you will get better," she reassured him, "we all believe in you and we're all here for you."

***