The Chemist's Conundrum

Chapter Six: Day Six

When Ava opened her eyes, she saw a white wall in front of her. She could feel the weight of something on her feet. She looked down and saw Cate holding her hand, asleep at the edge of the bed. Turning her head, she noticed Dina sleeping in a chair next to the window.

Ava glanced at the window, realizing that at least a day had passed—it was nearly morning. She couldn’t wait any longer; she needed to talk to someone.

"Cate..." she whispered.

Cate stirred and opened her eyes, immediately moving closer to Ava. She gently hugged her, but Ava winced. "Ouch."

Cate quickly pulled back. "Sorry... Does it hurt?"

"A little... on my chest," Ava replied softly.

Tears welled up in Cate's eyes as she tenderly stroked Ava’s cheek. "How long has it been?" Ava asked.

"I found you yesterday. It’s been just about a day—now it’s eight o’clock in the morning."

Ava looked down at her hand, then at her feet. "What did he do to me?"

Cate's voice was heavy with sorrow. "He broke some of your bones... and there are bruises. Your head was also injured a bit."

Ava’s expression hardened. "Where is he now?"

"The police searched your apartment, and apartment cameras," Cate explained. "They found out it was him. I told them he was our suspect. He’s been arrested."

Just then, Dina’s voice cut through the quiet room. "Ava..."

Dina walked over and hugged Ava tightly. "Can’t believe our date turned into this—a hospital visit."

Ava managed a small laugh. "Dina..."

"Yeah?"

"Can you stay outside for a minute?" Ava asked.

Dina nodded, but before she left, she leaned in and kissed Ava on the lips. Ava kissed her back without hesitation. As Dina left the room, Cate asked with a gentle smile, "Is she your girlfriend now?"

"We were supposed to go on a date yesterday, before all of this happened," Ava replied.

Cate smiled softly. Ava then took a deep breath. "Cate..."

Cate nodded, encouraging her to continue.

"Your videos," Ava began. "They’re all deleted."

Cate stared at Ava in disbelief as she continued. "I got close to him so I could get into his apartment. I poisoned him and gave him sedatives. Then, I accessed his phone and laptop to erase everything. The USB drives I brought to your house—I found them in his apartment too, and I deleted their contents."

Cate was silent, processing everything Ava had just revealed. Finally, she whispered, "Thank you, baby."

Ava nodded, then gently asked, "So, do you want to tell me where this all started? When did he begin bothering you?"

Cate hesitated, her voice trembling as she began to speak. "I'm afraid you'll hate the woman you helped."

Ava’s smile was warm and reassuring, her fingers tightening gently around Cate's hand. "Nothing you say could ever make me hate you, Cate. I promise."

Cate took a deep breath, gathering the courage to share her story. She hadn’t told anyone the full truth before, and now, in this sterile hospital room, the words felt heavy as they left her mouth. "I was married for three years," she began, her voice soft but steady. "At first, it was everything I thought it would be. We were in love, or at least I thought we were. But as time went on, he became... distant. I was unhappy, but I didn’t want to admit it."