WOULD YOU RESCUE ME?

74.An Unexpected Visit

The warmer days crept closer, carrying with them the end of the exam session and a sense of transition. For Astra, the approaching summer wasn't just the conclusion of another academic term; it was the culmination of four years of hard work and perseverance. Graduation was only few months away, a milestone she had been working toward tirelessly. It was bittersweet to think about how much had changed over those years. Her class, which had once been nearly ninety students strong, had dwindled to fifty-six. Some had graduated early, their ambitions propelling them forward. Others had withdrawn, overwhelmed by the relentless demands of the program. Astra had watched friends leave, some with triumphant smiles, others with quiet regret. Now, she was one of the few left standing, and the weight of that achievement hung heavy in her chest.

Vanessa knew how much this meant to Astra. She could see it in the way her girlfriend meticulously organized her notes, in the late nights spent hunched over her laptop, and in the way Astra's green eyes lit up whenever she talked about what lay ahead. Knowing that Astra's schedule was packed, Vanessa made it her mission to support her in every way she could.

Vanessa's own life had slowed to a painful crawl. The routines she used to thrive on, her shifts in the ER, her intense gym sessions, the busy whirlwind of her studies, had been stripped back. Physiotherapy had replaced weightlifting, the gym now a space for slow stretches and deliberate exercises meant to restore strength to her battered body. Her shifts at the ER were sparse, her supervisors insistent that she not overextend herself. And though she tried to throw herself into her studies, her mind often wandered, her focus fractured by the lingering pain and the ever-present shadows of what had happened.

Her ribs still ached when she moved too quickly, a sharp reminder of her fractured state. The faint discoloration around her eyes, the remnants of the "raccoon signs" from her injuries, made her avoid mirrors. The surgeries she'd endured left deeper scars, both physical and emotional. The splenectomy had left a persistent tightness in her side, a sensation she could only describe as a dull, throbbing absence. The pneumothorax, though healed, still haunted her with an occasional stabbing pain in her chest that made her breath hitch unexpectedly. Each sensation was a reminder of how close she had come to the edge, and how far she still had to go.

To cope, Vanessa stayed close to Astra. She went to the bar whenever Astra had a shift, claiming a corner seat at the counter where she could study or simply watch her girlfriend. Astra's presence grounded her, gave her a sense of safety she couldn't find elsewhere. Even when Astra had lectures, Vanessa often skipped her own classes to sit quietly in the back of Astra's, her textbooks open but her attention divided between her notes and the familiar comfort of Astra's voice as she participated in discussions.

Vanessa's devotion wasn't purely selfless. The truth was, she didn't feel safe alone. Not anymore. Not since Jack had been readmitted to campus. Though she hadn't seen him up close, the knowledge that he was nearby sent waves of unease rippling through her. Her physical vulnerability only heightened her fear. With her ribs still tender, her body marked by fresh scars, and her stamina diminished, she knew she couldn't defend herself if something happened. The thought made her stomach twist.

Whenever she was alone, her mind played cruel tricks on her. Footsteps in the hall became menacing. A knock on the door made her heart race. Even the sight of a red car, any red car, could send her spiraling into panic. But when she was with Astra, those fears receded, if only slightly. Astra's steady presence, her unwavering strength, was the one thing that made Vanessa feel protected. It was why she clung so tightly to her girlfriend, following her from the bar to the lecture halls, seeking solace in her nearness.

One evening, as Astra finished her shift at the bar, Vanessa lingered at her usual spot, her notebook open in front of her. The bar was quiet, the hum of conversation replaced by the clink of glasses and the soft murmur of the radio. Astra approached the table, her expression softening as she took in Vanessa's weary posture.