Short Stories + Contest Entries

You're Worth It

When I see her coming into the office building doors, my initial thoughts turn to the worse possible explanation. Car accident, a fight, a trip down the stairs... Abuse!

Wendy attempts to limp her way over to her office room, but I catch her before she can get very far.

"Wendy, what's wrong? What happened? Let me help you!" I can't contain my protective side from spiraling out of my system. Gosh, I must sound like a creep.

I hold my arms out to her for extra support, but she waves it off, and gives a reassuring smile. "Jude, don't worry. I always get this kinda pain on my knee. Really, it's nothing much."

I lean my hand on the maroon wall next to us. "How long has it been hurting you?" My curiosity struggles to stay tame.

She looks down at her injured knee, shyly. "Oh, you know. Since I was eight."

My eyes go wide. "That's over seventeen years ago! Why haven't you gone to a doctor about this?"  Hurt pain could've gotten imperative over time, and yet she doesn't seem phased by it. Why would she place her health on hold all these years?

"I never really, had the chance. It only hurts a lot when weather gets colder or changes drastically, and around here that's all it seems to do. I guess it's just having an exceptionally  bad day." Wendy moves her leg around, to stretch it out, and her expression shows the pain it brings her. I fight the urge to cuddle her in my arms.

She isn't wrong. Millsboro Delaware has some ridiculous climate changes, and tends to keep the citizens all at edge. What I don't understand is why she couldn't just stop at the doctor's office for a checkup at least once? Didn't she tell her parents before that it has been bothering her?

Maybe she did, and they didn't care to help her.

I shift my weight at the thought. I won't be another person to let this slip by another day without cause. She deserves much more than that.

"Well, enough is enough. Wendy, I'm taking you to see a doctor." My words act without counseling my brain first. 

She freezes. "Wait, you mean you're coming with me?" She asks, and my lips form a thin line in embarrassment. Is that what I mean? Does she want me to come with her?

I'm not thinking things through, but I answer anyways. Too late to back out now.

"Yes, my brother is a doctor, he can help." I mentally slap myself. What am I doing? I don't even speak with Gabriel anymore!

"Oh, you have two brothers?" Her tone has progressed into something more light.

"Umm, well no." I chew on my bottom lip, knowing exactly where this conversation is heading.

She squints her eyes. "If you only have one brother then," She stops mid sentence, then has an Ah-Ha moment. Her eyes brighten at the resolution, then sink down in realization.

"But you don't even talk to your brother anymore." Wendy is very observant, so she figured out not too long ago that I don't have a jolly, hand-in-hand connection with my brother. Working near each other in a boring Contracting Office does help spark conversation, and unfortunately when the topic of siblings comes about, there's no actual way around it.

"Yeah, well, this is way more important than some silly, bad blood feud between my brother and I. You're hurt, and need to get this knee checked out immediately." What am I thinking? Better yet, what am I saying?

"Oh, Jude, I don't know if that's a good idea. If I'd cause the two of you to fight just for trying to help me, then I'll never be able to forgive myself." Her voice is broken, and weak, as she starts to limp towards her office again.