「 The Professor & I 」VOLUME II

(166) Departure

Lynn's POV

"Lynn," Charles muttered quietly from behind and I froze in the middle of the large shed with my heart racing frantically.

"I have something for you," he informed, overtaking me in his automated chair, and I had nowhere to put my eyes besides my own useless lap.

Gently, he peeled off my hands that were tightly gripping my rims and loosened my fingers to reveal my clammy palms that were reddened with abrasions from pushing my chair. Shakily, I peeped at him to find him struggling to retrieve his handkerchief from the pocket of his suit pants before dapping the wounded region dry and free of dirt.

"Protect them well," he urged kindly as he held my hands in his warm one and readily whipped out a pair of wheelchair gloves concealed within his dashing cobalt blazer.

I observed intently, my eyes tracking every move of glimmer sparkling from his wedding band, as he meticulously fitted the slightly padded covering through my palms. Shaded closely to the tone of my skin, the comfortable and flexible material camouflaged itself remarkably as he gingerly fastened the adjustable Velcro straps around my wrists.

Given that my fingers were half exposed by the concept of an open mitt that suited my hand wondrously, the blended layer of neoprene and leather conveniently shielded my matching glistening ring from plain sight. Surely, the length of the cut-off had been one of his considerations when Charles had my new accessory custom-made, recognising that our token of love was something too close to my heart for me to leave behind yet simultaneously tormenting me with its innocent view.

"You'll need them," he asserted, setting my dressed hands onto my unfeeling knees that were neatly tucked together by the perfectly designed metallic supports rising from my foot bar as I sheepishly made eye contact with those watering yet endlessly alluring crystal blue irises.

"I... I don't think I can ever say enough, but... Thank you, Charles," I whispered intermittently as both of us tried to remain composed and a smile twitched momentarily, then vanished from his face.

"May I?" He sought warily and I subtly nodded in consent.

Elegantly leaning in, Charles tenderly caressed my face as I stayed still and my blood rushed as he merely skimmed his slender fingers down my jaw line. Eventually tilting up my chin delicately, our trembling lips met for sheer seconds that felt like eternity.

"I love you, Lynn," he murmured into my ear as he broke away with both our cheeks moist.

"Take care of yourself, alright?" He croaked in a desperate appeal as he wiped my tear and his.

I nodded, flashing him a fleeting smile before swerving around him to continue on my path but barely one cycle later, his hand caught mine, halting my getaway abruptly.

"Lynn..." He mumbled and it took no more than a glance to crumble my already shattered heart with a glimpse of him squeezing his eyes shut, grimacing essentially like he hated himself for the lack of discipline.

"Will you tell me where you're going?" He investigated pleadingly.

My destination had undeniably been deliberately shrouded from him, in unwarranted fear that he would actually disrupt my rehabilitation.

"Only if you promise never to visit," I bargained selfishly, and it inevitably ached more than I expected, safeguarding only myself.