Love Began with the First Meeting

Chapter 350 Still Unable to Speak (Part Two)

Elias frowned. He studied Molly for a while and said, "Maybe she is too scared and her nerves have been affected." He folded his left arm across his chest, the elbow of his right hand placed against it. He rubbed his chin with his right hand, sinking into deep thought. Then he turned to Eric and said, "I have to do a few more examinations before making a decision. But," Elias shrugged and gestured towards Molly before continuing, "she refuses to be touched by anybody."

That was what worried Eric too. He had tried to encourage Little Molly to speak. After trying hard, however, Molly could only let out some muffled breaths instead of words. She couldn't make any noise.

Eric understood how she must have felt when her hope was distinguished again. Molly had accepted the fate that she might never speak again and was leading a contented life in spite of that harsh truth. But she was given hope when she was told that she might regain her voice. Although she had persuaded herself to take that chance with a calm attitude, she would have expected a positive result. It would be great if Molly could be completely healed, but if it failed... Quenching the fire of hope which was reignited in the heart was more difficult than the harm she had suffered the first time.

"Little Molly," said Eric as he pushed the rolling chair to the side of her bed. He settled his eyes on Molly, who had kept her head low all this time, and said, "It's getting late, Molly. You have stayed on this bed this whole time without eating anything. Let's go and have some food. Okay?"

Molly didn't respond. But soon, her eyelids flickered to show her approval. She understood Eric's anxiety for her. She just had no idea how she was supposed to react to such a consequence. She had told herself to keep low expectations and was well prepared to face the worst. But her heart was thrown into an abyss of despair the moment she tried to speak and realized that all her efforts had been in vain. She only felt utter coldness, her heart was frozen.

Molly bit her lips, in an attempt to subdue the grief in her heart. She couldn't speak. Was she destined to be mute for the rest of her life? Couldn't God show a little bit of mercy on her at least this once?

'Just this once... I just need one last chance, God!'

she prayed. Her eyes turned red as tears filled in them. Because of her physical injuries and mental trauma in the past few days, Molly had cried too much. As a result, her eyes would sting and hurt whenever she cried. Molly clenched her teeth to hide all her discomforts, lest Eric should spot her sadness. She tried her best to regulate her emotions. She knew that it would do her no good if she allowed herself to indulge in this sadness forever. Life was too short. She couldn't afford to spend the rest of her life moaning her woeful fate. What was the big deal about being dumb anyway? She had managed to live fine during the days when she couldn't talk. At least, she was able to see, hear and write. With her sight and hearing working well, she really felt that her life was much better than many others.

"Little Molly..." Molly's helpless face brought a stabbing pain in Eric's heart. He had never felt this way before he had met Molly. But ever since the day he met her, that feeling had revisited him too often. His heart would turn soft and ache whenever he saw her caught in despair. Eric stared at Molly affectionately. Like a pitiful puppy which had lost its way home, Molly crouched at the corner of the bed, waiting helplessly for her master to come to her rescue. Eric's feelings towards her had changed completely. The truth was that he had fallen in love with her. Eric knew full well how he felt about her, though he was reluctant to admit it. "Little Molly, just cry if that will make you feel better."

Molly's eyelids flickered at Eric's words, but her body kept still. She didn't move a muscle, she was afraid to even raise her head. It would be impossible for her to hold back her tears if she caught Eric's eye and read the concern in them. She was no better than a coward.

Molly's hidden weakness, however, made Eric feel more worried about her. For the first time in his life, this beau, who was so very experienced in dealing with girls, had no idea what to do. He was vexed like hell! He propped himself up with both his hands and stood up from the wheel chair.

Eric's expression was that of intense distress when he finally took his seat on her bedside. His action startled Elias. Although he didn't know much about Eric's wounds, he was aware, as a doctor, how hard and painful it would have been for Eric to do that. Eric's legs were badly injured because of being squeezed by some heavy object. Not many people could bear the pain it would cause to stand up on their injured legs. But Eric... he did it.

Elias softened his defiant attitude towards Eric. He felt a new-found admiration for Eric.

Eric didn't notice the change in Elias' attitude, nor was he in the mood to acknowledge all that. All his attention was on Molly. Eric sat on the edge of her bed quickly, to Molly's surprise. It was so unexpected that she swiftly moved sideways unconsciously.

Eric felt his heart sting when he saw Molly respond that way. And a mountain of fury rose in him because of his incapability to help her. Instead of saying something to comfort her, he reached out to her and held her in his arms. Words were uttered through clenched teeth, "Little Molly, listen to me." His words came out with strong determination, "I don't care whether you can speak or not. I don't mind even if you cannot speak for the rest of your life. You can learn sign language. I'll go and learn it with you. I'll be your voice and speak for you. What I am trying to say is that...I will never let you suffer alone in the agony of being unable to speak. You are not alone in your world of silence. Do you hear me, Little Molly? ". Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.