Episode 2

Four months later...

The bedroom door creaked open slowly as Serena entered with Nurse Sabrina Santos.

"" Arthur, son. Your new nurse has arrived. Please, my dear, don't be rude this time.

Arthur merely curled his lips sarcastically. Sabrina was the twelfth nurse in four months since he had the accident and became blind and had difficulty moving.

The soft sound of the two women's footsteps echoed in the dimly lit room. Arthur, lying comfortably in bed, clenched his fists under the linen sheet. Another intruder. Another pair of pitying eyes to stare at him in his new reality of darkness.

"" You can go, Mom, "" his hoarse, impatient voice cut through the silence. "" I don't need anyone else here.

Serena sighed, a weary sound that had become familiar in recent months. -- Arthur, dear, you need care. Sabrina is very experienced and highly recommended. Please give her a chance.

He turned his face to the side, his jaw tense. The idea of having another stranger invade his privacy, witnessing his fragility, was unbearable. The independence he had always cherished, the ability to control every aspect of his life, had been brutally snatched away. Now, he was dependent, vulnerable, a ghost in the very mansion that once echoed with his authority.

Sabrina cleared her throat softly. -- Mr. Maldonado, I understand your reluctance. But I am here to help you regain your autonomy, as much as possible. I am a nurse, and my goal is to make your routine more comfortable and facilitate your rehabilitation.

Arthur let out a bitter, humorless laugh. -- My autonomy was gone the moment that truck hit me, Nurse. And as for comfort... well, darkness isn't particularly comfortable.

He could feel Sabrina's hesitant gaze on him, the aura of caution that surrounded her. All the previous nurses had shown the same initial apprehension, mixed with a dose of pity that he hated more than the blindness itself. They arrived full of good intentions, trying to cheer him up, encourage him. But their forced smiles and words of comfort sounded empty, distant echoes of a world he could no longer see.

"" I know this is a difficult time, Mr. Maldonado, "" Sabrina continued, her voice calm and firm, without the overly compassionate tone he hated so much. "" But recovery takes time and effort. I am here to guide you through this process.

"" I don't need guides, "" Arthur retorted, his tone cutting. "" I need my sight back. And that, no one can give me.

Silence settled again in the room, heavy and laden with tension. Serena placed a hesitant hand on her son's arm, but he recoiled from the touch.

"" Arthur... please... "" she pleaded, her voice choked.

He sighed, yielding minimally. -- Whatever. Let her stay. But don't expect kindness from me.

Sabrina maintained her composure, despite the evident hostility. -- I expect nothing more than professional cooperation, Mr. Maldonado. I am here to do my job.

Arthur turned away again, turning his back on the two women. Their presence in his sanctuary of darkness was a constant irritation, a palpable reminder of his powerlessness. He could feel Sabrina's eyes on his back, but he refused to speak to her again. In his mind, she was just another obstacle, another indistinct face in his new and dark reality. And he had no patience for another spectator of his disgrace.

"" Miss Sabrina, please let's go to the office. "" Serena invited, looking at the nurse, "" Son, Sabrina will return shortly, be gentle, my dear...

Arthur remained silent, listening to the sound of the bedroom door closing...

Four months living in darkness... Four months without seeing the light of day... Arthur refused to go through the doctor again. Two specialists had already said that his case was very complicated and the chances of seeing again were very small. He lived with the fear of having another negative diagnosis, and thus lived alone, in his world of darkness.

Sabrina entered the office of the mansion where Arthur lived accompanied by his mother. Serena now managed the company, holding a great responsibility in her hands.

"" Sit down, Miss Santos. As you saw, my son is not a good patient. He has always acted this way with all the other nurses who have been here. None of them managed to complete a month of work. But I believe you are different. My son has a strong personality and refuses to be cared for by anyone, even by me, who is his mother.

Sabrina, with her attentive eyes and sharp ears, paid attention to Serena's words.

"" Mrs. Maldonado, in the hospital we take care of patients with personalities similar to your son's. In reality, what happens is that he is wanting to live in his "little world" because he thinks that people are by his side only out of pity. I will do my best to achieve what the other nurses have not achieved.

"" Great, "" exclaimed Serena with a discreet smile. "" As you already know, you will have to live here and your day off will be on Saturday. You will receive your salary every fifteen days. If you need to go out to resolve something important during working hours, you will have to communicate at least twelve hours in advance.

"" Yes, I agree,"" replied Sabrina confidently. "" My phone will be available for when you need to call any information. I have my house, but I've been here lately to take care of Arthur. But things in the company have become quite complicated, increasing my responsibility, and now it will be very difficult to have time to take care of him... I hope you can, "" she said with a tearful voice, "" my son built a solid and well-structured company, but without his administration, the company has been going through difficult times.

"" I don't promise to be the professional who will change Mr. Maldonado's cold manner, but I promise to work very hard to ensure he has a good recovery.

"" Thank you for your courage, Miss Santos. Now I will call Mrs. Vera, who is the housekeeper of the house. Arthur is very attached to her. For anything you need, just talk to the housekeeper Vera.

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