Don't Come Back

Carmen stiffened, biting her lip as she felt the sting of his words. Not wanting to dare him, she turned the wheelchair around and guided him back through the hallway. Her hands shuddered slightly as they passed by the same grand windows and opulent decor that had moments before seemed so magnificent. Now, they felt like prison bars.

“Leave. And don’t come back until I call for you,” Romero’s voice cut through the silence, rough and chilling, once they reached his room.

Carmen flinched at the harshness in his tone. She opened her mouth to respond but stopped herself. There was no use arguing with a man determined to push her away. “As you wish, Mister Monteiro,” she said quietly, barely holding back the emotion threatening to choke her.

She hurried out of the room, her breath coming out in shallow bursts as the tears she had been holding back began to blur her vision. The humiliation and frustration burned in her chest, and she almost collided with someone in the hallway.

“Whoa!” Pablo’s voice broke through her haze as he caught her shoulders, steadying her. “Miss Valiente, what’s going on?”

Carmen blinked rapidly, forcing the tears away as she met Pablo’s concerned gaze. “It’s…nothing,” she muttered, trying to brush past him.

Pablo frowned, clearly not convinced. “That doesn’t look like nothing. You’re not looking good. Did something happen to Romero?”

Carmen’s resolve cracked, and she shook her head. “He just doesn’t want me here. I don’t know what I did wrong. I was only trying to help, but he’s–” she cut herself off, taking a deep breath. “I know today is my first time with him, but I don’t know if I can keep doing this.”

Pablo exhaled sharply, and he gave her a warm squeeze on the shoulder. “Hey, I understand how you feel. But please, try and understand that Romero is going through a lot right now. It’s not personal. He’s pushing everyone away, including me. That is why I had to hire a caregiver for him, to help with his recovery.”

“I know that. But it still hurts. I feel like I can never help his recovery,” Carmen whispered, looking down at the floor.

Pablo shook his head firmly. “Don’t say that. I believe you can help him. Today is just the first day for you. Don’t give up just because he’s being difficult. At this point, he needs someone that can challenge him so he can recover quickly and get back to the family business.”

Carmen looked up at him, uncertainty in her eyes. “I don’t know if I’m strong enough to withstand him. It’s exhausting.”

“Take a break if you need to. But don’t quit on him. You’re free to come back tomorrow. I’m giving you permission. Who knows, he might surprise you,” Pablo encouraged, his tone gentle.

Carmen hesitated, then nodded slowly. “I’ll think about it.”

“Thank you. See you tomorrow,” Pablo said, and he watched Carmen leave the mansion.

As Carmen left Monteiro’s home, she headed to the hospital to see her brother. The sterile smell of the hospital halls didn’t do much to ease her stress, and by the time she reached her brother’s room, she felt drained.

Mariana was already there, sitting beside her brother’s bed. When Carmen entered, Mariana’s eyes lit up with care. “Carmi, are you okay? What happened? You don’t look yourself.”

Carmen let out a tired sigh, sinking into the chair beside her. “Mister Monteiro happened,” she said, rubbing her temples. “That man is impossible, Mari. I tried to help him today, to get him out of that damn room, but he treated me like I was some sort of intruder.”

“Of course, you’re an intruder,” Mariana said almost immediately, before she could stop herself.

Carmen raised a brow. “Seriously, Mari? Are you taking sides with him or me?”

Mariana flashed her a sly smile. “Sorry. What I wanted to say is…you’re just a stranger to him. You don’t expect him to open up that easily. Caregiving jobs take a lot of patience. By the way, what exactly did he do?”

Carmen recounted the entire ordeal to her friend, her voice thick with frustration. “And then, he just told me to leave, like I was nothing. I really tried my best today, but maybe it’s not worth it with him. Perhaps he doesn’t want to be helped. Can you talk to your supervisor to give me another patient and find a replacement for Mister Monteiro?”

“What? You think is that easy? My supervisor is just going to think you’re not serious, Carmi. Come on, I understand how you feel, but this is not the right way to go about it,” Mariana said. She leaned forward, placing a hand on Carmen’s arm. “You can’t just quit after the first tough day. Remember, Mister Monteiro is dealing with a lot of pain, both physical and emotional. He’s angry, frustrated, and probably scared too. He might act like he doesn’t need anyone, but that’s just his way of protecting himself.”

Carmen sighed, her shoulders slumping. “I don’t know, Mari. It’s like everything I say or do makes him angrier. I don’t know how to reach him. Maybe because I’m new to this job.”

Mariana gave her a reassuring smile. “We’ve all been there at one point of our lives. Starting a new job without experience can be really frustrating sometimes. It might just seem as if all you do is not enough. But hey, everyone that is a professional in any field today was once a novice. So, don’t feel bad about it. As for Mister Monteiro, you don’t have to reach him all at once. It’s going to take time. I know you to be a caring person, it’s time to put that into full use.”

Carmen lips parted slightly into a smile. “I guess you’re right. I was expecting to be perfect on the first day, perhaps I shouldn’t focus on that.”

“Exactly. Don’t focus on that. Instead, you should be more concern on how to help him recover. You know, sometimes, just being there is enough. Give him space, but don’t disappear. He needs to see that you’re not going to walk away just because he’s difficult,” Mariana said softly.

Carmen nodded, still unsure but feeling a bit better. “I’ll try again tomorrow and–”

“And the next,” Mariana completed, with a light giggle.

Carmen chuckled softly. “That’s not what I wanted to say.”

“Carmen,” Diego’s weak voice disrupted their moment.

Carmen glance at her brother, and she rushed to his side. “Diego, are you okay?”

“You started a new job?” Diego croaked, staring at his sister with eyes that seems displeased.

Carmen’s heart sank as she saw the disappointment in Diego’s eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, hesitating briefly before answering. “Yes, Diego, I…had to. But don’t worry, I’m still attending college. I’m managing both,” she lied smoothly.

Diego’s brows furrowed in suspicion. “Both? Carmen, don’t lie to me. I know you better than that. College is hard enough on its own. How can you work and go to school at the same time?”

Carmen bit her lip, avoiding his gaze. “I’m doing fine. Really, Diego, I’ve got it under control.”

Diego shook his head, frustrated. “You shouldn’t have to work! You need to focus on your studies. Finish college first, and once I’m out of this sickbed, I’ll take care of everything. That’s my job, Carmen, not yours.”

Carmen’s chest tightened as she saw the emotion flicker across her brother’s face. “Diego please. I want to help. I’m fine with working and going to school. I can handle it.”

Diego’s hand trembled as he reached for hers. “You shouldn’t have to handle it. I’m supposed to take care of you, Carmen. And now…I can’t even do that.”

Carmen’s eyes dampened as she grasped his hand, squeezing it gently. “Diego, it’s not your fault. You’ve done enough for me, always putting me first. Now it’s my turn to step up. It’s not a problem, really.”

Tears welled in Diego’s eyes, and he turned his head away, ashamed of the emotion building inside him. “But it is a problem, Carmen. You shouldn’t have to struggle like this. I hate that I can’t protect you like I used to.”

Carmen blinked back her own tears. “Diego, you’ve always protected me. You’ve always been there for me. But right now, I want to be there for you. It’s okay to let me help. I’m not a little girl anymore.”

Diego’s gaze met hers, filled with guilt and sorrow. “You shouldn’t have to grow up so fast because of me.”

Carmen shook her head. “I’m not growing up too fast. I’m just doing what I need to do. For us. All I want is to see you out of this bed. I promise I’m okay.”

Diego gulped harder. “I just…I hate that I can’t do much for you anymore.”

Carmen leaned in closer, brushing his hair back gently. “Hey, you’re still my big brother, Diego. You don’t have to do everything for me to prove that. Just being here alone is already enough for me.”

Diego closed his eyes, a tear slipping down his cheek. Carmen squeezed his hand again, her heart aching for him. Mariana’s vision blurred with tears as she watched both of them.

Just then, the door squeaked open, and Doctor Federico walked in. “Carmen, you’re here,” he said, approaching the bedside.

Carmen wiped her eyes and looked up. “Yes, Doctor. I just came in moments ago. Why? You want to see me?”

Doctor Federico nodded. “Yes, please. Come with me.”

Carmen let go of her brother’s hand reluctantly. “I’ll be right back.” She stood up and followed the doctor out. “Is everything okay?” she asked, as they both stood in the lobby.

“We’ve received the results of your test,” Doctor Federico said gently.

Carmen nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

“Unfortunately, your kidney isn’t a match for Diego. I’m so sorry,” the doctor continued, his voice full of sympathy.

Carmen's heart hurdled in her chest. The words echoed in her mind, and for a moment, she felt her breath catch in her throat.

Carmen felt her legs wobble, the weight of the news hitting her hard. She leaned against the wall, her hand covering her mouth as she tried to process the doctor’s words.

“No… no, there has to be some mistake,” Carmen whispered, shaking her head in disbelief.

Doctor Federico sighed softly. “I understand this is difficult for you to accept. But don’t feel nothing can be done. We’ll continue searching for a compatible donor, but it may take some time.”

Carmen’s heart felt like exploding in her chest, the reality sinking in. “What are we supposed to do in the meantime? How long can Diego wait?” she asked, almost at the brim of tears.

“The dialysis will help, but a transplant is the best option. We’re doing everything we can to find a match, Carmen,” the doctor reassured her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Carmen nodded. The thought of her brother lying in that hospital bed, waiting for an uncertain future, made her sick. She couldn’t let him down. Not after everything he’d done for her.

“Please, Doctor, keep looking for a match,” Carmen whispered, more to herself than to the doctor.

The doctor gave her a sympathetic smile before stepping away, leaving her alone with her thoughts. Carmen stood frozen in the hallway, her mind jumbling with fear, anger, and desperation. How could she help Diego now?