chapter 7

I woke up after what felt like an eternity, though the clock on the wall told me it had only been thirty minutes. The dull ache in my knee flared the moment I tried to sit up. Pain shot through my leg like a bolt of lightning, forcing me to give up and lie back helplessly. I felt like a broken doll, fragile and useless.

My mind drifted back to what the nurse had said earlier about needing crutches. Where am I supposed to find the money for crutches? The thought made my chest tighten, and hot tears welled in my eyes. I cursed Deborah silently.

"Curse you, Deborah," I mumbled under my breath, wiping the tears away quickly when I heard a knock at the door.

"Come in," I said, my voice weak and raspy.

The door creaked open, and to my surprise, Mr. Benjamin stepped in. His tall frame seemed to fill the room, and his usually kind eyes were clouded with worry. But seeing him only stoked the fire of my anger. He was Deborah's father, after all. My blood boiled at the memory of his daughter's cruelty.

"I'm so sorry, Sophia," he began, his voice heavy with regret.

"Sorry?" I snapped, the pain in my leg fueling my frustration. "Sir, I'm in so much pain because of your daughter! I've endured her verbal abuse and even her little shoves and pushes, thinking she'd eventually stop. But she didn't. She kept going until this happened!"

My voice cracked as tears streamed down my face. "What have I done to deserve this? I just lost my dad recently. I'm trying to process that loss, and now this? How am I supposed to get crutches? How am I supposed to move forward with everything she's put me through? Please, sir, talk to your daughter. I can't take it anymore. I'm tired and frustrated!"

Mr. Benjamin lowered his head, his face etched with sadness and guilt. "I'm sorry you've had to go through all of this, Sophia. Please forgive me for being a bad father. If I had raised Deborah right, she wouldn't have turned out this way. I failed you, and I failed her."

He reached for my hand, his grip firm yet gentle. "Please, Sophia. Forgive me."

For a moment, I just stared at him, unsure of what to say. His remorse seemed genuine, and despite my anger, I felt a pang of sympathy. After what felt like an eternity, I finally found my voice.

"It's fine, sir," I said softly, my anger giving way to exhaustion.

"I'll handle everything," he said, his tone resolute. "The hospital bills, the X-ray, the crutches—don't worry about any of it. You focus on getting better, my bright student." He smiled faintly, reaching out to wipe away a tear that had escaped down my cheek.

"Thank you, sir," I said, managing a small smile. A weight lifted off my shoulders knowing the financial burden wouldn't fall on my mom.

But then his expression turned serious again. "Why didn't you tell me about your father's death, Sophia? I heard he passed three weeks ago, and the burial happened without anyone from the school being informed. Why didn't you let us know?"

I looked down, my hands twisting nervously in my lap. "I… I didn't want to bother anyone," I stammered.

He shook his head, his gaze soft but firm. "Sophia, you're not a burden. When someone loses a loved one, it's natural to let others know. We could have been there to support you."

Tears spilled over as I finally let the words pour out. "It happened so fast. We couldn't afford to keep him in the morgue for long. The bills would have been too much. We had to bury him quickly."

My voice broke, and I buried my face in my hands, sobbing. "It's been so hard, sir. My mom's doing everything she can, but it's never enough. And now this…"

Mr. Benjamin pulled me into a hug, his arms warm and reassuring. "I'm so sorry, Sophia," he said softly. "You've been through so much, and you don't deserve any of it. Sometimes, I wish you were my daughter. If Deborah had even half your strength and kindness, things would be so different."

His words startled me, and I pulled back slightly, the scent of his cologne overwhelming. I needed fresh air and leaned away from his chest. "You're a good man, Mr. Benjamin. You'd make a great father," I said, offering him a faint smile.

"How's your mom holding up?" he asked, clearly trying to shift the topic to something lighter.

"She's fine," I said, though my voice lacked conviction. "She's tired, but she's trying her best."

He nodded, his lips pressing into a thin line as if debating whether to say something. Finally, he spoke, his words making my hands tremble.

"You missed school yesterday," he said gently. "I saw you selling fruit by the roadside around your neighborhood. I was going to stop and talk to you, but Leah beat me to it. Were you ever planning to tell me about your father's death if this hadn't happened?"

"I'm sorry, sir," I said, my voice barely audible. "I had to help my mom. She's been so worked up since my dad passed, and I thought I could take some of the burden off her shoulders. I… I was going to tell you today, after lunch. But…" I gestured weakly at my injured leg. "Fate had other plans."

Mr. Benjamin sighed, shaking his head. "Sophia, I've told you before—you don't have to struggle alone. If you ever need anything, come to me. Don't skip school to sell fruit. I'll provide for you and your family, okay?"

I nodded, though a part of me hesitated. Could I really burden him with our struggles?

He stood and smiled warmly. "Come on. I'll take you to the hospital to get the X-ray done and also pick out the crutches you need, and then I'll take you home."

"Okay, sir," I said, feeling a flicker of hope. For the first time in weeks, I felt like things might actually get better.