anitha_devi

In a quiet town where secrets fester behind smiles, Dr. Eliot seems like a beacon of hope — kind, brilliant, trusted. But kindness can be a blade sharper than any lie. As a series of tragedies ripple through his patients' lives, the lines between mercy and murder begin to blur.

How far would you go to ease someone's pain? And when does compassion become a crime?

The Kindness That Killed

The board reconvened in the same sterile room.

This time, there were fewer people.

Eliot sat alone, no lawyer, no notes.

Cara stood outside again, this time not behind glass—but just outside the door, watching through the narrow window, heart hammering against her ribs.

Dr. Reese looked tired. Older than he had the week before.

"The board has reached its decision," he said.

"Dr. Eliot Wren, your medical license is to be permanently revoked, effective immediately."

Eliot nodded once. Not in defiance. In acceptance.

"You will not face criminal charges. The board has reviewed testimonies from family members of the deceased. Several stated that, while they were unaware of the nature of their loved ones' deaths, they believed the care you provided was compassionate."

"However, your actions were unauthorized. Unethical. And irreversible."

Eliot finally spoke, voice quiet but steady.

Dr. Reese studied him for a moment.

"I hope, in time, you find something to do with the weight you now carry."

Eliot stood, nodded again, and left.

Outside the room, Cara stepped into his path. She didn't speak—just looked at him, eyes glassy.

He smiled softly. "Well… I'm officially unemployed."

She didn't smile back. Instead, she stepped forward and pulled him into a tight, silent hug.

For the first time in years, Eliot let himself lean into someone.

Just as a man learning how to carry grief without letting it drown him.

Later, he packed up his office. Left behind the stethoscope. Took the photo of Mara.

And on the whiteboard by the nurses' station, in small handwriting, someone had written:

> "He gave us mercy when we didn't know how to ask for it."

Chapter 18: “Verdict”