Chapter 19

Mel 

She said yes. Nina would help with the graphics for my events. I threw the phone on the sofa and got up. Dammit, what had I done? Why had I suggested it? I should have just let it be and let her get on with her life. Stupid shit. I walked out to the kitchen. No, this meant nothing. She would simply help me with the graphics. I didn’t even want to sleep with her. I stopped. It was true. I didn’t want to sleep with her… Then why…?

I stared out the window. The gym. That would clear my thoughts. I ignored the phone on the sofa as I walked over to the bedroom and quickly packed my gear. I glanced at it as I stepped out into the hallway. No, nothing good would come from bringing it.

I closed the door behind me and headed down the stairs. Why didn’t I want to sleep with her…? I couldn’t remember a single past event where that had happened. It wasn’t because of her looks, so then… I heard the neighbour call out a bright hello as I stepped out onto the street, and I grunted one in return. Why…?

Stupid shit. It didn’t matter. It had been a mistake to hire her, but I could simply let her do one project and then let her go. That would be the plan. Just a bit of work and then I could end it.

I halted as I came to the gym and peered through the window. It was full. Dammit. What then? I didn’t want to go back to my empty flat, and the bar still wasn’t open. Then what? Should I call Clara? No, her boyfriend was back from his trip, and their open relationship didn’t involve third parties when he was home.

The children’s rehabilitation centre… I glanced down the street. I hadn’t visited it for a while. I turned and began walking down the street. Nina had been a mistake. It didn’t matter why I didn’t want to sleep with her. It was an anomaly, but she would be gone soon. I turned a corner and shortly after entered the hospital area. The centre was situated to the side. I’d found out about it during my hospital stay that ended my boxing career. At least the money from the bastards came to some use.

I announced my arrival at the reception. I knew most of the children by now, but I assumed there would be new ones as well since my last visit. A nurse led me to the rehab wing, and I stepped inside. Children of all ages were seated in the room, some playing games while others fitted in new prosthetics. All of them were missing a limb, either because of an accident or from birth.

“Mel!”

The director walked over to me.

“How nice to see you here.”

A few of the kids noticed me, and they dropped what they were doing and ran or hobbled over to me. Within seconds, they were all talking at once until the director hushed them to calm down.

“I have a new toy!”, one of the boys peeped.

He proudly held up a plushie. Brian. He had lost his leg in an accident.

“I can run now! Look!”, a girl chirped as she began to hobble down the room.

Sandra. She’d got a new prosthetic fitted in.

“Hey, that’s good.”

“Come on, time to meet the physio,” the director announced, and within moments, they had all disappeared out the room.

The director watched them leave.

“They’re doing better, and Ewa completed the programme last week.”

He turned to me.

“Thank you…”

He almost reached out to take my hand, then seemed to think better of it and dropped his hand to the side.

“We’ll take them to the park next week. It will be the first day out together they’ve had in a long while.”

I glanced around. There were toys and a play area, along with rehabilitation equipment, spread throughout the room. At least the money from the bastards came to some use.

He continued to show me the latest progress and tried to give me an update on the finances, but I quickly dismissed it. I assumed they were doing good. Shortly after, I said goodbye and began to walk back. I had hoped that it would take my mind off things, but the moment I stepped out the door, she was back. Why didn’t I want to sleep with her…?