Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared)

Agnes mustered a half-hearted smile. "Regardless, Ryder, medicine is advancing by leaps and bounds. Who knows? Maybe one day, you'll be back to your old self. Besides, you once told me that miracles are rare in life, but in medicine, they're plentiful."

"That's true," Ryder replied.

In the next moment, Agnes' optimism faltered. "I'm sorry, you're going through all this because of me. All I can offer are these words of comfort, but the truth is, they don't help your situation at all."

Ryder reached out with his other hand and naturally took Agnes', warming her chilled fingers in his grasp. "Agnes, as long as you're okay, it's not just a hand I'd give up, but my very life."

He shouldn't have said those words.

Each one was like a dagger to her heart. His goodness towards her was so overwhelming that just the thought of it pained Agnes.

"I'm sorry, Ryder." It seemed that aside from apologies, Agnes didn't know what else to say.

Ryder fell silent for a while before speaking again. "You know what I hate hearing the most is 'I'm sorry,', Agnes. You know I have a high tolerance for anesthesia. During the surgery, I came to pretty quickly. I could feel every slice, the cold of the scalpel through my flesh, the crunch of bone. It's a kind of pain that's hard to describe."

Agnes was speechless.

"But do you know what was on my mind at that time? I was thinking about every word you said yesterday. I savored each one, and suddenly, the pain subsided. You were my anesthetic."

Agnes started to realize what Ryder was getting at.

"But those words..." she started to explain.

"I know. I asked you to say them. I know it was all a lie, that you were just trying to ease my pain. I know you don't have feelings for me, but Agnes, I never expected you to. All I hope for is that you don't push me away. Let me stay by your side, just like those years abroad. That's enough for me."

Ryder wasn't usually one for many words, but today, he had said so much to Agnes.

She saw his furrowed brow and the slight tremble in his body, a sign he was still enduring physical agony.

He spoke of his anesthetic, which meant the pain must be at its worst now.

"Don't worry, I'll stay and take care of you... until you're better," Agnes said, her voice resolute.

And she meant it. Ryder was in this state because he had saved her. Whether out of responsibility or affection, Agnes would stay and care for him.

Still, the guilt weighed heavily on her heart.

Ryder managed a weak smile. "Then I'd rather never get better."

"Ryder, don't say things like that."

"I'm joking," he said.

Agnes felt a pang of sorrow, watching his exhausted and pained expression, struggling to hold back tears.

"I'm tired. I need to rest for a while." Ryder said.

"Then rest. I'll be right next door. Don't worry, I'll be here with you," she reassured him.

Ryder nodded, then Agnes stepped out of the room.

Over the next few days, Agnes' body gradually recovered.

She had been hit in the back and head by rocks, but fortunately, it was all superficial-no serious damage was done.

After a few days of rest in the hospital, Agnes was almost back to normal.

During this time, she never left Ryder's side at the hospital.