As soon as the flight landed, Elina walked back to the original seat. She already had enough of awkward conversation with Dr Nelson, and she did not possess the heart to turn back and say goodbye, because all that she could see in the eyes of that man was pain.

Without saying a word she started walking ahead, but then she heard his voice,

​​

“Elina!”

“Yes!” She said and immediately turn back.

“May I have a small request?”

“Yes! Sure, anything!”

“Can you please not talk to Akira about this… I mean it’s actually my problem and I do not want to create any unnecessary complications in her life.”

“I get it doctor Nelson. Your secret stays with me!” And saying that she smiled softly and then turned ahead.

Even though he was not sure if she would keep her word, he did not want to pester her. Anyway he was altogether in a different continent and somehow the distance made him comfortable.

He wasn’t scared of her knowing about his feelings, he just wanted to avoid any sort of confrontation. He already had a long day and all that he wanted to do now was to go back to his new flat and handle his feelings.

After completing the formalities at the airport, they both walked in silence towards the baggage claim. As Elina had a lot of luggage packed she stayed there longer and in the meantime as his bag arrived he immediately left leaving Elina all by herself to brood over whether to call Akira and talk about that episode or not.

Upon reaching his flat, Dr. Nelson took a hot shower first, trying to soothe the agitation in his mind and a couple of minutes later as the water relaxed all his muscles, he felt a bit better. After finishing his bath, he wrapped himself in a robe and went to the kitchen and opened the fridge. But there was nothing to eat.

In a rush to reach New York, he had forgotten to stock his fridge. So he took out a cup of ramen noodles and that’s how his breakfast was sorted. He had a class assigned at the University of Cambridge as a visiting professor, and he was supposed to give a talk about his current research in the field of acquired Prosopagnosia.

He looked at himself in the mirror, and he knew that he had to gather himself and start a new life. Probably inspire a few to be noble doctors which the world currently needed. He opened his wallet and looked at Elina’s card. Joining her organization was also now running at the back of his mind. Maybe it would be welcome change to serve the people and probably take his mind off the things that were bothering him.

He quickly finished the noodles and licked the last drop of soupy water and started to get ready.

He was just about to pick up his keys and lock the door, when he got a call from an unknown number from US.

“Hello!” he said and straightened his tie looking into the mirror in his foyer.

“Hello Dr. Nelson!”

“May I know who is this?” he asked politely.

“This is Sebastian. Sebastian Walker!”

And all of a sudden, he could feel the blood draining out from his ears.

“Sebastian… Walker. As in Raymond’s dad?”

Hearing his question, Sebastian paused for a second and then said, “Yes.”

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” Dr. Nelson asked sarcastically.

“It would be nice for you if you keep your satirical tone to yourself doctor!” Sebastian said and took a pursed breath and his statement had the effect that he intended to.

“Erm… Why have you called?”

“I need you to send the prescription of the memory fading medicine to me. The one that Raymond is using right now.”

“Ermm… you don’t need to bother about it. I had already given a course for six months. Once done, I will send another one to David.”

Sebastian sighed and said,

“That’s quite presumptuous on your part. Don’t you think. Are you so sure that you will be alive after six months?”

Dr. Nelson’s jaws dropped and a chill ran down his spine upon hearing his words. Now he understood why Oshana was always scared of him. He took a shallow breath and then asked,

“So what do you want?”

“Send that prescription for a minimum of five years and ask David to buy medicines based on expiry dates accordingly.”

Upon hearing his words, Dr. Nelson took a deep breath and then asked,

“Fine, anything else?”

“Nothing else, just wanted to thank you for keeping the secret of my family safe with you. And don’t think like I am threatening you, but it would be really nice if you just forget about it.”

“Believe me, I am trying!”

“Try better! Because if you don’t then I would have to resort to other means to make you forget. Hope would not like me to go through all that trouble.”

Dr. Nelson couldn’t believe his ears that someone could be that ungrateful,

He wanted to reply something, but decided to go against it and kept his mouth shut. And sensing his silence, Sebastian continued,

“And may I know what was the need to run away?”

Dr. Nelson could feel his insides churning because he knew that Sebastian very well knew about the reason. Gathering all the patience that he could, he replied,

“I didn’t want to be a trouble for Raymond and Akira. And I think you very well know that.”

Sebastian chuckled and then said,

“If you think running away will make your pain go away then you are wrong. When you love someone, the feeling absolutely consumes you, it drowns you. It doesn’t matter how far you run away from the finish line, you will still be a part of the race. And it’s that race that keeps you alive. Doesn’t it?”

Dr. Nelson heard his words and couldn’t believe that he was actually giving him words of wisdom!