The staggered backwards and stumbled back into the seat she had just vacated. She curled herself into a ball and wept like a child.

“Take it easy madam, I will be back shortly”, the doctor said as he beat a hasty retreat. Seeing her cry that way broke him, it unlocked something within him. A fierce need to protect and comfort her, he would gladly give an arm to prevent her from suffering this much pain.

For the first time since he had dreamed of having her, Akande did not think of her as a conquest, instead, he felt an overwhelming need to treasure her. But there was nothing he could do but sit by awkwardly and watch her body wracked with sobs.

After some minutes, he couldn’t take it anymore and he damned it all to hell, put his arm around her and whisper “sorry” in a voice that sounded almost as broken as hers.