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Chapter 9 : Walking to the Street of Death

As Angela walked back to her room, she wondered if Mr. Vera had lost a painting of his and if that was what all of this was about. But she pushed the thought aside, telling herself that it was not her problem. She had her troubles to deal with, and she couldn't afford to get involved in someone else's mess and then she remembered to check Leonardo.

Angela walked into Leonardo's room carrying a glass of water and was met with his grumbling demand for the pistol. "Where's the pistol? Give it to me."

Angela firmly replied, "That is no longer going to happen."

"Why not?" Leonardo challenged, "You gave it to me yesterday, which means you supported my suicide."

"I've changed my mind," Angela replied sternly, "I want you to live."

Leonardo gritted his teeth in frustration, "Why don't you assist me?" he demanded.

Angela replied confidently, "Because I feel sorry for your mother."

Leonardo scoffed, "You don't understand me, Angela."

"Yes, I understand you," she argued, "I understand the pain you've felt as a result of your blindness. But keep in mind that you are not the only blind person in the world; there are many of you. Others are content with their inability to see."

Leonardo shot back, "You just said that because you're not blind."

But Angela was ready with a rebuttal, "It's your fate, so accept it. Furthermore, don't think you're the only one who is suffering right now. Your mother is the one who is the most hurt by what happened to you. But you don't care about her because all that matters to you is you. Your happiness," she argued passionately.

Leonardo challenged Angela, "What are you? Why do you answer me as if you're the boss? Why do you hate me? You're just a nurse,"

Angela's frustration boiled over. "Oh, yeah, I'm just a nurse," she shot back. "But as a nurse, I have a responsibility to do what's best for you, even if you don't like it."

With a firm tone, Angela continued, "You have to take a bath, and you have to remove your beard."

But Leonardo was stubborn, "What if I don't?" he demanded.

"You have to," Angela reiterated.

But Leonardo was defiant, "When I tell you I don't want to take a bath, I don't want to take a bath, and you can't force me!" he yelled before lying down on his bed like a wood-chopped straight.

Angela fixed her gaze on the stubborn patient and felt her rage intensify. Without thinking, she rushed to the bathroom, grabbed a bucket of water, and poured it on Leonardo.

Leonardo was startled, "Are you crazy?" he asked as he shook off the water from his body like a soaked chicken in the rain.

Angela was taken aback by what she had done, but she had no regrets. She was still angry at Leonardo, "Are you insane? Why are you refusing to take care of yourself?" she yelled.

But Leonardo was not backing down, "Why are you soaking me with water?" he demanded.

Angela was unable to control her emotions and dashed outside the room, leaning against the wall and listening to Leonardo's angry screams and swearing.

Leonardo was quiet in the room after a few moments, seething with anger. Angela waited to see if anyone else had heard Leonardo's yell, but no one arrived. She entered Leonardo's room again a few minutes later, determined to make him understand.

Leonardo shivered on the bed, his rage and distance palpable. Angela watched him closely, unsure of how she felt about the situation.

"What kind of nurse are you?" hissed Leonardo accusingly.

"I'm the nurse who will do whatever is best for my patient, even if he doesn't want to," replied Angela, her voice laced with determination.

"You're rude!" exclaimed Leonardo, trying to deflect from his behavior.

"And so are you," retorted Angela, unwilling to let him off the hook.

"You want us to fight?" challenged Leonardo, looking for a way to regain control.

"No, all I want is for you to take a bath because you stink," replied Angela, refusing to be drawn into a pointless argument.

"Okay," conceded Leonardo, realizing he wasn't going to win this battle.

"What's that again?" Angela asked, wanting to make sure she heard him correctly.

"Find the woman who caused my blindness," said Leonardo flatly. "And I'll do whatever you want me to do."

Angela was astounded by Leonardo's request, but she knew she had to push back.

Leonardo's hostility towards a woman was apparent in his demeanor, causing Angela to feel uneasy. She couldn't help but wonder what had transpired on the night of the car accident that had left Leonardo blind and scarred, while Frederick emerged unscathed and vigorous.

"I'll do anything you want," Leonardo snapped, "just find that criminal."

Angela responded in a monotone voice, "Alright."

"What do you mean 'alright'?" Leonardo demanded his anger palpable. "Are you going to do as I say?"

"Yes," Angela replied calmly, "if you take a bath right now and follow all of my instructions."

Leonardo grudgingly agreed, "Fine, I'll take a bath."

Angela sat on the bed in Leonardo's bedroom, listening to the shower running. She felt a sense of accomplishment after helping her patient for over an hour. As the bathroom door opened, Leonardo stepped out and swaddled in a towel. Although he was slim, his chest muscles were visible, evidence of his health-conscious lifestyle before losing his sight. Despite his long hair and beard, he was still undeniably attractive. Angela didn't comment on his half-naked state.

"Would you help me to my bed?" he asked. "Isn't it a nurse's job to guide their blind patient?"

Angela hesitated, feeling uneasy about touching Leonardo's skin. "You still have your feet and hands," she replied. "You can feel your way to the bed by the wall. And you know the distance between your bed and the bathroom by heart. I'll step outside for a moment."

Leonardo raised an eyebrow. "Why is that?"

Angela's expression turned serious. "You're a man, and I'm a woman. It's not appropriate for me to be in here while you're changing."

"You're a nurse, aren't you?" Leonardo challenged. "Don't you have to deal with patients being undressed?"

"You're not like other patients," Angela said firmly. "You're still able to use your hands, and I'm not comfortable with that."

Leonardo frowned. "Are you afraid of me?"

"Of course not," Angela said, her tone flat. "But it's natural to be cautious."

She headed for the door. "I'll be back in a few minutes with your food."

"I want coffee," Leonardo called after her.

Angela couldn't shake the discomfort of seeing Leonardo's still-muscular body as she exited the room. She stayed a little longer in the kitchen, ensuring Leonardo was in his clothes when she returned. “Here’s your coffee.” She uttered silently.

Leonardo smirked, "Go to the place where we had the accident." He said flatly.

Angela's heart raced as she heard his words. She knew exactly where he was referring to.

Leonardo added. "It's easy to find. The accident happened across from Mentara's Mall," he grumbled. "That was the night of July 12, 1980. That woman was the reason I'm blind," he punched the bed in frustration.

Angela shivered at his words. That was also the night her sister Esper died. She remembered their last conversation and how Esper had wanted to die because of a man, who turned out to be Leonardo. Angela had heard her sister scream over the phone, and it was a painful, final cry.

Despite the haunting memories, Angela's determination to see the street where Esper died consumed her. "I must go there and unravel the truth," she declared, her voice trembling with a mix of anxiety and resolve.

Leonardo's silent nod conveyed his understanding, and Angela wasted no time, hastily exiting the room. The weight of her emotions bore down on her heart, threatening to suffocate her as she stepped outside Leonardo's door. A chilling gust of wind seemed to whisper secrets in her ear, intensifying her unease.

Every step she took toward the dreaded street drained her of strength, her legs heavy and unsteady. The mere thought of what she was about to uncover sent shivers down her spine, intertwining her eagerness with a paralyzing fear. The past and present fused in her mind, and a sense of impending doom gripped her tightly.

The acidic churn of anticipation gnawed at her insides, a physical manifestation of the mounting tension. She was on the verge of unearthing the intricate web of connections between the two incidents, but the realization of what lay ahead left her trembling in the face of the unknown.

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