Chapter 397. Building One's Own Tree

Zein stared at the explanation that the doctor sent to his commlink, reading the bold letter in the title. A hysterectomy, it said; the surgical procedure to remove his womb.

The doctor had asked him the same thing from the summer of last year. On both occasions, Zein's answer was the same; he would think about it. That being said, the reasoning between both was different.

The first time, Zein just couldn't be bothered. He was just starting to live there, he was busy, and he was still overly cautious about things. But he could feel that his reason for delaying the answer this time was a bit different. What was it?

The sound of creaking stones brought Zein's gaze toward the pathway leading to the hospital's park where he was. With two cups of warm drink in his hand, Bassena walked to the bench beneath a tree at the corner of the park. His tall and imposing figure easily shaded Zein from the sunlight that the tree could not cover.