I’m employed

In the waiting area inside the emergency department, Ben has been pacing back and forth anxiously for almost an hour.

"Jesse!!! Where's my Jesse!!" Shouted a woman who came rushing over, panic written all over her face. behind her followed a man who seems more composed.

"Miss Alexa, Mister Peter" muttered Ben, who didn't know what to say, feeling utterly useless.

"Ben! just tell me what happened! These people keep telling me an accident happened, and my daughter is being taken care off." Shouted worriedly Alexa who clinched onto Ben's shoulders.

With a painful face he replied "it was all my fault! we were crossing the road when...." recounting everything that happened, not omitting a single thing, except what she said before she fainted as he felt it was unnecessary.

"My poor Jesse." Said Alexa softly as she collapsed on the floor. But before she falls down completely, Peter was able to catch her.

"Young man, don't blame yourself, it was a choice that my daughter made, not your choice." Said Peter with a pained face.

"In the end, blaming yourself or someone else won't change anything. Your a man so act more like a man. Think of what you can do if you truly feel bad." Rebuked Peter.

Ben was in a daze for a moment, before realization downed down on him. After a few second "PAH!" Ben slapped himself across the face. "Sir! Thank you! I understand." Replied Ben before he sat down. Determination could be seen all over his face.

Peter sighed in reply, smiling faintly.

Inwardly, Ben was making some grand vows that will change his course of life forever. 'Jesse, if i have another chance in this life, i will devote myself to your happiness no matter what it takes.' Although Ben was an agnostic, he still closed his eyes and prayed with all his heart that she was still alive.

'If you truly do die, i will not forgive myself if i take the easy way out and die. So i will devote the rest of my life to do things that will make you feel proud and happy even in death.' Vowed Ben further.

After making these vows, Ben felt a peace of mind and heart he never felt before.

...

After a couple of hours of Alexa crying, Peter comforting her and Ben calmly sitting down. One of the doctors finally came out of the surgery room.

It was almost 5pm by then. Ben, Alexa and Peter have not slept for a moment.

"Hah, she will live. So please be at peace." Said the doctor sighing in exhaustion.

Ben felt like a boulder has been removed from his shoulder as he couldn't resist anymore and tears ran down his face, as he smiled happily.

"Thank goodness! Thanks goodness!" Shouted Alexa crying in relief as she collapsed on Peter who was smiling broadly, patting her back.

After giving the family some time to calm down, the doctor braced himself to say the bad news. "Hu hum, she is alive but unfortunately she will be disabled for the rest of her life." Said the doctor.

Peter and Ben were already mentally prepared, so they just sighed in regret and remorse respectively. Whereas Alexa who had no time to even stop crying for a moment was taken aback, and felt like a dagger had just stabbed her. But she wasn't a weak woman, so before she started to rampage and question the poor doctor, she slowly breathed in and out to calm down.

"It's ok, please let us see her." She ordered after composing herself.

"Just give us five minutes please and the room will be all yours." Said the doctor as he quickly dismissed himself.

For the next five minutes only silence was present as they all waited patiently.

Clink

After five minutes, the door opened opened again.

"You may come in. Thank you for your patience" Said the doctor. Going back inside, followed by the bunch.

Inside, they sat down on chairs surrounding the bed Jesse was on.

"As you can see she is unconscious, and should be waking up after a couple of hours or more."

"Her disability is that all her limbs have been injured critically and her muscles got permanently damaged. So even after healing, she will have weak limbs and will require a wheelchair to move around."

Listening up to here they all looked at each other and nodded in union. Which seems like they all came to an agreement on something.

"Ok then i will dismiss myself." Said the doctor as he want away.

After he left Peter was the first to talk. "I will go home to check on the other kids, I can't leave our kids alone at home all day. Alexa you can stay." Said Peter, then hevlooked towards Ben. "As for you. Do whatever you want." After which he left after making sure that Jesse was alright.

Alexa said nothing as she laid her head on the bed and went to sleep immediately.

Ben was obviously not leaving as well. As he laid down as well to sleep.

...

Early next morning, after Ben and Alexa woke up at around 7am, they both chatted for a while before they went off to eat breakfast at the hospital cafeteria. Later on Peter came as well after taking the kids to school. They all then waited patiently.

At 1pm There was finally a reaction. Jesse eyelashes slowly quivered and then opened.

"Jesse! Good morning!" shouted Alexa, smiling happily.

Peter just smiled faintly with his eyes closed.

"Jesse." Said Ben faintly not knowing what to say.

As Jesse was wrapped up almost all over her body she couldn't move anything other than her face.

As she looked around, confusion could be seen all over her face.

"Don't worry Jesse, you will be fine soon." Said Alexa consoling Jesse, looking at her worriedly.

"Jesse?" Asked Jesse with even more confusion.

"Whats wrong Jesse." Asked Peter frowning.

After looking around for a while Jesse started to panic. "Who are you guys!"

Everyone stared blankly for a moment dumbstruck. And then looking at each other, they could see the worry on each others face.

"No no no it can't be!" Shouted Alexa denying it with all her heart, but reality is cruel.

....

After the doctors came back and did some tests. Alexa, Ben and peter came back inside.

"Haah. Unfortunately it seems like she lost her memories, and it looks like it's a permanent one." Said the doctor.

"Isn't there anything we can do?" Asked Alexa not giving up, feeling the world crumble around her.

"Unfortunately we don't have any means to help. But the best you can do is keep her company, to prevent her from feeling lonely." Said the doctor regretfully.

"It's alright miss Alexa, she is still Jesse your daughter right? Thats the important point." Said Ben as he clinched his first, which seems like he made a choice.

"Let us come in then." Said Peter as he sighed.

Coming back in, they sat around the bed again. Jesse was sitting up this time, so she could see them all clearly. If it was earlier she would have looked at them warily and cautiously. But now she just looked at them nervously.

"Hello." Said Ben smiling faintly. Deciding to make the introductions himself.

"So your name is Jesse. This here is your mom called Alexa. This here is your father Peter. And as for me.."

After thinking for a while, Ben with a smiling face said happily, "and as for me, you can Call me Ben. I was employed by your family and will be taking care of you from now on."

"Ben?!" Shouted Alexa in shock. But was stopped by Peter who stared at Ben for a while before he sighed and said. "Ben is very experienced and trained so you don't need to worry about anything Sweetie. He also wouldn't dare try something funny." Winking towards Jesse.

"Peter what are you saying. You ca gjdjvnrjnd" in the middle of speaking Peter blocked her mouth and laughed loudly.

"Hahahahaha." Giggled Jesse.

Everyone froze for a while and stared at Jesse.

While laughing, seeing them stare at her she blushed fiercely. "Wwwwwhats wrong? Did i do something wrong?" She asked anxiously. Now it was everyone else's turn to laugh loudly. And she followed along.

.....

After that day Ben stayed in the hospital to 'take care' of Jesse. While Alexa, and Peter came to visit everyday. Chatting merrily together. And somehow Jesse turned back to being the same as the old Jesse just a bit more naive and with no memories.

Three months after the accident she was ready to be discharged from the hospital.

"Finally, i was almost going to die from borden staying here." Complained Jesse as she sat down on her wheelchair excitedly.

"Are you ready to leave?" Asked Ben smiling merrily as well.

"Of course I'm ready. Now get going! I know you must be paid handsomely to have this job so get to work! Humph." Ordered Jesse pointing forward, her legs moving back and fourth excitedly.

"Ok ok. Where do you want to go." Asked Ben ignoring her statement.

"Ehhh? Well take me to some place that's fun. Wait no i want to see home first. Ok lets go home." She said with a pondering face.

"Got it! Let's go!" Shouted Ben as he headed towards her house.

On the way there Jesse was pointing at everything she saw and excitedly asked about them, like a little girl who was curious about everything. Ben replied to everything happily and patiently.

"And here we are." Said Ben as he opened the door preparing to come inside.

"Hey! How do you have the keys to my home?!" Asked Jesse questioning.

"Hehehe silly girl. How would you have been able to get inside otherwise, do you have any keys?" Asked Ben smiling.

Jesse embarrassedly shook her head.

"Since this is my job, i was given a spare key. After all i will be living here from now on." Said Ben smiling broadly.

"Oi oi. Why will you be living here?" Asked Jesse in disbelief. How could her parents be so naive to invite some stranger to live with them. But personally she didn't mind since she has been with Ben for three months in the hospital so she felt more comfortable around him than even her parents.

"Hehehehe. What? are you scared?" Asked Ben cheekily.

"Humphed you won't dare do anything. That's what dad said." She said smiling confidently.

"Think whatever you want." Said Ben as he shrugged and brought Jesse inside the house.

Jesse's room used to have stuff related to Ben so Peter made sure to remove everything and put them to some other place just in case.

"Woooah this is my room." Exclaimed Jesse as she collapsed on the bed sniffing it up.

"Oh by the way. Where did you live before this?" Asked Jesse curiously.

"Ehh. Tthat doesn't matter where i live." Said Ben looking away.

"Of course it matters! Because I want to go see your house!" Said Jesse sitting back on the wheelchair.

"Hah. I don't have any house. Or to be more precise i sold my house since it was useless, so I don't have anywhere to live. If I'm taking a break from work, i will rent someplace to live for a while." Sighed Ben while replying. The truth was that he used to live alone in a house his parents left over after their death in an accident. But to have enough money to spend on everything Jesse wants, he sold the house. He also had plans to drop of college since he didn't need any money for the near future.

"Oh ok i see, how unfortunate." Said Jesse nodding her head feeling quite dejected. "Alright, lets go to places that are fun then! You promised to take me anywhere" Said Jesse raising her hands towards the sky regaining her cheerfulness.

"I sure did." Replied Ben smiling as he escorted her out.