Time wasn't enough, the hours were clearly not long enough to give her a calm and befitting sanity of her once previously organized self and arranged mental state. She was weak on the marble floor of the bleached wash, and sanitized ground in her office which she was currently leaving.
A year ago, when graduating from school amongst her peers, she got a call from her grandfather who requested to make her known as his granddaughter in the medical field, a full party thrown in her honor which would fully elevate her status in the business world and further set her footing in the upper class as an heiress from a top family. Back then she thought nothing of it, and only wanted to make it through sheer might from her capabilities, receiving a huge disapproval from her grandfather back then which she could only play off with an open agreement to.
Though Asher did agree but, not without a condition of her own; asking her grandfather to give her a year of standing on her own before introducing her to the world as his granddaughter under the alliance of her engagement with Peter, her boyfriend all the years.
" Oh grandfather,.. " she said, wailing very pitifully at how easily slandered she was just taking her first walk into the open world. A cold reality gripped at her, hugging her legs from injustice and wishing she hadn't heard what was said in the room earlier.
" Knock, knock! Miss Asher. " A voice broke into the room, breaking her from her sobbing and she hid her face, wiping the tears away and standing up onto her feet.
" Yes come in. " She said, her voice not able to hide the pain she was going through.
" Miss Asher, the chairman asked me to see if you're still in your office. "
A young nurse practitioner walked into the room, she was clearly of the same height as Asher though older, with a few years of experience administering her work in the hospital.
" I'm just about to leave. "
Asher reached for her bag, grabbing a few of her stuff all over the room. The look in her face seems forced like trying to seem strong when failing terribly at the same time, packing her stuff in her hands.
" Miss Asher,.. look! " The young woman said, stepping close to her desk in the office while showing a genuine emotion to her.
" I know you kinda feel wronged, we don't know what the truth is right now. "
Asher looked at her for minutes, trying to accept the condolences which permit from her voice, " but, I can tell you that I'm here for you. If you ever need anything! " She said, not knowing how effective these words were but at least she tried saying something that could help the victim in such a situation.
Asher looked silently at her, not able to mutter a single word from the shock she had been thrown into, and she took her things up from the desk leaving the room and the young woman behind. The look she was receiving didn't seem to make her any better, the non stop glancing and gossip filled the corridor along the way she walked out from the hospital.
At the reception desk, two elderly female attendants who had attended her birthday celebration in her office stood on the opposite sides looking at the news from their phones.
" Isn't this the young Miss, what's her name again? In the cytopathology,.. or what's her department again in the hospital? "
" Her name is Asher, and she's in radiology like; MIR, department! "
" Oh that is it. " The woman said nodding her head, while watching the photoage in her phone.
" Yes, and I can't believe how unspeakable she is! " The other woman said, cringing her face like she had seen something very distasteful.
" Wasn't her party we celebrated yesterday in the office? "
" Of course it is. I can't believe you are getting old! " She dropped her phone down like she had truly gotten sick of seeing the awful thing in the video, " I can't believe she will use an excuse, saying; her senior asked of her to commit something so heinous. "
" Well what else, this generation. Lots of young woman wants to climb the ladder of success easily! " Her colleague said, like she knew everything about the secular world from her small desk management duty.
" You don't say. "
" Well you better believe, I saw it in the news how a young girl got into a relationship with an older man just for benefits! This is exactly the same, I guess this is all their strategy. " The elderly woman said, looking at her unaware colleague.
" How shameful. " She said, looking at the familiar figure approaching them.
" Yes I tell you, they're very shame-- "
" Shhh,.. "
" What! Isn't it the truth? " The woman said, looking at the lone Asher who walked feebly out from the hospital through the reception entrance.
" She's only trying to act innocent, that's what they all do. Trying to earn our sympathy! Even if there's no place for her here. " The elderly woman said, from behind her desk against her colleague who didn't have the guts to say it openly after seeing Asher in person. The women were no longer the same who celebrated, and made merry in her office just yesterday showing their true face after seeing an indecent video of her. The look in the elderly woman's face showed as someone who had gotten her husband taken from her which made her miserable and throwing insults at any young girl she sees acting indecent with older men. Perhaps not only her but, the entire city had seen the video of a young woman who became so cheap to gain recognition in a high standard institute with infallible reputation amongst the top medical field, spelling how low and dirty people could get to achieve their aims. Appearing pure and perfect on the surface to keep their devious deeds hidden, the elderly woman was very spiteful towards her presence now than anything.
" I couldn't believe it, I celebrate with such a person! "
" What do you expect, it's not like they walk around announcing that's what they do. " Her colleague said, in the same manner of distaste directed at a person no longer there.