chapter851

Lydia didn't pay any attention to the gossip swirling around her. She went straight to Monica and asked, "Hey, what happened?"

Monica looked absolutely miserable, her face pale and her whole body tense. When she saw Lydia, her eyes filled with tears. "Lydia, I'm so useless."

Lydia's brows knitted with concern. "What's going on?"

Before Monica could answer, Fiona jumped in. "This afternoon in anatomy class, the professor brought in a cadaver. Monica totally freaked out when she saw it. Then, right in the middle of the dissection, she threw up in front of everyone. People started saying some really harsh things."

Monica's eyes were red and watery as she sniffled. I just... I couldn't help it. I don't know what happened to me."

Lydia gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder. Her voice was soft and reassuring. It's normal to be scared your first time with a donor. Everyone feels that way."

Monica looked down, shame burning on her cheeks. But Sandy wasn't scared at all. She did everything perfectly, from the dissection to the suturing. Everyone was saying how amazing she was."

Lydia tilted her head. "So, how many people actually worked with the donor today?"

Monica thought for a second. "A few guys did. For the girls, only Sandy and Fiona finished the assignment."

Lydia glanced over at Fiona, who immediately got flustered. Honestly, I just forced myself through it. My sutures were a mess."

She remembered how her hands wouldn't stop shaking. The stitches she put in looked terrible, zigzagging all over the place like a centipede.

Sandy's work had been perfect, though. No one could deny that.

"You already did good," Lydia encouraged.

She turned back to Monica, who still looked lost. "You're not useless. Everyone else was scared too. They just hid it better. There's nothing to be ashamed of. Trust yourself, and try to be braver next time, okay?"

Monica wiped her eyes, her voice trembling. "But I... I don't know..."

The whole thing had shaken her. Deep down, she was even starting to wonder if she was really cut out for medicine.

"Donors are so important for our learning. They're giving us an incredible gift Don't be afraid. The

more you experience, the easter it gets."

Monica squeezed her hands into little fists and nodded. "Okay. I'll do better next time."

Lydia smiled. Come on, let's go back to our room."

Back at the dorm, Lydia dug a tiny porcelain bottle out of her bag and shook out a pill for Monica.

"Here. It'll help you relax. Try to get some good sleep tonight."

Monica was still pale, her mind replaying the scene over and over. Just

remembering the dissection made her shiver.

"Thank you, Lydia."

"Next time there's a dissection, let me know. I'll go with you."

Monica nodded, a little more hopeful. "Okay."

Suddenly, Fiona piped up. "Lydia, the

monthly academic competition is in two weeks, Are you ready? Everybody's talking about y?u

behind your back, just waiting for

you to mess up."

Lydia raised her eyebrows, looking totally unbothered. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

She turned to Monica again. "Don't dwell on it. Sleep well tonight. We're going to that concert tomorrow, remember?"

Elliot's first concert was set for seven in the evening at the Capital's Olympia Stadium.

Monica nodded, a small smile finally breaking through. "I know, Lydia."

As soon as Connor got back from his business trip, he rushed over to pick Lydia up.

The moment Lydia's car drove away from campus, Sandy, still bundled up in her

usual layers, slipped into a black luxury car waiting by the gate.

She hardly had time to settle in before a tattooed arm pulled her into a tight embrace. A big hand slid

under her clothes, and a deep rough voice murmured, "What took you so long?"