The room went completely quiet.
Shortly after, my lead developer murmured, “His point is spot on.”
From that moment forward, not a single colleague doubted his role at the table.
Accepting healthcare assistance proved to be a slower battle. I refused to force his hand. I merely texted him a surgeon’s contact info. He brushed it off for nearly a week. Then his leg gave out mid-shift, and he ultimately allowed me to transport him to the clinic.
The physician confirmed the wear and tear was permanent, yet manageable. Discomfort could be lessened. Movement could be enhanced.
Out in the lot afterward, Jude rested on the concrete edge and gazed blankly into the distance.
“I truly believed this struggle was just my permanent reality,” he muttered.
I took a seat next to him. “It was your reality thus far. It does not dictate your future.”
He kept his eyes fixed on me for an extended period.
Then he uttered, barely above a whisper, “I have no idea how to accept favors from others.”
“I understand,” I replied. “I struggled with the exact same thing.”
That conversation marked the genuine breakthrough.
