She had found her voice again, though it was still soft and uncertain.


    Jessica remembered what it felt like to speak-she used to talk all the time. But now, her vocal cords felt clumsy, her words shaky and imprecise.


    Herbert patiently guided her. At first, he read aloud and had her repeat after him, keeping the pace slow and deliberate. Gradually, he encouraged her to keep up with his natural rhythm, reciting together.


    After a few rounds, Jessica could feel a hint of progress her words were just a little clearer, her throat just a little stronger.


    She''d never seen Herbert work like this before-so focused, so meticulous. It struck her that he was really, truly exceptional.


    After about twenty minutes, Herbert stopped. He handed her a small bottle of


    throat spray.


    "Here, spray this."


    This was a soothing form he''d made just for her, designed to protect her recovering vocal cords. After each practice session, it eased the difort and helped begin the healing process.


    Jessica tried it, feeling a cool, refreshing sensation in her throat-relief spreading almost instantly.


    She set the bottle down and signed, "What kind of medicine is this?"


    "I made it myself," Herbert replied with a smile. "Just use it as needed."


    Jessica had so many questions, but their exercises had kept her too busy to ask until now.


    She signed again, “Didn''t you say a friend of yours spent seven years developing the treatment for aphasia? But you seem so familiar with the whole process-and you even performed the surgery yourself."


    Herbert smiled, a little sheepish. "Well, I was working at Aetherion too, remember? My friend was leading the research, but I helped out with the experiments all the time. I know the treatment inside and out. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have dared operate on you myself. You wanted your voice back so badly-I couldn''t risk your safety. If I couldn''t do it, I would''ve called my friend here to help you."


    So that was the truth.


    Jessica continued signing, "Oh, right. I don''t think I ever paid you for the treatment."


    Herbertughed. "This is my hospital. Why would I charge you?"


    "But I can''t just take all your help for nothing."


    "If


    you keep being so polite, I''ll get offended."


    Jessica had no choice but to let the subject drop.


    She asked how long it would be before she could have the next procedure.


    "That depends on how your recovery goes," Herbert said. "Don''t worry. I''ll let you know when you''re ready."


    Herbert was called away for another surgery, and Jessica left the hospital.


    He had given her the voice-emitting


    n she lost her speech,


    and had always been there to help. Now, he was treating her aphasia as Well.


    She realized she''d never given him anything in return.


    Determined to show her gratitude, Jessica hailed a cab to the nearest shopping mall.


    This was for Herbert, so she headed straight for the men''s section.


    After marrying Timothy, she''d gotten pretty familiar with brands for men''s clothing and essories. But ties, cufflinks, belts-those were somon, and didn''t feel quite right for a male friend.


    But men''s gifts always seemed toe down to the same few choices-tie pins, razors, shirts.


    Jessica stood there, uncertain what to pick.


    She ended up asking the sales


    associate for advice, typing her question into her phone: "What kind


    of gift is appropriate for a male


    friend? Someone you''re not


    romantically involved with


    The saleswoman smiled. "Anything is fine. It''s the rtionship that matters, not


    the gift."


    That set Jessica''s mind at ease.


    She''d already noticed a pair of pale gold cufflinks—simple, elegant, and exactly Herbert''s style.


    She asked to see them up close, turning them over in her hands, when suddenly she heard Sallie''s voice behind her.


    "So, nning to make up with Timothy? Buying him cufflinks?"