Perspective of Christine Palmer
Some things . . . not knowing the truth seems better
Like how I forgot that Strange went to Hong Kong to stop the catastrophe because of the memory seal spell he cast so I could focus fully on performing surgery until I remembered he had come to see me before leaving for Hong Kong only when I saw the news on TV the next morning
Because the truth hurts
Because the truth is too much to bear in many ways
Because the truth creates more fear than ignorance
PHOBIA fear of all kinds of things from insects to venomous creatures like snakes to standing high up looking down at the view below or staring into the endless deep sea where no one can see the bottom
Sometimes learning about what we fear helps us overcome it but today right now after learning the truth about the black hole incident in Hong Kong I only felt more afraid
This world is so much scarier than I ever imagined
Like a sci-fi horror story gods from other dimensions waiting to seize the world to consume everything . . .
I never thought it would be real
" Haa" I sighed my face buried in my hands tears running down my cheeks I took a deep breath held it for a moment then slowly exhaled trying to focus and process everything I had just heard over the past hour packed with information like a week-before-exam lecture
Strange spoke with the tone eyes and gestures he used when explaining patient cases pointing out crucial surgical details it felt like being back in the hospital working together as normal people with deep knowledge of human anatomy physiology joints tendons nerves bones the circulatory system and every part of the body which to ordinary people . . .
A surgeon knows more about the human body than the owner of that body ever could
Knowing which vein brings old blood into the heart which sends new blood out to nourish the body what each wrist vein is called where the Achilles tendon connects what each organ in the abdomen does the large and small intestines the upper and lower parts and how to fix problems whether by surgery or medication to most people that's already something miraculous and hard to comprehend
I used to try thinking from that perspective to explain complex information simply to patients and families so they could understand the treatment plan clearly preventing later confusion or lawsuits that would waste my precious little free time having to testify in court instead of spending that time helping people
Better to explain everything clearly from the start during the treatment plan
And because I understood the importance of simplifying complicated things for those with no background knowledge I looked up at Stephen with deep admiration
" Thank you for explaining the truth so simply to me"
" It's still a bit hard for ordinary people like you to fully understand I did my best I hope you're not too confused" he replied humbly his voice full of care and gentleness such a soft calm presence so unlike the Stephen from before the accident
Like the many medical records I've read serious accidents that put patients in a coma for days often either damage the mind and personality like PTSD or create new better traits changing how they see life and themselves
Living the second life after surviving death that's the key phrase I once wrote down and Stephen truly lived his second life after surviving that car crash to the fullest
He dedicated his body and soul to mastering mystical arts and threw himself into the loop of time living and dying 403 times beyond what any nervous system could endure
Pain that tore his body apart . . . heart pierced brain smashed skull shattered lungs ripped open organs burned away by fire cells frozen and cracked to dust body torn by dimensional rifts countless tortures he described briefly enough to make me cry silently holding back sobs afraid I'd miss a single word of his story
" If I didn't go to hell the whole world the solar system and every planet in the Milky Way with intelligent life would have gone to hell if I didn't do it who would" I had asked him why he endured such torment his answer was pure heroism nobler than any Avengers speech
It made me feel . . . like I was falling in love with Strange again maybe for the second or even the third time
The first time was when we met as med students I admired his skill even if I didn't like his ego though I understood it as a trait of a genius
The second time after his accident he was calmer more mature less arrogant even others noticed the change
And now this time . . . as he told me everything he had faced with such calmness using simple words it felt like listening to Stephen tell a fantasy story except it was real . . .
A true story that reminded me Stephen Strange had sacrificed himself to protect this world
And no one ever knew
A hero who didn't need red carpets didn't need to call his friends to fight at airports or storm Hydra bases didn't need to create AI robots that nearly turned cities into meteors
Strange had been saving lives long before this as a surgeon and now as the Sorcerer Supreme he saved the world from being devoured by Dormammu or whatever that name was
Even if he couldn't turn back time to bring everyone back to life because it would violate the laws of nature he stopped the Dark Dimension from consuming the Earth and that alone was incredible
" Haa . . . this world is terrifying"
" You've said that like ten times already heh"
" Don't laugh who was it that told me all those horrifying truths huh how am I supposed to sleep tonight" I shook my head and finished the last sip of cocoa
" If you want I can cast a dreamless sleep spell so you can rest"
" Does that spell work like sleeping pills if I use it too often will I end up in a coma like Sleeping Beauty" I asked half serious half teasing
" Well . . . no side effects if I choose the right version but I'd rather not leave traces of magic on you since I'll probably make a lot more enemies soon"
" If they're enemies trying to take over the world then go ahead fight them all I'll be fine"
" You still don't understand how terrifying magic users are . . . but anyway I'll protect you" I blinked that sounded suspiciously like a love confession
I didn't remember what happened next the next thing I knew it was 9 AM my phone ringing loudly beside the bed not the alarm but the ringtone I set for close friends
" Lisa what's up calling so early" I answered groggily
" It's 9 AM in New York but 2 PM here in London . . . turn on the TV now your city's being invaded by aliens again"
" Huh?"