Stigma Love's Algorithm [ A BTS x Reader Poly ]

Chapter 16: When Life Shakes You

When she saw him, she rushed toward him, her hands trembling as she clung to him.

"I should've picked up the phone earlier," I muttered. "If I'd just answered, if I'd gone over more, If I'd only talked to her more, visited her more maybe-"

"Oppa, stop," Nari cut me off pulling away from me slightly to look me in the eyes. Her voice was sharp but I know she wasn't angry at me.

She was angry at the situation, at everything that had happened so fast.
"There's nothing you could have done. Don't blame yourself. This isn't on you."

I looked at her, my heart heavy with guilt, but I nodded.

I knew she was right. But it didn't feel right. It didn't feel fair.

Finally, the doors to the operating room opened, and a surgeon stepped through, his face tired but composed.

He locked eyes with us, and for a moment, it felt like the world stopped.

He took a breath before speaking. "I'm Dr. Cho. I've just finished the surgery. It was a major procedure, but I'm happy to say that it was successful. However..." He hesitated, his brow furrowing, and I could feel Nari's grip on my hand tighten. "We've had to put her into a medically induced coma."

"What?" I asked, my voice hoarse. "Why?"

"The trauma to her head was severe, and we need to give her brain time to recover. The swelling could worsen without the coma, and we can't risk further damage. She's stable for now, but the next two days are critical. We will be monitoring her closely. It's a waiting game from here on."

My mind felt clouded, like I was hearing the words but not understanding them fully.

Medically induced coma.

The words echoed in my head, and for a second, I couldn't breathe.

Nari's shoulders slumped. "So... we just wait? We don't know if she'll wake up?"

Dr. Cho's expression softened. "I know this is hard, but it's the best option for her right now. The next 24-48 hours will tell us a lot. We just need to keep a close eye on her."

"Thank you," I said, my voice rough as I stood up, pulling Nari to her feet as well.

Dr. Cho gave us a sympathetic nod and walked away, leaving us standing in the sterile, quiet hallway.

We both turned toward Mom's room, our footsteps slow and heavy.

I could feel my heart beating in my chest with every step.

Nari looked up at me, her eyes red-rimmed, and I could see the pain in her face that matched the agony in my own heart.

"We're going to get through this," I said, my voice low but firm. "Mom's a fighter. She's always been a fighter."

Nari nodded, but I could tell she didn't believe me.

I didn't know if I believed it myself.

But I had to say it.

For both of us.

As nurses wheel her bed in to her room, I felt my lungs struggling to catch my breath.

She looked so peaceful but her entire head was bandaged, several bruises on her face, and body.

I had to tell myself and Nari that she'll get through this over and over again.

Hoping that I would also eventually convince myself.

We sat by her side for hours, the minutes blending into a blur.