I slowly started to wake up, my vision still blurry as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. I looked up at the ceiling and then around the room, trying to piece together where I was. It wasn't until I saw someone sitting in the chair next to me that I realized I was in a hospital room.
"Hey there," the person said, turning around to face me. "It looks like you've finally woken up."
I tried to speak, my voice hoarse and weak. "Who are you?"
The person came closer, revealing herself to be Elizabeth. She put her hand on my forehead, and suddenly my vision cleared up.
"What happened to me?" I asked, still feeling disoriented."
You were unconscious for two days," Elizabeth replied, her voice gentle.
I managed to sit up, feeling weak and unsteady. I took a deep breath and tried to move my left hand, only to feel someone holding it tightly.
My heart skipped a beat as I looked to my left and saw Alice sitting in a chair next to me, wearing a soft nightgown. Her head was resting on the bed, and she was holding my hand tightly. Her fingers interwined with mine in a firm grip.
As I gazed at her, my face turned red with a rush of emotions. I felt my heart rate increase, and my body felt warm all over.
My heart started skipping more beats as I felt a more rush of emotions flood through me. My face turned red with embarrassment and I couldn't help but feel a flutter in my chest. "What the hell? What is she doing here?" I whispered to Elizabeth, feeling flustered.
She gave me a playful look and smirked, but said nothing as she went outside the room and locked the door behind her.
Damn that woman.
I let out a heavy sigh, my thoughts swirling with a mix of exhaustion and anticipation. Glancing to my left, I noticed Alice beginning to stir from her slumber. In a split second, I made the decision to feign sleep, quickly closing my eyes and trying to steady my breathing.
A few minutes passed, and I could sense Alice's presence drawing nearer. I felt a gentle touch on my hair, causing my heart to skip a beat. Slowly, I opened my eyes, and there she was, a soft smile gracing her lips. "Pretending to be asleep, aren't you?" she whispered, her voice filled with warmth and affection.
Blushing, I nodded, unable to find the words to express my feelings. Alice continued to run her fingers through my hair, her touch soothing and comforting. "Do you feel better?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I mustered a quiet response, "Kind of."
Her response was tender, as she leaned in to place a gentle kiss on my forehead. With a finger pressed against my lips, she hushed me gently. "Shh, don't talk too much. You need to rest," she murmured. "Go to sleep. You need rest, and we can talk later. I'm not going anywhere."
Her words washed over me. The blush on my cheeks deepened, overwhelmed by her care and affection. Part of me longed to stay awake, to savor every moment with her, but my body felt weak and drained. Succumbing to the pull of exhaustion, I finally allowed myself to drift off to sleep, knowing that Alice would be there when I woke.
---Next day---
As I slowly began to regain consciousness, my eyes half-opened to find Elizabeth standing beside me, her gaze fixed upon me. "Hey babe, good morning," she greeted me with a hint of affection in her voice.
I sat up abruptly, frustration evident in my tone as I retorted, "I am not your babe, and please stop calling me that."
She smirked, her amusement only serving to further irritate me. "Where is Alice?" I demanded, my impatience growing.
"Aww, that's so cute, thinking about her first thing in the morning, eh?" Elizabeth teased. "She went to school."
I sighed, reluctantly accepting her response. "Okay, fine. Now, can you please tell me why Alice was in this room, and whose room am I in right now?"
Elizabeth gently pushed me back onto the bed, tucking me securely under the blanket. "Shh, calm down first. It's not good for your health. I will explain everything, okay?"
I nodded slightly, acknowledging her point. It was true; I still felt weak and fragile, and perhaps it was best to listen to her explanation before jumping to conclusions.
She began by asking me a series of questions, wanting to understand the circumstances leading up to my sudden bouts of dizziness. I recounted how it had first occurred near the docks, followed by another episode in the car. The sensations had been overwhelming, accompanied by excruciating headaches. I confessed that I had never experienced anything like it before.
She took a moment to absorb all the information I had shared with her, her brow furrowing slightly in concern. "Hmm, okay," she finally said, her voice gentle yet filled with a hint of worry. "I think it's nothing more than just a normal headache, but it must have been quite powerful for you."
I nodded in agreement, relieved that she didn't seem overly concerned. "Yes, I suppose it was just a headache," I replied, trying to downplay the intensity of the pain I had experienced.
However, her next words caught me off guard. "By the way, I heard from Alice that you tend to think about things a lot," she said, her tone compassionate. I couldn't help but wonder how much Alice had divulged to her.
Attempting to reassure her, I forced a smile and replied, "I appreciate your concern, but I promise you, I'll be fine. It's just a phase you said right? And I'll get through it."
She placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, her touch warm and reassuring. "Look, I really think you need to prioritize your well-being," she said, her voice taking on a more professional tone. "Whether it's dwelling on the past or constantly worrying about the future, negative thought patterns can have a detrimental impact on both your mental and physical health. Ruminating on stressful events can eventually lead to anxiety and depression."
I nodded slightly, acknowledging her words, but still hesitant to fully open up. Sensing my reluctance, she sat down beside me on the bed, her presence offering a sense of comfort. "Hey, I'm sorry if I'm prying, but as a doctor, it's important for me to understand what you're going through," she said softly. "Do you have painful memories from your past that you're struggling to overcome?"
I didn't responded.
She then spoke up, 'I will take that as a yes then. Do you want to talk about it? Or would you prefer to discuss it with Alice?"
I replied firmly, 'No, no one needs to do anything about this. Can we please drop the subject? I don't want to talk about it."
My gaze remained fixed on the floor, unable to meet her eyes. The weight of my past felt heavy, and I couldn't find the words to express my emotions. I simply shook my head, indicating that I didn't want to discuss it.
She seemed to understand my reluctance and backed off, her voice filled with empathy. "Okay, I won't push you to talk about it if you're not ready," she said gently. "Just know that I'm here for you, and if you ever feel like opening up, don't hesitate to reach out. In the meantime, please take care of yourself. I'll bring you some soup and make sure you get some rest."
I simply nodded in response to her instructions, and she promptly made her way to the kitchen. After a few minutes, she returned with a steaming bowl of soup, carefully setting it down on the table before me. Concern etched across her face, she gently informed me that I needed to continue resting for a few more days. Acknowledging her words with another nod. I took the bowl of soup, finished it quickly and put it back on the table.
I lay on my bed, memories from the past began to resurface, threatening to overwhelm me. Determined to keep them at bay, I forcefully pushed them aside and succumbed to the embrace of sleep.
---Later at night---
---THIRD POV---
Alice sat in her room, surrounded by textbooks and papers, diligently working on her homework. The weight of her responsibilities seemed to hang heavy in the air, making it difficult for her to focus. Just as she was about to take a break, Elizabeth came towards her, holding two steaming cups of coffee.
She approached Alice with a warm smile, her eyes filled with concern. She handed Alice one of the cups and gently asked, "Doing homework sweetie?"
Alice gratefully accepted the cup, feeling the warmth seep into her hands. She took a sip, relishing in the comforting taste, and replied, "Yes, it will be done soon." But behind her words, there was a hint of exhaustion and weariness.
Alice took a sip of her coffee and inquired, "How is Alvin doing?"
Elizabeth returned a warm smile and replied, "He is doing well now. He still needs some rest, but he will be fine."
A small smile tugged at the corners of Alice's lips, momentarily lighting up her face. However, it quickly faded, replaced by a look of concern. She couldn't help but ask, her voice filled with worry, "What exactly happened to him?"
Elizabeth hesitated for a moment, contemplating how much to reveal. He's dealing with some depression and anxiety, but I can't really mention it to her because she might go crazy and start flipping the whole house upside down.
With a sigh, she decided to protect Alice from the harsh reality. "He's just been having headaches, that's all," Elizabeth replied, her tone carefully measured. "He will be recovered soon."
Concern etched her face as she continued, "Alice, do you think there's something deeper causing Alvin's pain? Perhaps a painful memory or something traumatic?"
Alice's eyes welled up with tears as she replied, "Yes, it happened when we were both just 10 years old."
Elizabeth's expression softened, understanding the pain that resurfaced with that memory. "Oh, I know about that," she admitted, her voice filled with empathy. "I heard it from Mrs. Smith. But did something else happen with Alvin in the past? Perhaps a painful memory or something traumatic?"
Alice's gaze dropped to the coffee cup in her hands, her fingers tracing the rim absentmindedly. The weight of the unspoken truth hung heavily in the air, causing a lump to form in her throat. After a moment of silence, she finally mustered the courage to respond, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah... there... was one more thing. It happened with him."
Elizabeth's eyebrows furrowed in concern as she listened to Alice's words. "If it's okay, can you tell me what happened with him?" she asked softly.
Alice's voice was filled with sadness as she spoke. "I don't know many details, but that was the time when he was adopted and he refused to talk about it to anyone. Not even me."
"Wait, adopted?" Elizabeth's eyes widened in shock. "And he didn't share that even with you?"
Alice nodded, her eyes downcast. "No, he didn't. I only know a few things that I heard from Mrs. Smith. He just refuses to talk about it."
"Can you tell me what happened? What do you know about it?" Elizabeth asked.
Alice took a deep breath before continuing. "It happened when we were 11. He was adopted, and while he was there, he was abused."
"Abused?" Elizabeth's voice was filled with horror and disbelief.
Alice nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "Yes, it was just for one week. Alvin was adopted by that family, and then on the same day, the man found out that his wife was cheating on him. That led to another thing, and eventually, after her husband was gone, she took her anger out on Alvin."
Elizabeth's jaw dropped, her eyes widening in shock. "Oh my god," she gasped, her voice trembling with a mix of horror and disbelief. The weight of Alice's words settled heavily in her chest, causing her heart to sink.
Alice, her fists clenched tightly, spoke with a hint of anger in her voice. "I really hate that woman," she seethed, her brows furrowing in frustration. "Fortunately, the police found out about it and she went to jail. Everything was solved, and Alvin came back to the orphanage. But he... he stopped acting like he used to. He started avoiding people."
As Alice continued, her voice filled with sadness. "And you don't know how Alvin was before. He was really calm and mischievous and he liked to be surrounded by friends. But after that incident, he changed completely. It was already bad because, you know, the incident when we were 10... everyone blamed it on him. He lost trust in people."
Elizabeth listened intently, her heart aching for him. She could feel the weight of his pain and the burden he carried. The thought of him enduring such hardships made her own emotions swirl with a mix of sympathy and sorrow. So, that explains everything, probably that's why he had a few scars on his back. I noticed them when I pulled his T-shirt to change. I was curious about them, but I just ignored them.
Alice's voice softened, her lips curling into a small, melancholic smile. "He just shows that he's fine, but he's not," she confessed, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "He's still having a hard time going through all of that. I mean, no one can forget such a painful memory."
Elizabeth nodded slowly, her own heart heavy with empathy. "He's had a rough life, I guess," she murmured, her voice filled with a mix of sadness and hope. "But still, I think he will be fine. He's resilient, and he knows how to get back up on his feet again."
Alice's smile grew slightly, tinged with a hint of gratitude. "Yeah, I know," she whispered, her voice filled with a mixture of relief and admiration. "But it's just... he's still carrying that pain with him. It's not something anyone can easily forget or move on from."
Elizabeth thought to herself "That explains everything. He is having a hard time because it keeps reminding him of those days. Painful memories are like daggers to the heart, reopening wounds we thought had healed. He must be going through a lot with those two painful memories."
Elizabeth smiled warmly and gently ruffled Alice's hair. "Thank you for telling me, sweetie," she said with genuine gratitude. "Now, it's getting late, so it's time for you to go to bed."
Alice beamed at Elizabeth, happy to have shared that with her.