Chapter 15: I regained consciousness

Everything became blurry.

White.

The ceiling above me was nothing but a hazy patch of light.

I blinked slowly.

Once.

Twice.

My vision remained unfocused.

A sharp antiseptic smell filled my nose.

The rhythmic beeping somewhere beside me echoed through the quiet room.

Hospital.

I was in a hospital.

Fragments of memories flashed through my mind like broken pieces of glass.

Rain.

Headlights.

Screeching tires.

Pain.

Then...

Nothing.

My lips parted instinctively.

"Hel..."

No sound came out.

My throat burned as though I hadn't spoken in years.

I swallowed painfully and tried again.

"Hello..."

Only a faint breath escaped.

Panic immediately spread through my chest.

I tried lifting my right hand.

It didn't move.

No...

Move.

Please.

I concentrated harder, willing my fingers to respond.

After several seconds, they twitched ever so slightly before falling still again.

A wave of relief mixed with fear washed over me.

At least I wasn't completely paralyzed.

I tried turning my head.

A dull ache exploded through my neck.

I winced.

Everything hurt.

Even breathing required effort.

I stared at the ceiling, fighting back tears.

Was this...

Was this how my life was going to be now?

I wanted to call someone.

Anyone.

A doctor.

A nurse.

I needed them to know I was awake.

That I could hear.

That I understood everything.

Again, I forced my mouth open.

"Please..."

Nothing.

Not even a whisper.

Only silence answered me.

Minutes passed.

Or maybe longer.

Time had become meaningless.

The only sounds keeping me company were the steady beeping of the heart monitor and the occasional footsteps outside the room.

Then...

The door opened.

A man in a white coat walked inside while checking a tablet.

He didn't notice me at first.

He approached the machines beside my bed, adjusting a few settings.

Then he glanced toward me.

His eyes widened.

"Vivian?"

I blinked.

That voice...

It sounded familiar.

Very familiar.

He stepped closer.

His face finally came into focus.

Dark hair.

Gentle eyes.

A warm smile that I had seen years ago.

I stared at him in disbelief.

"Dr... Ethan?"

His smile grew wider.

"So you do remember me."

Tears instantly filled my eyes.

"Ethan..."

The word came out rough and broken.

He chuckled softly.

"I'll take that as a good sign."

I couldn't believe it.

Years ago, we'd met at a charity event.

An orphanage on the outskirts of the city.

I'd volunteered to distribute food and school supplies.

He had been there as a young medical volunteer, treating the children for free.

We had spent the entire afternoon laughing with the kids.

Since then, we'd stayed in touch occasionally.

Not close enough to meet every week.

But close enough to recognize each other instantly.

"What... are you... doing here?" I managed to ask.

"I'm the attending physician assigned to your case."

He gently checked my pulse before shining a small light into my eyes.

"Welcome back."

"I've been... asleep?"

"For several days."

His answer made my heart sink.

Several days...

"So much has happened while you were unconscious."

A lump formed in my throat.

"I heard..."

He frowned.

"Heard what?"

"My body couldn't move..."

"But I could hear voices."

"The nurses."

"The doctors."

"And..."

I hesitated.

"The man."

His hand paused.

"You know about him?"

"I heard him talking."

"He came into my room."

"He asked about me."

"He paid..."

"My hospital bills."

"And my aunt's."

I looked directly into Ethan's eyes.

"Who is he?"

Ethan remained silent.

"I don't know why he'd help me."

"I've never met him."

"Why would a complete stranger do all this?"

He hesitated before offering a gentle smile.

"I think that's a question only he can answer."

I closed my eyes briefly.

Then another thought struck me.

"My aunt!"

I tried pushing myself upright.

Pain shot through my entire body.

"Easy."

Ethan immediately supported my shoulders.

"You need to rest."

"I want to see her."

"Right now."

"I need to know she's alright."

"Vivian."

His voice became firm.

"Your aunt is stable."

"She's receiving excellent care."

"I promise."

"I still want to see her."

"You will."

"But not today."

"I've been hearing everything."

"I know she's been here."

"I know the strange man paid for her treatment."

"I need answers."

Ethan looked at me for a long moment before finally sighing.

"I'll call my boss."

I frowned.

"Your boss?"

"Yes."

"He asked to be informed the moment you regained consciousness."

Confusion spread across my face.

"Your boss?"

"Wait..."

"The stranger?"

Ethan nodded.

"He owns this hospital."

I stared at him.

"He..."

"Owns..."

"The hospital?"

"Yes."

The realization left me speechless.

The man I'd never met...

The man paying for everything...

Was the owner of the hospital.

Who was he?

Why was he helping me?

Ethan glanced at his watch.

"I'll let him know."

"You should try to get some rest."

"I don't think I can."

"You need your strength."

He smiled reassuringly before leaving the room.

The door clicked shut.

Silence returned.

Questions crowded my mind until exhaustion slowly pulled at my eyelids.

Despite my determination to stay awake...

Sleep won.

...

Two hours later...

Soft footsteps entered the room.

I stirred.

The sound of a wheelchair rolling gently across the polished floor reached my ears.

Slowly...

I opened my eyes.

And froze.

The man standing beside my bed...

The mysterious stranger who had saved my life...

Was sitting in a wheelchair.