Day 1
~ S-City Hospital ~
"Ow!"
Liam winced as the head nurse smacked him on the head with the medical records in her hand.
"Stop staring at that patient and get back to work!" she scolded before turning away and returning to her duties.
Liam rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish sigh. Before leaving, however, he stole one last glance at the patient.
As he continued down the hallway, his thoughts inevitably drifted back to her.
It had been several years since he had started working as a nurse at S-City Hospital.
Yet he still remembered his very first patient.
Her.
---
~ Flashback — Three Years Ago ~
A petite young woman sat quietly on a hospital bed, gazing out through the window with a distant, almost dreamlike expression.
She had pale skin, shoulder-length black hair, dazzling brown eyes, a delicate pointed nose, and plump lips. Dark circles rested beneath her eyes, but even so, there was something strangely captivating about her appearance.
"Good morning!" Liam greeted brightly. "I'll be your nurse starting today."
The girl slowly turned toward him.
A small, gentle smile appeared on her lips.
She said nothing.
Taking her silence as a quiet acknowledgement, Liam smiled and began checking her vital signs before helping the medical team prepare her for surgery.
Fortunately, the operation was a success.
But afterward, something unexpected happened.
For reasons the doctors couldn't fully explain, the girl never woke up.
Days turned into weeks.
Weeks became months.
And eventually, years.
She remained in a coma, sleeping peacefully while the world continued moving around her.
---
~ End of Flashback ~
Liam shook his head and let out a quiet sigh as he continued toward his next patient.
How long would she remain asleep?
He didn't know.
And, more importantly...
What was she dreaming about?
---
~ Meanwhile — A Family Restaurant ~
Across the city, a young girl named Mia was enjoying dinner with her parents at a busy family restaurant.
The television mounted on the wall suddenly switched to a special news report.
«"A spectacular meteor shower is expected to occur tonight. Astronomers say the celestial event should be visible from several areas across the city..."»
Mia's eyes immediately widened with excitement.
"Mom! Look, look!"
She tugged excitedly at her mother's sleeve.
"The news says there's going to be a meteor shower tonight! Can I see it? Can I? Pleeeease?"
Her parents exchanged amused glances.
"Of course, sweetheart," her mother replied with a smile.
"Just finish your dinner first," her father added with a laugh.
Mia immediately attacked her food with renewed determination.
She ate so quickly that she nearly choked.
"Mia!"
Her father quickly handed her a glass of water.
She took several gulps before finally letting out a relieved sigh.
Her parents burst into laughter.
A moment later, Mia joined them.
After finishing their meal, the family left the restaurant and began making their way home.
On the way, Mia happily skipped through the park, holding one of her parents' hands in each of hers.
She could barely contain her excitement.
This would be her first time seeing a meteor shower.
She couldn't wait.
---
~ S-City Park ~
Across S-City, preparations for the evening's celestial event were already underway.
Workers and volunteers moved across the open field, arranging chairs and telescopes across the grass while food stalls were being assembled nearby.
Suddenly—
BAM!
A loud crash echoed from the corner of the park.
Everyone nearby turned toward the sound.
A young boy had crashed his bicycle into a pile of debris.
Mike immediately rushed over.
"Hey, kid! Are you okay?"
The boy didn't answer.
Instead, he calmly stood up, brushed the dirt from his clothes, and looked down at his bicycle.
Several scratches covered his arms, and one knee was bleeding slightly.
Yet the boy seemed completely unfazed.
Without saying a word, he climbed back onto his bicycle.
"Hey, wait—!"
Before Mike could stop him, the boy pedaled away.
"Haaah... haaah..."
Cindy came running toward Mike, catching her breath as she placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Isn't that the mayor's son?" she asked.
Mike nodded.
His gaze shifted toward a stern-looking woman standing nearby.
She was overseeing the preparations for the meteor shower, making sure everything was ready before the crowds arrived.
Meanwhile, Brent and Katie waved toward them from one of the nearby food stalls.
"Hey! Come over here!" Brent called.
Their group of friends had decided to run a small food stall for the event. With school break underway, they figured it would be a good opportunity to earn some extra money.
As evening approached, more and more people began arriving at the park.
Families gathered around the food stalls.
Children ran across the grass.
Couples searched for the perfect viewing spot.
Friends chatted excitedly as they waited for the sky to darken.
The entire park gradually filled with laughter and anticipation.
Everyone was waiting for the meteor shower.
Then, suddenly—
"I SAW ONE!"
A loud voice erupted from the viewing deck.
A large man stood behind one of the telescopes, his eye pressed firmly against the eyepiece.
"I SAW A METEOR!"
His excited shout immediately caught everyone's attention.
People began rushing toward the viewing area.
"Where?!"
"Let me see!"
"Is it starting already?"
One by one, people crowded around the telescopes, eagerly waiting for their turn.
Above them, the night sky stretched endlessly across the horizon.
Countless stars glittered in the darkness.
And somewhere beyond those distant stars...
something was already approaching.
Something that would change S-City forever.