The first thing I noticed was the sound. A steady beeping echoed somewhere beside me. My eyes felt heavy, and my entire body ached as I slowly opened them. White ceiling. Bright lights. The smell of medicine.
A hospital.
I tried to move, but a sharp ache reminded me that my body wasn't ready for that yet.
"What… happened?"
My voice came out barely above a whisper.
Someone sitting beside my bed suddenly stood up.
"Hey! Hey, take it easy!"
It was Ethan.
He looked exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes. The moment he realized I was awake, he pressed the call button for the nurse.
"Emy!" he shouted toward the hallway. "Get the doctor! He's awake!"
I tried to sit up, but Ethan gently stopped me.
"Don't move too much. You've been through a lot."
I stared at him, confused.
"How long…?"
He hesitated before answering.
"Two weeks."
My eyes widened.
"Two weeks?"
He nodded.
For a moment, I couldn't say anything. Two weeks of my life were gone, and all I could remember clearly was the rushing water and my mother's face in that field.
Then another thought struck me.
"Hina… Osako… Rudy?"
"They're okay," Ethan answered quickly. "They're all okay."
I closed my eyes and let out a shaky breath.
Thank God.
A moment later, Emy rushed into the room. When she saw me awake, she covered her mouth, tears gathering in her eyes.
"Oh, thank goodness."
She came to my bedside and carefully hugged me, trying not to disturb the hospital equipment.
"You scared us so much," she whispered.
I looked between them.
"I'm sorry."
Ethan shook his head.
"Don't apologize. We're just glad you're here."
Then the door opened again.
Rudy stood in the doorway.
For a second, he didn't move. He simply stared at me, as if he were afraid that if he came closer, I might disappear again.
I managed a weak smile.
"Hey, Rudy."
He hurried to my bedside and grabbed my hand. His eyes were red, and he was trying desperately to hold himself together.
I squeezed his hand gently.
"I'm okay, buddy."
Rudy shook his head, then pulled out his phone and typed something before showing it to me.
Don't ever do that again.
Despite how exhausted I was, I let out a small laugh.
"I'll try."
He gave me a look that told me he wasn't amused.
For the first time since waking up, I felt like things might actually be okay.
Then I remembered the field.
My mother's voice.
The way she had held me when I was four years old.
I turned toward the window, watching the morning sunlight spill across the room.
Was that really her?
Or had my mind simply created the one place I wanted to be?
I didn't know.
But I remembered what she'd told me.
You carry my love with you wherever you go.
And for some reason, those words stayed with me long after I woke up.The door opened again, and a doctor walked in with a nurse following behind him.
"Well," the doctor said, checking the monitor beside my bed, "look who's finally decided to wake up."
I gave him a tired look. "Was I sleeping that long?"
Ethan let out a quiet laugh, but Emy shook her head.
"Don't encourage him," she said. "He's been worrying us enough already."
The doctor smiled before turning serious.
"You've been unconscious for fourteen days. You suffered significant exhaustion and injuries from the flooding. You're fortunate to be alive, but you'll need time to recover. Don't try to get out of bed without assistance."
I nodded slowly.
Then I remembered something.
"Wait. What happened after I got swept away?"
Ethan pulled a chair closer to my bed.
"Rescue crews found you downstream. Someone had spotted you in the water and called for help. They brought you here, and you've been under observation ever since."
I stared at him.
"Who found me?"
"We're still piecing together some of the details," he answered. "But the important thing is that they got you here in time."
I looked down at my hands.
I could still remember the cold water, the noise, and the feeling of being dragged away from the house.
Then I remembered my mother.
"Did Hina and Osako make it out safely?"
"They did," Emy answered. "Hina has been asking about you constantly. She blames herself for what happened, even though it wasn't her fault."
"Can I see her?"
"Let the doctor check you first," Ethan said. "One thing at a time."
I sighed and leaned back against the pillow.
A few minutes later, the doctor finished his examination and told me I needed rest. Ethan and Emy stepped into the hallway to speak with him, leaving Rudy beside me.
Rudy pulled his phone out and began typing.
He showed me the screen.
I thought I lost you.
My smile faded.
I looked at him for a moment before reaching for his hand.
"I'm sorry, Rudy."
He shook his head firmly, then typed again.
You always try to save everyone. Who's going to save you?
I didn't have an answer.
For once, I genuinely didn't know what to say.
I looked toward the window, watching the clouds drift across the sky.
"I don't know," I admitted quietly.
Rudy sat back in his chair, still holding my hand.
Neither of us spoke for a while.
Then I remembered the field again.
The green grass. The warm sunlight. My mother's arms around me.
"Rudy?"
He looked at me.
"Have you ever had a dream that felt more real than being awake?"
He tilted his head, waiting.
"I saw our mom."
His expression changed.
"Not like I remember her," I continued. "I was little again. Four years old. We were standing in this huge field, and she was there with me."
My voice grew quieter.
"She told me I had to come back."
Rudy stared at me, his eyes softening.
"I don't know if it was just a dream," I said. "But I felt like I was really with her."
Rudy squeezed my hand.
Then he typed something and turned the phone toward me.
Maybe you needed to hear her voice again.
I read the words twice.
Maybe he was right.
I settled back against the pillow, exhausted from talking.
Just before I closed my eyes, I whispered, "I wish I could've stayed a little longer."
Rudy didn't type anything this time.
He simply stayed beside me.
And for the first time in two weeks, I fell asleep knowing I wasn't alone.