The doctor left as evening fell.
I don't remember exactly what he said. Only scattered fragments: technical words, careful explanations, and silences that were too long. In the end, the room grew quiet again, as if nothing had happened.
Except everything had changed.
The wheelchair was next to the bed.
It wasn't particularly large or intimidating. In fact, it seemed too simple to carry something as heavy as my current reality. I stared at it for several seconds without saying a word.
"Whenever you're ready," McQueen said calmly, "we can help you."
I nodded.
Not because I was ready, but because I didn't know what else to do.
Mejiro Ryan was the first to move. She positioned the chair carefully and set the brakes confidently, as if she had done something like this before. Mejiro Ardan approached from the other side of the bed, attentive to my every move.
"Don't rush," she said. "Take your time."
I followed their instructions as best I could. My arms trembled as they supported my weight, and for a second I thought I would fall. But I didn't. Together, with surprising coordination, they managed to sit me in the chair.
When I was finally there, motionless, with my feet resting on the footrests, I felt something I hadn't expected.
Shame.
I didn't look at anyone.
"Thank you..." I muttered.
"It's nothing," Bright replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Ryan crossed her arms.
"You're not the first to need help," she said. "And you won't be the last."
I didn't know if those words were meant to reassure me or to remind me of something else. Even so, I nodded.
McQueen stepped forward.
"We wanted to take you to the garden," she explained. "We think some fresh air will do you good."
Garden.
The word gave me a strange feeling. Perhaps because that was where they had found me. Perhaps because, deep down, I was afraid of discovering something I wasn't ready to see.
"All right," I said finally.
The journey through the mansion was silent.
The hallways were wide, bright, decorated with a refined taste that made me feel out of place. Every turn, every door, confirmed that this place wasn't entirely unearthly.
And did I... belong there?
Stepping out into the garden, the fresh air hit my face. I took a deep breath without realizing it. There was perfectly manicured grass, lush trees, and stone paths stretching out in different directions.
"This is where we found you," Palmer said, pointing to a spot not far away.
I looked at the spot.
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
"I don't remember falling here," I admitted.
"That's normal," Ardan replied. "Memory doesn't always come back in order."
I moved the chair forward a bit clumsily, pushing the wheels with my hands. The movement was slow, uneven. Ryan watched in silence for a few seconds and then approached.
"Like this," she said, adjusting my posture. "Use your arms more. Don't force yourself."
I followed her advice. It worked better.
"Thank you."
"Yeah."
There were no more words.
For a while, we simply stayed there. They chatted among themselves about everyday things I didn't fully understand. I listened, feeling strangely... included.
Like someone who was more than just a guest.
I looked at my hands again. I didn't remember my name. I didn't know what awaited me. But, for the first time since I woke up, I felt something more than just fear. There was something else. Maybe acceptance. Maybe a new beginning.
The soft rustling of leaves and distant voices filled the air as the garden opened up before me. I didn't know how long I would stay there, but... a part of me didn't feel so bad after all.