4 04
St. Therese Hospital, a mid-grade infirmary with facilities suitable for emergency care, but that is the only high point of St. Therese Hospital. Treatments beyond the immediate emergency care are not its forte.
In a muted corridor, through the large glass pane one can see a woman in the only ICU ward of the hospital. The woman in the ward has most of her face covered in gauze and the remaining with the artificial respiratory system. The beep of the Electrocardiograph is the only evidence that life still exists in her mortal coil.
Lydia stood beside Chief Inspector Liu, the duo quietly stared at the lady in the bed from the other side of the glass. The tear-filled eyes of Lydia fixedly looks up the ECG, half in fear that her mother might also leave her like her father, half in heart-stabbing guilt of her helplessness and the inability in preventing this dreadful fate upon her family.
Mr. Liu sighs inwardly looking at the torment of this good child that he has come to like over the years.
"She was attacked at her workplace by people unknown, tortured until the police arrived. The people next door called the cops hearing the screams."
"…"
"I know what you wanted to know. You are a smart kid, you probably know who it is, by my hesitation towards the name that I'm not saying.
"As much as this is going to crush you, I have to say this in good faith, you can do nothing against them."
"…you?"
"… I joined the police force with pride, the pride to protect the innocent, and for the authority to punish the evil. I was young like you and was also hopeful, like you. The years went by, I have no pride, only shame. I understood that I was only naive..."
Saying his piece Mr. Liu walked away leaving Lydia alone with his unconscious mother.
***
Life is measured with time.
Times good, times bad, times ordinary, times of surprise, times of defeat, times of victory, times of happiness and times of despair.
The experience of the mentioned times are inevitable in one's life. No one smiles throughout, no soul cries forever.
Forgetful are we over good times. Fearful are we over times of despair, but rightfully so...
Unfathomable is the feeling of being crushed by despair and those who can stand with a straight spine are a limited few.
Despair will hurt you. It will make you bones creak, make you feel your flesh is on fire, veins filled with magma, a jagged scimitar wedged deep in the soul.
Despair is the worst not for its inhumane pain…
...withstand it, nothing changes
...buckle under, nothing changes
In despair, you fight or give in...
... But despair once experiences, is never forgotten…
***
Lydia felt crushed and he had no force or life left in her, but the sight of her struggling mother forced her to stand tall and hold back her tears. The young girl's paradise is ruined by bloodthirsty wolves in human skin. One may think that she is fortunate to be besides his mum or dad or he'd be a cold corpse by now.
But only Lydia knows...
Only she knows that to die fighting would be a release than to live now, with every breath guilt breaks her a little.
The need for the strength to just stand, after what she has been through, is monumental. Looking at the stoic face of Lydia none can tell the thoughts and feelings that are coursing through.
If given the choice she is very much willing to exchange his life for her father, bear the bodily wounds for his mother, but no matter how much we wish, misfortunes and fortunes are pre-destined for those who are fated..
A destiny of ill befell this quaint family.
The mournful silence in the hospital is broken by the loud voice of an agitate Mr. Liu
"How can there be no ambulance available?"
"I have a half dying woman here who needs to be taken to safety! I damn well know who are involved in this incident, the boy's father is dead, is it still not enough?"
"Qianfan, please just do this favor for me...
"...I beg you..."
"You monster, you are killing a child and her injured mother..."
In the shade by the corridor, looking at the flustered Mr. Liu, Lydia pieced together the conversed replies on the other end of the phone from the helpless tirade of Mr. Liu.
Lydia has yet to come to terms with the demise of his father, now when she heard that someone is gunning for her family again her emotions are set ablaze. Like a simmering volcano that is about to erupt, Lydia could barely control her anger.
A child is born with innocence. Growing up, the major of its emotions are replaced with curiosity, fear, expectation, longing, desires and much more.
Every child comes across this bottleneck that everyone has to cross this threshold at a certain point. Some lost souls in its futile attempt pierce through, at times, becomes aggressive, anger lashing out, displeasure dripping down turning everything toxic.
A child does not become an adult when one explodes the emotions out, but when one can hold it together in times of great distress. She becomes an adult if her eyes are clear when the heart and mind is imploding continuously with emotional pressure that crushes the limits of sanity.
The calm in the eye when a sword comes to the head is the mark of maturity and courage.
Despite her age, despite her stature, despite her ability, despite her strength, despite her capacity to fight back, despite her all shortcomings; a warrior princess is born when she can look straight at death and can calmly see it coming.
Lydia back straightens up, the walk back to his mother's ward was like baptism to the young girl. Her thoughts of the tomorrow are voided, her understanding of his ability is forgotten. The only thought in the young girl's mind is the complete surrender of her everything in exchange for a fighting chance. Even at the cost of death, she wishes to chase life for the barely alive Mrs Brockman.
The sight of the weak pulse of his mom hardened her fleshy heart. The disheartening sight snaps something deep inside of Lydia.
She walks back to Mr. Liu begging to the person on the other end of the phone. Insanity creeps into her soul, the eyes of her slowly become deranged. With a crazy look, she pulled the phone from Mr. Liu.
"... Qianfan."
"Who's this?"
"...your regret."
Saying her piece Lydia cut the call.
