05| A healing bond

"Great friends never scape"

~Ash

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Shadows of friendship

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Arthur struggled to break the lock, and on the seventh hit, it finally gave way. He rushed into the room, a shout escaping his mouth. The servants, startled by his cry, followed suit with their own exclamations. The sight that greeted them froze them in their tracks. Arthur lay on the bed, blood flowing from his wrist. Shock and concern washed over their faces, but Henry swiftly composed himself and ran to Arthur's side, calling his name with urgency. Taking out his handkerchief, he wrapped it tightly around Arthur's wrist to stem the blood flow.

"Quickly, help me get him to my car. We need to take him to the hospital immediately," Henry commanded, and three servants assisted him in carrying Arthur to the car. They carefully laid him on the back seat, with one servant staying by his side, while another sat in the front seat next to Henry. Without wasting a moment, Henry sped off towards the hospital. Tears streamed down his face as he drove, a mix of worry and tension coursing through him.

Within five minutes, they arrived at the hospital. Arthur was swiftly transferred onto a stretcher and rushed into the operating room. Henry paced anxiously outside, having sent the servants away to avoid overcrowding. The wait felt agonizing, each passing minute filled with mounting concern. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the doctor emerged from the operating theater. Henry rushed towards him, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Doctor, what happened? Is my friend going to be okay?" Henry inquired, his voice laden with worry.

"Yes, he will be fine. Thanks to your swift action, you brought him in just in time. Any further delay could have been fatal due to the blood loss," the doctor explained.

Relief flooded over Henry, and he tightly grasped the doctor's hand, tears welling in his eyes. "Thank you, doctor. You have no idea how much this means to me."

The doctor smiled, reassuring him, "It's our duty to save lives."

Henry managed a sad smile in return and asked, "When can I see him?"

"He will be moved to a private room soon, and then you can visit him. However, he is currently unconscious, and we cannot determine when he will wake up. It could take at least twelve hours or more, considering the blood loss. Once his blood levels stabilize, he should regain consciousness," the doctor explained.

"Thank you, doctor. I understand," Henry replied, patiently waiting for the moment when he could finally see Arthur.

After another half an hour, he received word that Arthur had been transferred to a private room. He hurriedly made his way there, finding Arthur lying on the bed with closed eyes, an IV drip replenishing his blood supply. Henry took a seat beside the bed, his gaze fixed on his friend, his hand gripping Arthur's tightly. He stayed by his side for hours, the doctor visiting periodically to check on Arthur's condition.

At night, during one of the doctor's visits, Henry was asked to collect some prescribed medication from the pharmacy. He hurriedly retrieved the items and as he was returning back he noticed the doctor leaving Arthur's room. Seizing the opportunity, he approached the doctor, eager for any update.

"Doctor, how is he doing? Has he woken up?" Henry asked, his voice filled with anticipation.

"He is awake and stable, he was asking for the person who send him here, I didn't tell him yet you can go tell him by your self" the doctor explained.

"Thank you, doctor. I really appreciate your care and attention," Henry expressed his gratitude.

With a reassuring smile, the doctor replied, "It's all part of our job."

Henry felt a surge of joy and renewed hope as he made his way back to Arthur's room.

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Back at Arthur's room

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Arthur let out a sigh of relief. Finally, his confusion regarding how he ended up in this situation and who had brought him here began to dissipate, leaving him more at ease.

"What about my discharge?" Arthur inquired, eager to know what lay ahead.

"Take it easy, my friend. You should relax here and make the most of this opportunity to take a break from work. There's no rush to leave," Henry suggested.

Arthur chuckled at his friend's words. "By the way, aren't you curious about why I did it? Why I attempted to take my own life?" Arthur asked, surprised that Henry hadn't questioned him about the reason behind his desperate act. He knew others might be hesitant to ask, but he trusted that Henry would freely inquire.

"Did I need to?" Henry questioned, his response prompting further curiosity from Arthur.

"Yes, it's only natural for someone to want to understand the reasons behind such a drastic decision," Arthur insisted, hoping for an open conversation.

"But I don't see it that way. If someone takes such a monumental step, there must be deeply rooted reasons behind it. Pressing for answers might only force them to relive their pain and anguish, defeating the purpose of trying to escape from it," Henry explained, taking on the role of a wise teacher. His words resonated with Arthur, filling him with gratitude for having such a understanding friend who respected his feelings.

"Thank you. Your words have truly impressed me," Arthur said, inspired by Henry's perspective.

"Enough with the formality. Let's not dwell on the past. We should focus on the present," Henry suggested, and they shared a laughter, lifting the heaviness that hung in the air. They continued their conversation for a while longer before preparing for sleep, as it was late into the night.

Arthur settled into the bed, and Henry made himself comfortable on the nearby couch. Exhaustion washed over Henry, and he quickly succumbed to sleep. It took Arthur a few more minutes, but eventually, sleep claimed him too.

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(Writer's note:

Dear readers, I hope you have enjoyed the chapters thus far. But what led to this harrowing event? What brought them to this point? Are you curious to know? To find out, you'll have to join me in the next chapter.

I eagerly await your presence as we unravel the story from its beginnings.)