Chapter 2

"Who? Who... is... Rell?"

"Oh," she said, as if caught off guard. A look of shock covered her face. Probably to maintain her professionalism, she quickly adjusted herself.

"You, sweetheart. Your name is Rell Zorias. You might not remember it now, but I'm sure it will come back to you. No need to be scared." She stretched out her hand to rub the top of my head.

"Come here," she whispered tenderly as she slowly got closer and gave me a hug. Her arms were wrapped around my frame for a few solid seconds.

With her body overlapping mine, I had never felt so small and vulnerable in so long. At the same time, I felt comforted by the maternal care I had been bereft of for years.

"We'll take it one step at a time. For now, I want you to finish this bowl for me, m'kay?"

Picking up the bowl once more, we continued where we left off.

There were so many questions that I wanted to ask, but I knew that what I needed now was to stay calm and wait until I recovered, exactly what the nurse had said.

Once I was back on my feet, I would be able to handle things better. Maybe by then, my family would have been informed to clear up any and all misunderstandings.

After finishing the meal, the nurse handed me another drink. This one was a clear liquid, but it was obvious that it was not water since it tasted strange.

Probably noticing the odd look on my face, she clarified what the drink was for.

It was something to help me sleep, she said.

Knowing what was good for me, I closed my eyes and settled into the rhythm of my breathing, hoping that I would wake up from whatever dream this was.

-0-

To my dismay, I woke up in the same bed, beneath the same ceiling, fed by the same nurse with different meals and colorful drinks aimed at a faster recovery.

True to their word, after a week of routine, I was able to recover my voice and converse properly. The promised conversation was set for a few hours later when the doctor arrived.

Throughout the time I was awake, with nothing else to do, I further observed the room I was in as well as the nurse in charge of me and her co-workers.

I did not know where Saint's Hospital was, but I could tell this was somewhere private and premium. Their equipment seemed cutting-edge, even through the eyes of a layman such as myself. Heck, it looked like it belonged in a sci-fi movie.

The uniforms that the nurses were wearing also looked expensive. Their dark blue fabric and black lining looked decent enough to wear to a party and not seem out of place.

Wherever this place was, I hoped my family did not have to pay excessively for my treatment.

I even asked one of the nurses how much I owed the hospital, even if it was just an estimate—a question that somehow elicited a giggle.

"It is way too early for you to be asking those questions. But do not worry; this is a public hospital, and it is completely free," she replied.

That was at least a source of relief—one less thing I had to worry about.

At that time, I figured that since she had already answered one of my questions, I could ask another.

"Do you treat all your patients the same way here?"

I knew it was a little passive-aggressive, but I could not think of any other way to voice my slight frustration at that time.

This too, much like my previous question, was not treated much differently.

"No, this is exclusive to those we find cute and adorable," she said, followed by a small fit of genuine laughter.

I think she did not understand what I was talking about, and if she did, I would have to apologize. I was already tied down, after all.

Needless to say, I could not think of anything to say back, so I just kept quiet when she asked me if I had other questions.

Of course, I also tried asking questions about my family, specifically if anyone had come for a visit or looked for me.

To no surprise, they would try and dance around the topic and would not give me any actual answers.

"Wait for the doctor," they would say. It happened enough times that it became a whole song and dance by this point.

The lack of appearance of my wife and child tensed me to no end, but there was nothing I could do.

I kept myself together, knowing how unbecoming it was for a man my age to have a breakdown.

Not to mention burdening complete strangers who were only here to do their jobs.

I patiently waited until finally, the time came for me to get my answers.

-0-

"Good afternoon, mister. I am Doctor William Pens, and I am in charge of your operation and care. I trust you are being treated well, yes?" 

A man in a doctor's coat walked in and introduced himself. He took one of the chairs standing against the wall, placed it next to my bed, and took a seat. 

"How are you feeling, mister? Have you experienced any pains or aches? Anything head-related specifically?" 

"No, apart from the general lethargy, maybe," I replied after a brief pause of thought and consideration. 

"Good. Eating well and exercising should fix you right up. I was concerned about your recovery progress for a time, but we could not find anything wrong with you. 

We brought in experts from multiple fields. We even had to bring in a priest at some point, but he too could not find anything. 

But I digress. 'Water under the bridge' is what my father used to say. I heard that you are having memory-related issues and that you have consistently been asking my staff questions. 

Rather understandable, given your circumstance. So let me be straight. 

Mister, there is no real easy way to break this to you, but you were in an accident four months ago. The place you and your family were staying at became a victim of a terror attack. 

You were badly injured and lost a lot of blood but were fortunate enough to make it here just in time to be treated. 

Your family, however, did not make it. 

I am sorry for your loss." 

What? 

What did he just say? 

Feeling as if something was weighing down on me. 

"Mister Rell Zorias, I know this must be too much for you to process right now, and I can—" 

Just then, something in me finally snapped. 

"WHO THE FUCK IS RELL!" 

In a surge of anger, filled with adrenaline and rage, I leapt at the doctor's collar and grabbed it with both hands. 

All the weakness of my body that I thought weighed me down to the point of paralysis all of a sudden did not matter—it did not affect me. 

I did not know what I actually wanted to do once I had grabbed his collar. But with all this pent-up energy inside me, I figured I needed to send it elsewhere. 

So I shook him, gripping his collar with as much energy as I could. 

Enough energy for flames to burst out of my hands and ride right up to my shoulders. 

For it to completely engulf the man I poured my frustration on.