The Shadow Painter

Chapter 05 : Dream, Delusion or Reality ?

There was darkness around me, I felt like I was lost in a huge empty space. It was as if I was trapped in an endless void, far away from reality that I know. And then, like waking up from deep sleep, I started to come to my senses. A faint light greeted my eyes as they fluttered open, and I had to blink a few times to adjust to the sudden brightness. I felt a bit strange, like I was weightless and my head was throbbing faintly. The air carried a clean but sterilized smell, like a mixture of disinfectants and medicines that immediately reminded me of hospital.

Gradually I started to see my surroundings clearly. I found myself in a clean room, the walls painted a calming off-white color. Everything felt strange and unfamiliar, making me a bit confused. I tried to sit up but hissed in pain when I put pressure on my right hand. With furrowed eyebrows I looked down at my right hand and noticed that saline drip was attached to it.

Suddenly, the memory of my encounter with the shadow rushed back to me. How did I end up here? My mind felt jumbled as I tried to make sense of it all. Was I still trapped in the painting? Is this a trick that shadow is playing on me? Trail of my thoughts halted when a creaking sound echoed through the room, and my head snapped towards the source. The door slowly swung open, revealing my father carrying a transparent bag filled with medicines. He entered with the concerned expression but his eyes lit up as he spotted me awake. He quickly placed the bag on the side table before rushing to my bedside.

Gently he helped me in sitting up, arranging pillows behind me for support and comfort. He then poured the water into a glass and offered it to me. With the shaky fingers, I took the glass and sipped the refreshing liquid. My throat felt dry, and when I spoke, my voice came out as raspy, "Dad...... what happened?"

He settled into the chair next to my bed, his expression a blend of relief and concern. " You fainted at the art gallery", he said gently. " The art gallery manager found you unconscious and we brought you to the hospital." As he completed, my eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

If I fainted, then that encounter with shadow? Was that all just a nightmare?

My confused expression didn't go unnoticed by my father. With a worried expression he asked, "What happened dear? Is something bothering you?" I am not sure if I should tell him about the encounter with the shadow that happened last night. What if it was just a nightmare? But it felt too real for it to be a "just nightmare". Other than that I remember it vividly. Should I tell him or not?

"You can always talk to me about anything bothering you ," he said, reassuring me, giving my left hand a comforting pat. "It's nothing dad, really" I said , giving a small smile to reassure him. "I can tell when something's on your mind", he began to say, but his words were stopped in the middle when the door opened, revealing my mom.

Seeing me awake she rushed to my side and took my hand in her gentle hold. "Are you okay, baby?" she asked me, patting my head lovingly with one hand and still holding my hand in her other one. "Don't worry mom. I am perfectly fine." I reassured, giving her a warm smile. "Honey, just stay here and relax. I will go call the doctor." My father said to mom, getting up from the chair.

As he headed towards the door, my mom remained seated beside me, her eyes filled with concern as she continued to stroke my hair gently. "You really scared us, dear," she said softly, her voice mixed with both relief and worry. Dad came with the doctor, and after my check up, I was told that I could get discharged in the evening. After the doctor left, my dad said, " Dear you didn't tell me about what is bothering you ? You might think that I have forgotten our conversation but I should know what has been on your mind lately that you are not paying attention to your health." I got a little bit shocked with his question but how can I lie to him? I thought for a while and decided to tell them. What could possibly go wrong? Probably telling them will be best.