Butterfly Touch

04 |Bit By Bit|

Weakly, his eyes fluttered opened to what was seemingly a white ceiling staring back at him. His fingers twitched as he attempted to move his hands to his head, to combat the discomfort and confusion that plagued him in that moment.

The blurred vision clouding his eyesight irked his worry, however, the settling feeling of a pinch to his veins from the IV and the distorted beeping of the monitor just two feet away caused a sense of relief to wash over him.

The memories of the previous night were vague, almost non-existent. Blurred faces and bits and pieces were all that he could recall. As his vision gradually came back to normality, Ayaan tried to decipher all the events that had occurred but was futile in doing so. Dazed was he as the image of the ceiling finally achieved clarity. It was indeed white.

It was then the bright, white light of the hospital room hit his eyes, causing them to squint in an attempt of accommodation. He looked around, taking in the elements of the room while simultaneously searching for the person behind the voice that rung in his ear.

'It's not your fault. It's never the victim's fault.'

He was alone. Alone to make sense of what had happened. Alone to reel with the reality that it was indeed a dark occurrence he had faced and not a terrible nightmare.

The person was gone and all that was staring back at him were the equipments that brought the room together.

"It's good to see that you're awake," voiced the doctor that entered the room clad in his white lab coat and clipboard in hand. "How are you feeling?"

"I feel a bit woozy," he replied, his voice hoarse and soft as his hands moved to his temple."Who brought me here?"

He wanted to know the identity of the person who helped him from such a predicament. He wanted to put a face to the soothing, gentle voice that sung reassurance to him in his most vulnerable state. He needed to know.

"It was a lovely young woman, around your age. She was quite concerned about your wellbeing and health. She was here all night. Never left your side until an hour and a half ago."

Though his statement did nothing to establish a proper description to bring tranquil to his racing mind of the mystery woman, it did fill him with appreciation for the support she exhibited towards him and the care she showed.

No one was there for him but he himself. He was a lone tree with a few, almost deciduous leaves scattered across its few frail branches in the midst of a forest full of bushy, fruitful trees that stood high, strong and tall.

He could only imagine what her actions must of been have like. Her soft hands holding his tightly as if implying an urge to be alright. Reassuring words must have left her mouth and tickled his ears that were barren to such statements. Her gentle fingers must have ran through his hair as she caressed it in a calming-like manner, massaging his head almost.

Ayaan found it difficult to shake the many thoughts that ran rampantly through his mind regarding her and her unknown actions, and lost in the thoughts of being cared for, he caught himself smiling, revealing his dimples.

No one had ever treated him with such consideration and respect the way she apparently did. With that, his smile grew even wider. It seemed silly, especially since she totally stranger.

However, it meant bounds to Ayaan Raichand. It was the closest thing to warmth he had ever felt or experienced in 14 years.

His green eyes shifted to his hand that laid peacefully to his side, the IV pricking his skin bringing him back from his reverie.