THE COLLEGE NERD » kth

15. A ghost

"Yn, you okay?"

I opened my eyes, blinking against the harsh fluorescent lights above. The ceiling was unfamiliar, sterile white with small cracks running through it. I turned my head slowly, taking in the room around me. The beeping of machines and the faint smell of antiseptic told me I was in a hospital.

"Um, where am I?" I asked, my voice was weak and scratchy.

"You are at the hospital, Miss Song," a nurse replied, her voice calm and reassuring.

"What happened to me?" I frowned, trying to piece together the fragments of my memory.

Before the nurse could answer, the door opened, and a man walked in. He had long white hair that fell gracefully around his shoulders, transparent glasses perched on his nose, and a stack of files clutched to his chest. His fingers were long and elegant, moving with a certain precision.

"Good morning, Miss Song," he greeted me with a professional demeanor. "A pleasure to see you again," he added, his voice smooth and composed.

"Oh, hello, Mr. Yuzang," I replied, recognizing him as our family doctor. "Why am I here?"

"Your blood pressure dropped significantly, and a young man brought you hereby," he explained, his eyes scanning the files in his hands.

"Oh, but why do I feel so weak?" I asked, my body feeling like it was made of lead.

"You have been diagnosed with a very serious condition called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or CFS," he said, his tone gentle but firm. "You lost consciousness and stopped breathing until we administered oxygen."

"Where was I found unconscious?" I asked, trying to recall the events that led me here.

"In the middle of the road. He brought you to the hospital just in time," Mr. Yuzang replied.

"Oh got it"

"You should take rest now"

"Yeah sure, you may take your leave then"

As the conversation ended, I lay back on the bed, closing my eyes. The events of the previous night played in my mind like a fragmented movie. Was it all a dream? The confusion and fear were overwhelming.

I reached for my phone, the screen lighting up with countless notifications. My friends had flooded my DMs on Instagram, their concern evident in their messages. I opened the group chat and typed 'Hi,' sending it off with a sense of relief.

Then everyone bursted with messages as I told them I'm sick and currently admited to the hospital. They got shocked and I saw no one texting anymore. Wtf? Did internet went away? I tried to refresh but none came.

The hospital room was quiet, save for the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of flowers from a nearby bouquet. The walls were a dull, institutional green, and the only window offered a view of the bustling city below.

I felt a wave of exhaustion wash over me, my limbs heavy and unresponsive. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The words echoed in my mind, bringing with them a sense of dread. How did I end up here? My thoughts were a jumbled mess, memories slipping through my fingers like sand, elusive and intangible. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled my nostrils, mingling with the faint scent of flowers from a nearby bouquet. The room was dimly lit, the soft hum of medical equipment the only sound breaking the silence.

When suddenly,

The door creaked open, and I turned my head to see Xuan, my closest friend, standing hesitantly in the doorway. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and she looked like she hadn't slept in days. Her usually vibrant energy was replaced by a palpable worry that tugged at my heart.