When the right time comes

7: Turmoil

Putrid smell of antiseptic and floor cleaners are making Xiao Zhan uncomfortable. Not that he isn’t used to them but this time it is making him want to puke. He had a leave of three days regarding the engagement and it all went in vain like a line drawn in water with him running here and there in the hospital. 

Xiao Zhan hasn't met Jingyu since the incident. Jingyu was under sedation for three days. The slit on his wrist was quite deep and lost a lot of blood. He wasn't cooperating with treatments and kept asking for Zhan whenever he woke up. Thus, they put him under sedation for the time being. 

A soft touch on the shoulder made Xiao Zhan wake up from his daze. Huang Shen was seen smiling at him. Eyes dull, touch cold but a softness carried for Zhan on that face. 

“Go back home, boy. We will take care of him.” 

Xiao Zhan didn't say anything. Shen took a seat beside him, taking his hand in palms. It was hard. Calloused. Not that soft, tiny hand that he took years before when he accepted Zhan as his son. He has grown up. Shen thought to give him a better life. To crunch Zhan like this emotionally, it wasn't his intention at all. 

The heat of warm liquid on his hand made Zhan flinch. His hand densed in the grip of the elderly man. 

Xiao Zhan saw him crying and he took Huang Shen into a warm hug, forgetting his worries for the time being in concern of the older. 

“Papa. Don't cry. Everything will be fine.” He consoled him, repeating the sentence which he rolls every time in his head. The old man clutched onto him, weeping silently, finding solace in his presence until Rui joined them. 

She let out a sigh and strode to them. “That's so pitiful of you, Shen. I told you to tell him to go home. Here you are crying on his shoulder?” It was asked softly and Huang Shen broke the hug, wiping his tears off. He tried to smile in vain and she took Xiao Zhan's place, hugging Shen. 

“It's our fault.” She took in a deep breath, softly smiling at Zhan. “Go home, dear. Join back in work.” 

Xiao Zhan gazed at her for a few seconds and then nodded. 

*********

Station was peaceful until eight in the morning. A call came to the office when there was only one hour left for Xiao Zhan to finish job. A five years old boy accidentally fell in a well and the unit had to rush there as soon as they could. 

The thing is, though it is dry, the well is narrow, only thirty four inches diameter and it is almost twenty feet down. The boy was running fast to catch his school bus and he slipped due to the wet sandal causing him to fall in the well. It was the story told by his parents to the police and rescue force. 

Nobody could step inside the well because of its narrow structure and the lack of oxygen. Moreover, the kid fell unconscious due to the contaminated air inside the abandoned well. The rescue team tried to supply air to the well through pipes and made sure the boy is alive with futuristic equipment they have. Sadly those didn't help them to rescue the boy. The only way is to help the boy manually. But it has limitations. 

No ladder could reach up to the boy. Even if it reaches, the boy can't climb up from where he is stuck since he is unconscious. They thought of excavating another parallel pit to the well but it would be too late when they reached the boy. The only way is someone to enter the well with his head down to pick the boy up. It was quite daunting. To be stuck inside while saving another one. 

But it took Xiao Zhan no time to agree, being the one to be entered inside. One, an image of another young boy who was left alone in the darkness of an empty house flashed in the back of his head. Two, the thought the boy being claustrophobic due to the traumatic experience made his heart sour. He doesn't want another one to experience it at all.  He wore safety belts, ready to go down the well without hesitation.