Twilight of Shadows | LingOrm (GxG)

TWENTY EIGHT

The next morning, Lada entered the hospital room with a bouquet of vibrant flowers, their bright colors and fragrant scent contrasting sharply with the sterile, antiseptic atmosphere. She arranged the flowers in a vase, speaking softly as she worked.

"Earn, I brought you your favorite flowers," Lada said, her voice filled with warmth. "I thought they might brighten up this room a bit and make it smell nicer than all this antiseptic. I hope they make you smile."

She took a seat beside Earn's bed, her gaze lingering on Earn's still form. "How are you feeling today, my love? It's time to wake up. We're all waiting for you here. I'm sorry I had to leave you alone last night. I went home to take a bath and grab a bite to eat. I'm fresh now, and I smell good, don't I?"

Lada chuckled softly, her eyes carrying a touch of sadness. "Narin was asking about you over breakfast. She misses being the pancake boss with you. We all miss you, Earn. Please, come back to us."

Her heart ached with a heavy mix of hope and fear. Every minute without Earn waking up felt like an eternity. The door creaked open, and a nurse entered with a warm yet professional demeanor.

"Khun Fahlada," the nurse said gently, "we need to change Khun Earn's dressings. I'm afraid I'll need to ask you to step outside for a moment."

Lada's chest tightened. "Is it absolutely necessary for me to leave? I want to be here for her. I need to do this for her. Please, just let me stay."

The nurse hesitated, understanding the depth of Lada's concern. After a moment, she nodded. "Urmmm very well, but I'll guide you. It's important to follow every step carefully to prevent infection."

Lada exhaled, her gratitude mingled with resolve. She moved closer to Earn's bedside as the nurse set up a tray with fresh dressings and sterilizing equipment, explaining each step.

"First, we need to ensure everything is sterile," the nurse instructed, handing Lada gloves. "Put these on and avoid touching anything that hasn't been sterilized."

Lada's hands trembled as she donned the gloves. She watched carefully as the nurse peeled away the old bandages, revealing the delicate stitches beneath. The sight made Lada's breath catch, but she steadied herself.

"Now, use this antiseptic solution to clean around the wound," the nurse said. "Be gentle but thorough."

Lada's hands shook as she dabbed at the wound with a sterile cloth. "I'm here, Earn," she murmured. "I'm taking care of you now. You're going to be okay."

The nurse observed quietly, guiding Lada through the process. When the wound was cleaned, she handed Lada fresh dressings. "Wrap these around carefully," she demonstrated.

Lada followed the instructions with painstaking care. She felt Earn's warmth beneath her touch, a small but powerful reminder of her presence. As she worked, her voice was a soft whisper.

"Thats it! We're done." The nurse said walking out of the room.

"I wish you could see Narin now," Lada said, her voice trembling. "She's become such a little firecracker. The other day, she came home with a big grin, saying she was going to be an artist. She drew a picture of us-me, you, and her-holding hands, going on an adventure."

Lada's eyes filled with tears. "She really misses you, Earn. She still believes in that adventure. She misses you so much."

She took a deep breath, her fingers gently stroking Earn's hand. "The other day, she tried making pancakes by herself. The batter ended up all over the floor, but she was so proud. She said, 'Next time, Aunty Earn can help me, and then they'll be perfect.'"

Lada smiled through her tears. "She was a tree in her nursery's play. She stood with her arms outstretched, trying so hard to be the best tree. Afterward, she ran up to me, asking if I saw her. She's always trying to make us laugh."

Her voice softened as she continued, "I wish you could see how bright and full of life she is. You've missed so much, but it's not too late. You can still be here for her, for us. We can still have that adventure, the three of us."

Leaning closer, Lada pressed a kiss to Earn's forehead. "Please, Earn," she whispered. "Come back to us. Come back to Narin."

Lada wiped her eyes, her heart aching. She took Earn's hand in hers, her voice trembling with emotion. "I miss you so much, Earn. I couldn't concentrate on work. Every day, every hour, you were on my mind. Always thinking about what could've been, what should've been."

Her tears fell freely as she spoke. "I've replayed everything in my head. The moments we lost, the time we wasted... If only I had been braver, if only I hadn't let fear keep me from you."

She swallowed hard, her voice growing softer. "If one day I asked you 'that' question... would you say yes? After everything, after our families and history... would you still want us? Would you still want me?"

Her tears spilled over, dripping onto the bed sheets. "And when you wake up... will you leave us again? I can't handle it if you do. I've already lost too much."

Lada's voice cracked with anguish. "I lost my ex-husband. He left without looking back. And then you... you left too. I felt like a part of me was missing. I've been holding it together for Narin, but if you leave again, Earn... I won't survive it. It would break me because now... now I realize how much I love you."

The room was quiet, save for the soft hum of machines and Lada's ragged breathing. She pressed her face to Earn's hand, her tears soaking into the sheets. "Please... please, Earn. Don't leave me again. Don't leave us."

For a moment, the silence was overwhelming. Then, Lada felt a subtle twitch under her cheek. She froze, her breath catching.

"Earn?" Lada's voice was barely more than a whisper as she lifted her head, eyes wide with hope. "Earn, can you hear me?"

Earn's fingers twitched again, a faint sign of life. Lada's heart soared, her tears falling anew, this time from relief.

"Nurse!" she cried, her voice breaking with emotion. "Nurse! I saw her hand move! Call Dr. Vann! Call her now!"

Without waiting for a response, Lada rushed out of the room, her heart racing as she searched for help. "Please, someone! She moved! Earn's waking up!"

She didn't stop until she found a nurse, her hands shaking as she clutched the woman's arm. "Please, hurry! She's waking up! Earn's waking up!"

In that moment, hope surged through Lada, lifting the darkness that had consumed her. As the medical team rushed into the room, Lada stood frozen in the hallway, her heart pounding, praying this was the moment she had been waiting for.

"Come back to us, Earn," she whispered, hands pressed to her chest, her heart echoing with hope.