Just The Girl

Chapter 23

D A H L I A

With a light movement of my fingers, I slowly felt myself waking up, the haze of unconsciousness lifting as I realized I was lying in a bed. My eyes fluttered open, revealing a sterile white ceiling and white curtains surrounding me. The scent of antiseptics filled the air, mingling with the distant hum of footsteps and murmurs. It didn't take long for me to realize I was in a hospital. The clinical atmosphere made everything clear.

"Dahlia? You're awake?" A familiar voice pulled me from my daze. I turned my head slowly to see Marvin standing beside me. Ilyon was there too, his expression a mixture of relief and concern. The moment our eyes met, he reached out to hold my hand, his touch warm and reassuring.

"What happened?" I whispered, my voice barely audible, as I gazed up at the two of them, my vision still slightly blurred, and my eyelids heavy.

Marvin was the first to answer. "You collapsed during first period. We brought you to the hospital as soon as it happened." His voice was steady, though I could hear the underlying worry in his tone.

For a moment, I struggled to remember, the events before my collapse seeming distant, like a half-remembered dream. But slowly, it all came back. I nodded slightly, acknowledging his words, and began to push myself up. Marvin was quick to assist, gently steadying my arms and back as I sat up against the headboard. He carefully adjusted the pillow behind me, ensuring I was comfortable before smoothing the blanket over my lap.

"They took some blood samples earlier, while you were unconscious," Marvin added, his eyes flicking to the IV in my arm. I only managed another weak nod, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle in once again. Ilyon, standing close by, let out a quiet breath, his grip on my hand tightening for a moment.

"Where are Feather and Shane?" I asked, my voice still soft.

"They went out to grab some food. They'll be back soon." Marvin's reply was calm, and once again, I just nodded, not feeling the energy to respond further.

"How are you feeling now? Any pain?" Ilyon asked gently, his eyes scanning my face for any signs of discomfort.

I shook my head slowly. "No... no pain."

We sat in silence for a few minutes before the curtains swayed to the side, and a doctor entered the area. Both Marvin and Ilyon turned to greet him immediately. "Good morning, Ms. Chang," the doctor said, approaching my bedside.

"I'm Dr. Hans. Is it alright if we speak privately for a moment?"

His request made me feel uneasy, but I nodded, nonetheless. Before I could say anything, Marvin spoke up. "Dr. Hans, would it be alright if we stayed? Ilyon and I...we just want to make sure she's okay." His voice was calm, but there was an undeniable urgency to it.

Dr. Hans smiled warmly at him. "I understand your concern, but I need to speak with her alone for now. You can wait just outside, and I'll have a nurse call you when we're done."

Respecting his decision, Marvin and Ilyon exchanged a brief glance before heading out of the area, leaving me alone with the doctor. Once the curtains closed behind them, I turned back to face the doctor, suddenly feeling very vulnerable. My fingers began to fidget with the edge of the blanket as I cleared my throat.

"Is everything alright?" I asked, unable to keep the worry out of my voice. If he needed to speak to me alone, it couldn't be good. My heart began to race as the weight of uncertainty pressed down on me.

"Your vital signs are stable," Dr. Hans began, his voice measured and professional. "Physically, you're doing well. But your CBC results—your blood work—showed some irregularities. That's why we need to do further tests."