The sun was beginning to set as Dahyun and Sana returned to the hospital after a brief break, knowing they had post-op rounds to complete. The weight of their earlier surgery still lingered, but they had no choice but to keep moving. The constant hum of the hospital filled the silence between them, the sound both comforting and overwhelming after such an intense case.
Sana glanced at Dahyun as they headed towards the recovery wing, her voice barely above a whisper. "How are you holding up?"
Dahyun sighed. "I'm... okay. I think it just hit me harder than I expected. Hyori... she didn't just need surgery. She needs so much more, and I don't know if I'm ready for that."
Sana gave her a small, encouraging smile. "None of us are. But that's why we're here, right? To learn, to help. We don't always have the answers, but we can be there for her."
As they approached Lee Hyori's room, they paused outside the door. The atmosphere inside felt different now that the surgery was over. The physical injuries had been addressed, but Dahyun knew that the hardest part of Hyori's recovery was just beginning.
Nayeon had briefed them before leaving, reminding them of the delicacy of Hyori's situation. "She might not talk much," Nayeon had said. "But that doesn't mean she isn't listening. Be patient. Be kind."
With those words echoing in her mind, Dahyun took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
Inside, Hyori lay propped up on her hospital bed. Her face was pale, and she looked physically drained, but her eyes were open, staring at the ceiling. A nurse stood nearby, checking her vitals, but left quietly as soon as Dahyun and Sana entered.
"Good evening, Ms. Lee," Dahyun said softly, stepping closer. "How are you feeling?"
Hyori blinked, her gaze slowly shifting to Dahyun and Sana. There was a long pause before she spoke, her voice hoarse and weak. "I... I don't know," she whispered, her eyes flickering with uncertainty.
Sana pulled up a chair and sat beside her. "That's okay. After what you've been through, it's normal to feel unsure. We just want to make sure you're as comfortable as possible."
Hyori's hands trembled slightly as she clutched the bedsheet. "What happens now?" she asked quietly, her voice barely audible. "What do I do... now?"
Dahyun exchanged a glance with Sana before taking a seat on the other side of the bed. "Right now, you focus on healing-physically and emotionally. It's going to take time, but you don't have to go through this alone. We're here for you."
Hyori let out a shaky breath. "I'm scared," she admitted, her voice breaking. "I don't know if I'll ever be able to forget what happened. How can I go back to normal?"
Sana reached out, gently placing her hand on Hyori's arm. "You don't have to forget. Healing doesn't mean erasing what happened; it means learning to live with it, to find strength in moving forward. It's not going to be easy, but there are people who will help you along the way."
Hyori looked down at her hands, her fingers gripping the sheet tighter. "I feel... broken."
Dahyun leaned in slightly, her tone soft but firm. "You're not broken. What happened to you was terrible, and it will take time to process everything. But you're still here, and that means you're stronger than you think. It's okay to be afraid, and it's okay to feel lost. But we'll be with you every step of the way."
Tears welled up in Hyori's eyes, but she quickly wiped them away. "I don't know how to trust anyone anymore," she confessed. "How do I trust the world again after this?"
Sana's voice was calm as she responded. "One day at a time. You don't have to have all the answers right now. Just focus on today, on getting through this moment. The rest will come later."
The room fell silent for a few moments, the weight of Hyori's words sinking in. Dahyun and Sana could feel the fragility in the air, but they also sensed a quiet strength in Hyori, even if she couldn't see it in herself yet.
After a few more moments, Hyori spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you... for being here. I don't know what I would have done if you weren't."
Dahyun gave her a gentle smile. "You don't have to thank us. We're just doing our job."
Hyori nodded slowly, her eyes beginning to drift shut as exhaustion took over. "It doesn't feel like just a job," she murmured, her voice trailing off as she fell into a restless sleep.
Sana and Dahyun stood up quietly, making their way out of the room. As they stepped back into the hallway, the weight of the conversation lingered between them.
"I hope she can find peace," Dahyun said quietly, more to herself than to Sana.
Sana nodded. "She will. It'll take time, but she will."
Dahyun exhaled, her mind heavy with the knowledge that this was only the beginning of Hyori's long road to recovery. As doctors, they had done their part in saving her physically, but there was so much more that Hyori would have to face on her own-fears, nightmares, memories that wouldn't fade easily.
And yet, despite all the challenges, Dahyun knew they couldn't give up on her. Hyori's story wasn't over. It was just beginning.
With one last glance at Hyori's room, Dahyun turned to Sana. "Let's keep checking on her. Make sure she knows we're here."
Sana gave her a reassuring nod. "We will. Every step of the way."
