Sevgilim & Hayalim

Chapter 1 [Part II]

It was too quiet in the room-so quiet that every beep, every hum of the machines, seemed to echo louder than it should. The room felt as though it was holding its breath, waiting for her to wake, waiting for something to shift, for a sign of life to return.

The pale blue walls doing little to soften the sharpness of the hospital's atmosphere. There, in the middle of it all, she lay still in her coma, her body motionless against the white sheets. The soft beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound that filled the room. Rhythmic. Reminding anyone who entered that she was somewhere between consciousness and unconsciousness.

It's been a long time since she had lost consciousness. For now, Erum remained as she was-lost in her own mind, unaware of the world outside her hospital bed. Unaware of the visitors who had come, and left.

At this moment, a girl sat beside Erum's hospital bed, her fingers nervously tracing circles on her lap. The room had been so still, as if time itself had paused, waiting for something-anything-to change.
Then, it happened.
A slight twitch of Erum's finger.
Just a small movement.
But enough to send a ripple of emotion through the quiet room.

"Erum?" The girl's voice trembled slightly. It was Dua, one from among her three friends. Her eyes, tired from weeks of worry, widened as she leaned closer.

Erum's eyelids fluttered, her breathing growing deeper. The once-sterile hospital room now felt charged with anticipation. Dua's heart raced as she whispered again, "Erum, wake up."

Slowly, Erum opened her eyes, blinking against the harsh hospital lights that flooded her vision. Everything around her was a blur for some seconds.

"Erum!" Dua's voice was louder now, relief and disbelief flooding her tone. She couldn't believe it-Erum was really waking up. After so many weeks, months of waiting, she was finally coming back.

Erum squinted, her vision clearing to reveal Dua's familiar face. Confusion knitted her brow as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. "Where... am I?" Her voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. She looked around the room, at the hospital bed, at the machines monitoring her vitals.

"You're in the hospital," Dua said gently, her hand reaching out to touch Erum's arm. "You've been unconscious for, uh- But you're safe now."

Erum's gaze sharpened. Her mind felt foggy, but she could feel the rush of panic rising in her chest. "How did I get here? What happened?" Her voice wavered, a mix of confusion and urgency. She needed answers. Of course, she does.

Dua hesitated, her eyes filled with worry. "I'll tell you everything, but for now, you need to rest." Her tone was calm, but there was an underlying tension.

Rest? That was the last thing Erum wanted. (Traits of a Zamurd) Ignoring the exhaustion in her body, she tried to move. The IV needle tugged painfully at her arm as she pulled it out, swinging her legs off the side of the bed. But the moment her feet touched the cold floor, her knees buckled. Her legs wouldn't hold her.

"Erum, stop!" Dua rushed forward, trying to steady her, panic in her voice. "You need to be careful!"

"What's wrong with me?" Erum gasped, her voice trembling. Her legs, the ones that had carried her through so much, felt weak, foreign. Her body betrayed her. "Why can't I stand? Why am I here?"

Dua swallowed hard, trying to keep calm. "Please, Erum, just rest. Your body needs time. We will talk about everything later."

"No!" Erum's frustration flared. "Tell me now!" She shoved Dua's hand away, her breath coming in short, panicked bursts. Her head suddenly throbbed, a sharp pain tearing through her skull. She winced, grabbing her head as a memory surged forward-disjointed but vivid.