Scars we share || lee know angst ||

Unsteady Realities

The sanitary scent of antiseptic filled the room as the doctor entered, clipboard in hand and a professional calm in her eyes that were shown through her glasses. Bang Chan and the other members watched her anxiously, steeling themself for whatever news she was about to deliver. But Lee Know, lying still on the hospital bed, barely noticed her arrival. His mind was a blur, half-focused on the dim light filtering through the blinds, half-lost in the scattered memories and strange feelings swirling in his head.

The doctor's voice cut through the quiet but loud internal haze. "Good morning, everyone. I'm Dr. Park, the attending physician. I'm here to discuss Lee Minho's current condition and what we can expect in the coming days."

Lee Know blinked multiple times, her words breaking through the fog. He forced himself to focus, but even that felt exhausting.

Dr. Park continued, her tone gentle but precise. "The good news is that your injuries, though severe, are all recoverable. Minho, you sustained a concussion and some rib fractures from the impact. I know it feels overwhelmingly painful right now, but with time and rest, you should make a full recovery."
Bang Chan nodded, relief mixed with worry. "So... what does he need to be careful of? Is there anything we should watch out for?"

Dr. Park glanced at her clipboard. "For the next two weeks, you'll need to monitor any changes in his behavior closely. Concussions can cause a range of symptoms: forgetfulness, sudden mood swings, confusion, vomiting and fatigue. In more life threatening cases, seizuring can occur. These symptoms will likely be more pronounced at first and should gradually improve. However, Minho, it's important that you don't push yourself. Memory lapses and mood changes are normal, but they can be difficult to handle."

Lee Know's fingers tightened slightly around the edge of his blanket. Mood swings? Forgetting things? The idea left a bitter taste in his mouth. Feeling weak, dependent. The thought of needing others for something as simple as remembering... it unsettled him.

Dr. Park continued, addressing the group again. "His ribs should take about 2 weeks to heal, but until then, he'll need to avoid any strenuous movements. Even after that, which means dancing or any physical strain is a no-go until his body is fully ready. We'll conduct a few more tests today just to confirm his stability before he's discharged to go home."

Lee Know's gaze drifted down to his lap. Going home sounded good—too good. The quiet, the familiarity of the dorms. But beneath that hope was a creeping uncertainty. What if he wasn't the same? What if he couldn't keep up? What if he slows them down? The comeback is gonna happen soon..
From across the room, Bang Chan's soft voice pulls him back. "Min, did you catch all that?"

He looked up, trying to mask the unease in his expression. "Yeah... just... a lot to remember."

Bang Chan offered a reassuring smile, which he found himself staring at. "It's alright. We'll help you through it. You're not doing this alone."

But Lee Know felt a stubborn resistance in his chest. He didn't want to be watched, fussed over, or seen as someone who couldn't handle himself. He wasn't used to being in this position. As the doctor left the room to prepare for the tests, a heavy silence settled between him and his members. He glanced away, jaw clenched slightly.

Hyunjin, who'd been quiet until now, reached out, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "Hyung... we're here for you, okay? No matter how hard it gets."

Lee Know swallowed, feeling the sting of tears he refused to let fall. He wanted to say he didn't need help, to tell them he could handle it. But the truth was, he didn't even know what "handling it" looked like right now.

The doctor returned with two nurses, a wheelchair at her side. "Alright, Minho. We'll take it slow, but I'd like to get you up and moving to check your balance and see how your body responds. We'll help you over to the testing room for a few scans. Let us know if anything feels off."
Lee Know glanced at the wheelchair, a knot of fear twisting in his chest. He'd always been the one pushing himself, always moving forward. Now, even standing felt like an impossible task. Still, he clenched his jaw, determination overtaking his hesitation.

Bang Chan moved beside him quickly, his hand hovering just above Lee Know's arm, offering silent support. "Take it easy, I'm right here."

With a growing grimace, Lee Know shifted his legs over the side of the bed. The motion set off an ache in his ribs that spread like fire through his chest, making him wince. The room swam around him, the walls blurring as a wave of dizziness hit. He closed his eyes, trying to compose himself.

Jeongin stepped forward, nervously hovering over him before placing a steadying hand on his shoulder. "Minho hyung, maybe... maybe the wheelchair?"

Lee Know shook his head, teeth clenched, refusing to let up. "No. I can... I can walk." But even as he spoke, his legs felt like they were barely his own, unsteady beneath him. He took a shaky breath, forcing himself to stand.

Each step was a battle against the pain flaring in his ribs and the fog clouding his thoughts. His body felt heavy, as if every movement took twice the effort. By the time he reached the doorway, his vision was starting to blur again, and his knees wobbled.

The members all jumped to help, but Bang Chan was there in an instant, catching him by his waist before he could stumble. "Easy, Minho," he murmured, his tone both gentle and firm. "Just lean on me. There's no rush."

Lee Know managed a nod, though the strain showed in his face. It felt humiliating, like he was a stranger in his own body, each movement betraying him. The short walk from his bed to the wheelchair felt like miles, but with Chan's arm steadying him and the quiet presence of his other members, he managed to sit down, feeling drained and defeated.

Once he was settled, Dr. Park gave him an encouraging nod. "You're doing well, Minho. We'll get you over to the testing room now. Just hang in there a little longer."

They wheeled him down the hallway, the fluorescent lights passing overhead in a slow, disorienting rhythm. His head throbbed with each turn of the wheels, and he found himself zoning out, his mind drifting in and out of a fog. It was hard to tell how much time passed or where they were taking him; all he could feel was the dull, persistent ache in his body and the blurred, confusing fragments of recent memories slipping through his mind like sand.

Eventually, they reached the testing room. He barely registered the doctor's instructions or the gentle way the nurses guided him, adjusting his position and helping him sit still on the chair for a blood test bed. As the nurses ran around him and eventually pricked him, the only thing he could focus on was the steady pulse of his heartbeat in his ears, counting each beat to keep himself grounded.

Meanwhile, back in his hospital room, Bang Chan and the others waited in tense silence, each lost in their own worried thoughts. Hyunjin sat on the edge of the bed, head bowed, while Changbin paced the room, his gaze flickering between the door and the clock on the wall.

"Do you think he's okay?" Seungmin's voice broke the silence, soft but filled with concern.

Bang Chan nodded, though his expression was uncertain. "He's strong. But... this is a lot, for anyone."

The members fell quiet again, all hoping that when Minho returned, there'd be a glimmer of his old self behind his tired eyes. For now, though, all they could do was wait, hoping for any sign of stability in this unsteady reality.