Unveil The Veil

Chapter 18: Noah

Noah's Point of View:

The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."

- Nelson Mandela
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It's quiet. The room was quiet and filled with flowers when I opened my eyes and glared at the flare of sunlight against the window besides me. It was mid-afternoon and I was lying in the hospital waiting for my results to return. Pushing my arms out, I stretched and smiled when I noticed the flowers around the room doubled while I slept. I told them that flowers were for girls, but no one listened. Nearly everyone from the academy sent them to me. Even though it's been a few days, I was unconscious for most of them and fully came to a few days ago.

The window was slightly open and gave the room a fresh smell rather than the hospital smell that trailed in with the sheets and gown they had given me. I sat down and watched the followers against the sunlight when my finger gently felt against the wound on my side. It wasn't yet fully healed, and I knew it was going to have a epic scare afterwards. Looking around the quiet room, I smiled and relished in the silence. Ever since the incident, I hadn't had a moment alone.

Dad had come in several times with homemade food, and drinks that my mom had made me, he didn't like the hospital food very much. He'd come in to ask if I needed anything, and I don't mean to be rude but being a grown man, it was as if he was treating me as a child again. I kept from speaking to him about my biological mother because I didn't want to believe it was true. The whole day felt like a dream, as if it didn't really happen. My memory was hazy, and I don't know if it's because I tried to repress the memory or not. The thought of having other parents and being adopted after twenty three years shocked me, and I couldn't believe it. I was in deep thought when the door slowly opened, "Oh, you're awake."

I looked over at the door and smiled sadly when I saw that it was Scarlet. She smiled back and hid her face behind her long red hair while taking slow steps towards me and placing a tray of food on my lap. I peaked through the tray and spotted moms best pancakes. Instantly, I smiled and looked up to find Scarlet staring at me.

"Oh, your Dad wanted me to ask of you wanted anything else. He left to take care of somethings and said he'll be back soon." She kept her eyes trailed on the wall behind me and I slightly nodded my head, a bit weirded out by her attitude.

"Okay, thank you but tell him to not worry. I'm far too old to be babysat." She smiled and walked to the door when I bit my lower lip and called out to her, "Scarlet?"

She turned around, her eyebrows shot up as if bewildered that I had called her name. I passed a second before giving her another sincere smile. "Thank you, and I'm sorry for the way I had treated you these past weeks. Forgive me?"

She waited for a second and nodded her head, the glint in her eyes returning. "Of course. Anytime Noah."

With that, she closed the door and walked away. I opened the tray and began eating when I realized that one of the flowers had a note on them. I placed the fork on the tray and reached over the bed, wincing when I accidently touched the wound on my side and grabbed the note. It was small, and barely had words written on it. I opened it up gently and read it out loud.

Hope you are feeling well. Thank you for everything, you'll forever be in our hearts and minds.

- Aleena, Tariq, and Maysa.

I read it again to see if I was seeing it correctly and chuckled at the words. I hadn't heard from them or seen them since the first day I was brought in. Dad told me Aleena came to the hospital and left with Tariq but they hadn't come to visit since. My finger trailed against the rough edge of the paper and I smiled again. I should be the one thanking them. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have my family back together. Just as I had placed the note besides me on the bed, the door opened. Dad peaked his head through and smiled before walking in and sitting down next to my feet. "I'm sorry for coming late, I had to go down and take my things out of the offices. Have you eaten yet?"