Smile For Me [ Taehyung ] - SEMI HIATUS

Chapter 7- [ Withered Memories ]

The frigid water rushed over her head as her mouth instinctively gaped for air making her feel disorientated with every rush of the salty water. She thrashed her arms and legs about wildly, desperate to find leverage to no avail. Her eyes were bloodshot and the pressure of the water was pounding heavily at her lungs as they burned for more air.

Darkness engulfed her tense muscles gradually relaxed. The panic and pain dwindled into numbness as everything around her became oddly calm.

A boy not much older than 12, came into the lonesome ward with an indifferent expression etched across his pale face. His rosy cheeks were stained with painful tears as his frail arms held onto a bouquet of withering scarlet roses. With each step he took, the heavier his footfall became and the more his tears threatened to spill. He didn't say anything nor did he show the slightest affection towards the overlooking staff.

The doctors and nurses exchanged pitiful glances as their hushed whispers echoed throughout the cold room. The boy ignored these disturbances and continued trudging towards the unconscious girl.

He stood only a meter away from her, biting his quivering lip as the grip on the withering bouquet became tighter.

"Hey, are you alright there, kiddo?" A doctor with mattered hair and silver-frame glasses ruffled the boy's dipped chestnut hair. "She's a very brave one you know."
A blue tag pinned sloppily on the pocket of his gown read 'Dr Yoon - Neurosurgeon' in bold letters followed by two obnoxious glittery sticker stars.
The boy didn't say anything for he was too busy staring at the bandage on the girl's forehead; which had a crimson liquid bleeding through the material.

"She'll love those for sure," The doctor complimented the roses he was clutching onto. "Although they would be perfect with some water." He smiled, pointing at the corner of the rose's wilting petals.

"E-E..." The boy tried to enunciate the best he could, but he was getting too choked up. The inside of his mouth was dry and his lips were chapped.

"She... Will be fine." The doctor patted the boy's slouched back in circles. "She will be able to go home in a couple of weeks. Don't worry..."
Dr Yoon was looking for a name; he studied the kid's hardened expression and tried to conjecture a suitable one until his gaze finally landed on a white name tag situated on the left side of his chest, which had stated the child's name.
"Taehyung."

The boy - Taehyung - looked up the doctor, his vision was blurred by his threatening tears but he did not dare let them spill. He didn't want to look weak.
"I-It was m-m-my fault." He murmured, "My b-brother said she's g-going to a b-better place, and I-I can never see her a-gain... Is he telling th-the truth?"

The doctor looked on with a melancholy expression. Without saying anything, he crouched down and wrapped his arms around Taehyung, taking him by surprise. He sighed sorrowfully as he gently patted the latter's head.
"Taehyung... It'll be alright. She's not going anywhere!" Yoon whispered. The boy shuddered in response as Yoon patted his sunken head. "It's alright to cry. It's okay. Let it all out.. There."

Taehyung most certainly cried. He cried all his energy away. Cried all his guilt away. Cried until he couldn't feel the pain anymore. Cried until his eyes became strained and his whole body felt numb. All the time while Yoon kept holding the boy in his embrace, for he knew how much struggling and pain Taehyung must've gone through.

It wasn't until two hours later, the real heart-wrenching moments began. A loud continuous 'beep' signalled her last breath.
Three doctors, the first one being Dr Yoon, rushed into the room - panicking and fumbling through the contents of the medical cart to find a defibrillator. The other two doctors were conducting immediate check-ups on her.
"She has too much water in her lungs!"
"Prep a room for surgery. Hurry!"