Beauty from Ashes

The First Step is Always the Hardest

Flashback begins...

The parking area across the street from the office was especially dark. Normally there was a series of lights that lit the place up like a stadium. The company was very concerned with the safety of its workers, so it was weird for all the lights to be out at once. Kongpob made a mental note to have Boonsri check into the lights and have them repaired the following morning. Normally the members of the Executive Team were given private cars with chauffeurs, but Kongpob was diametrically opposed to such an ostentatious waste of company funds.

So, he chose to park in the parking lot across the street with everyone else. It was in line with his overall desire not to elevate himself above his employees. He made another note to have Apinya cancel the private car services and issue a memo letting everyone know they are to use the common parking lot going forward. Kongpob continued his mental inventory when a man suddenly appeared in front of him.

"Oh! May I help you?"

"Give me your money and your car keys!" The man reeked of alcohol and cigarettes. Kongpob was having a hard time keeping down the bile in his throat as the putrid smell permeated his nostrils.

"What? No! Leave me alone." Kongpob stepped to the side to go around the man. As he walked away, he felt a hard hit at the back of his head. Kongpob fell to his knees gripping the back of his head. "Ah! What the...?" He was stopped midsentence when he received another blow to the eye. Kongpob fell backwards landing awkwardly on his side. Before he could register what was happening, punches and kicks were raining down upon him from all sides until he could no longer distinguish from where the assault was coming.

"Search his pockets and take everything." He heard a voice say. Suddenly there were hands all over him; going through his pockets, yanking off his suit coat and pushing him around. The ringing in his head kept him from being able to concentrate. His couldn't see out of his left eye and blood was obscuring the vision in his right. He did his best to scream to scream, but his voice wouldn't cooperate. Summoning all his strength, Kongpob reached for his suit coat and pulled his phone from the pocket. The face lit up and caught the attention of the one of his assailants.

"Grab the damned phone." Someone grabbed the phone and threw it to the ground. "Stand him up." Hands jerked him to his feet. The pain in his body was unbearable. He couldn't stand on his own. "Get his watch."

Kongpob heard that loud and clear. He refused to give up that watch. His parents had given him that watch for his graduation from university. It was engraved with a loving inscription and it meant everything to him.

"Leave me alone. The watch is worthless. My parents gave me that watch. Leave it alone."

A hand from somewhere seized his arm and twisted it. Kongpob screamed in pain. The sound of bones cracking reverberated in the alley. He fell to his knees, doing his best to drag his broken arm and place it under him so he could protect his precious watch.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing? Let him go!"

Kongpob heard a familiar voice yell before he collapsed to the ground and everything went black.

Flashback ends...

Sunlight peeked around the curtains as Kongpob stirred awake. He felt the oxygen mask on top of his face. As he looked to his right, he saw Arthit and Apinya asleep on the couch. He tried to call out their names, but he couldn't find his voice. His throat was sore, and he had a massive headache. He lifted his hand and realized there was a call button attached to hospital gown. Minutes after pressing the button two nurses entered the room. One opened the curtains and flooded the room with radiant sunlight. It took a few moments for Kongpob's vision to adjust to the sudden change.

"How are you this morning Mr. Suthiluck?" One of the nurses was pouring him a cup of water with a straw so he could slowly sip a little. "The doctor says you are in pretty good shape; all considered." He pointed to Arthit and Apinya would were just starting to stir. Apinya opened her eyes, stretching to work out the kinks from sleeping on Arthit's lap all night.

Kongpob! You're awake. Are you okay? How're you feeling? Can you talk?" He smiled at Apinya's concern while pointing at Arthit. She turned around and shook Arthit's shoulders.

"Just five more minutes," Arthit mumbled. "What do you want?"

Apinya chuckled watching the fiercest executive in the office whine like a small child. Even Kongpob was smiling at Arthit's antics. He finally opened his eyes and wiped the sleep from his eyes.

"Oh. Everyone is awake. How're you going Kongpob?"

"He's having a kinda hard time talking. I'm waiting on the doctor. He should be here any minute now."

Arthit pulled up a chair next to Kongpob's bed. "So glad you're okay now. I was really worried about you, ya know. What were you thinking going out to that dark parking lot? What would've happened to you if I hadn't shown up?"

Kongpob held out his hand to Arthit who took it and smiled when Kongpob squeezed it. The two men smiled at each other. They were interrupted when Apinya reentered the room with the doctor. Arthit released Kongpob's hand and turned his attention to the doctor.

"So, how's our patient today?" Kongpob nodded and smiled at the doctor. "It's normal for your throat to be a little sore. Just rest your voice and you'll be fine in a couple of hours. Are you in any pain?" He nodded again and placed his hand on his head and his arm. "That's also to be expected. You received a number of blows to your head and your have an orbital fracture around your left eye. Your arm was broken in two places. You'll be in a cast for a while. Do you have someone to take care of you while you recuperate?"

Kongpob shook his head. Apinya stepped forward.

"I tried to contact his parents, but a neighbor said they were on a month-long cruise around the Mediterranean. I left word for them. I'll be glad to help you until they come back."

"That's nice of you miss, but he's going to need someone who can carry him and help up in and out of the bed and such."

Arthit immediately spoke up.

"I'll be happy to help. I'll move in with him and help him out. No one should have to go through all this alone. Is that okay with you Kongpob?" Kongpob locked gazes with Arthit and nodded. "Apinya you can help by making meals and helping me to feed him."

"Sounds like a plan. We can even move some of the office stuff to his place and keep our plan moving to meet our goals."

Kongpob smiled as he watched Arthit and Apinya planning out his life for the next two months. He just shook his head not believing what he was watching. He barely knew Arthit, but here he was doing everything he could to help him. Without him he would probably be dead right now. His heart swelled with gratitude. His eyes filled with tears, which started to flow down his face. Apinya glanced his way when he started to sniffle.

"Oh. Kongpob are you alright?" She wiped his tears and held his hand. He couldn't respond, but he smiled and squeezed her hand.

"I think he's trying to say thank you." The doctor smiled as he updated his chart and replaced it at the foot of his bed.

"Aw. You don't have to say thank you. We care about you and want you to get better. We're here for you. Okay?"

Kongpob smiled warmly and slowly drifted off to sleep once the pain killer the doctor administered began to take effect.

A/N: Just a short update for the New Year.  Enjoy and click that delicious little star if you enjoyed it.  See you in 2020!