War Is Over

Ch. 3

The whistle of a bird outside the window slowly pulled Hajime from his deep sleep. Although the lights in the room were dimmed, he had to blink a few times to get his eyes used to the light. Gradually the surroundings became clearer, morphing from white and black spots into chairs, a table, a closet, a small sink, and finally the bed he was on. Besides the song of the bird, other sounds started to come through to his brain. Distant voices, speaking in a soft tone, the slight buzzing of one of the dimmed lights, the beeping of a single monitor. His mouth felt dry, his head light. Hajime turned his head to the window. It hurt, but not so much he could not do it. Outside the sun shone brightly, the sky as blue as if clouds never even existed. The bird that woke him sat in a tree just outside the window, undisturbed by anything, singing its song for anyone to hear, if they wanted it or not. Hajime slowly turned his head back to the door, where he heard footsteps approaching through the hallway. In the doorway a man appeared, about fifty years old, clean shaven, with glasses and a long white coat. He was followed by a much younger nurse, who looked like his son, and they both came to stand at Hajime's bedside. "So" the doctor said, in a somewhat familiar sounding deep voice, "You are awake at last". "At last?" Hajime thought, but he did not ask. The doctor started to examine him, shining in his eyes with a light, checking his heart, while the nurse pulled out a notepad and started asking questions. "Do you remember your name?" Despite his dry mouth, Hajime managed to get out "Ha...ji...me" before coughing, and the nurse rushed to get him some water. "Here, small sips....careful!" After a few minuscule sips, the nurse put the glass on the table besides the bed. Hajime stared at the glass. He would like loads more of the fresh, cold liquid, but the nurse saw his stare and urged him to wait a little, because he would probably throw up if he drank all of it at once. "Do you remember why you got here?" Hajime closed his eyes. "I.... no ...We... went...... for a drink, I think.......But something happened..... I guess..... I really can not remember...... anything after that..." The nurse nodded and scribbled something on the notepad. "That is fine, here take some more water. Do you remember if you need any medication?" Hajime shook his head, slowly. "No, I do...... not think I..... need any". The nurse started writing again, and after a few more questions about his health (which was fine), and his family (which he did not really have, well at least as far as he knew, his head felt like it was filled with cotton), they urged him to rest and get back his strength. "Maybe you have a lot of questions too, but we can talk when you are stronger, now your first priority is to rest and heal." With those words they left the room, and Hajime was alone. After a few minutes, he was sleeping again.

In the next few weeks, Hajime started to get better by the day. It did not take long for him to be able to eat properly, which boosted his healing too. He lost half of his left leg, and had a lot of burns all over his body, but to the outside, it did not seem to really bother him. He was not enthusiastic about anything, but he did not get depressed either. He just did what he needed to do, ate whatever they gave him, and answered their questions shortly and accurately. After two weeks, the nurse, whose name was Kaito, told him about what happened. The car they were in was hit by a bomb, likely fired by fleeing enemy troops. Hajime was found a few metres from the burning wreck, thrown away by the blast. This likely saved his life, none of the others in the car survived. The couple who found him were taking an evening stroll when they heard the explosion. They were on the scene in less than five minutes, but it was already too late for his comrades. Hajime listened to the story in silence, nodded, and went on with his exercise. Later that same week, Kaito came to tell him he had visitors, it was the couple that found him that evening. He politely thanked them, accepted their condolences for his comrades with a nod, and they had a little conversation about the weather and such. They were kind people, they reminded Hajime of the people in his hometown. When they left, they told him they would come and visit later if he did not mind. "I would appreciate it, but please do not go out of your way for me." Hajime felt reluctant to accept their kindness. But even though Kaito came to talk to him often, this elderly couple made him feel more at ease. Their presence had a calming effect on him. 

On one spring day, about two months after the accident, Kaito came to him after his shift to talk to him. "You are improving greatly", he said, "but I am afraid that also means you can not stay here much longer. I mean I would gladly keep you here, but the whole area is bursting with people who still need medical assistance, and we cannot really afford to keep a bed occupied for a day longer than absolutely needed." Hajime told him he did not really have a place to go, since his grandfather, who he lived with before he was deployed, passed away just after the war started. Even if he had left him the house, it was doubtful he could go and live there, since he heard the village had been occupied by enemy troops and a lot of it was destroyed during the war. "I figured as much" Kaito said. "So I already asked around, and I may have a place where you can stay for now." Hajime looked at Kaito. "Really? I do not want to be a burden to ..." Kaito stopped him by raising his hand. "You need a place where you can regain your strength and revalidate further." Hajime shook his head. "I can not take that offer Kaito. How could I do that? I mean I can't work, I have no money or possessions whatsoever, and how about food?" Kaito let out a sigh. "What were you planning on doing then? Live on the street?" Hajime opened his mouth and closed it again. To be fair he barely gave the fact that he had to move out of the hospital soon much thought. Kaito looked him in the eyes. "Hajime, please do this okay? At least until you gain back your strength. Please." Hajime shifted on his bed uncomfortably. Kaito's eyes reminded him of something he wanted to forget. He looked down. "Okay. I will do it. But only until I am strong enough to work."