Nanashi No Gonbei (My Nameless Love)

Who are you?

I was assigned to the Emergency Room of the hospital that night when I met Hanako.

She was brought in by a local farmer at exactly 3:34am. She was hit by a truck and so she sustained multiple fractures on her right leg, arms and ribs. She also suffered from a swollen brain stem because of the trauma that's why she had seizures and then went into a coma.

Although she was black and blue due to her injuries, I would never forget how angelic her face was. I was fazed for a half a second when I saw her before jolting back to reality as we rushed her in.

We live in a very small town called Utashinai here in the sorachi subprefecture of Hokkaido. That is part of the reason why this girl interested me so much. Since the town is small and we are the only hospital here. It's the kind of town where everyone knows everyone. But noone has the slightest clue on who this girl was.

I took her case 2 years ago now ~ since then she hasn't woken up. I visit her everyday to check her vitals, her bruises faded and the scars went away. As days goes by her face becomes clearer and clearer. I even spend my lunch time with her. I tell her stories, I vent out to her, and I myself is bewildered on why am I so drawn to her.

By the way, I am Dr.Hitori Watanabe, a neurologist here at the Watanabe Teaching Hospital. I am the son of the hospital tycoon Nori Watanabe.

"Why do you insist on having lunch here in Hanako's room?" - Keiko

I was startled a bit by Keiko's sudden appearance. Dr.Keiko Tsukushi is my bestfriend. She is a pulmonologist and together we are the attending on Hanako's case. Keiko has always been a warm presence. She's a bit childish but she is a brilliant doctor.

"Its not like she would mind.", I said as I took another bite off my sandwich-- "It still bothers me that we are so used to calling her Hanako, when we have no clue if thats even close to her real name"

I've always wondered who she was. From the two years that she has been in our care, we dont have a clue of who she is. She never had a visitor, we tried looking into her file to see if she was in any missing person's report but to no avail.

All she has is tattoo on her inner left thigh. It's a symbol of a snake. But that's it.

"Remember when she first came in, she was black and blue. I can only imagine her pain. No wonder she committed suicide" - Keiko, crossing her arms while looking at her empathetically.

Aside from sustaining fractures and trauma from the hit, she also had bruises on her neck, lacerations on her back and inner thighs, and ligature marks on her wrist and ankles. Who is this girl? Really..

**beep**

(my pager just alarmed, it's my sister)

"Gotta go, Ayumi just paged me" I told Keiko, while hurrying to my sister's office.

My sister is Dr.Ayumi Watanabe, she is the Dean of Medicine here. She is 10 years older than I am.

I entered her office and there she is smoking while looking through the window pane.

"You know it's bad to smoke inside a hospital right?" I told her.

"It's worse when you obsess over a patient who's basically dead. Didn't know you were into that kind of stuff." She said as she put out her cigarette and then walk towards me.

"You're a very naughty little brother" She whispered into my ears.

It sent shivers down my spine!

"STAY AWAY FROM ME YOU SUCCUBUS!!" I panicked as I hastily get away from her.

"HAHAHAHA! You're just too cute Hitori, I'm just messing with you!" She said laughing as she sat down on her couch.

"Did you just page me just to mess with me? Cause I still have 3 hours of clinic duty" I told her as I straightened my coat and head for the door until she told me..

"We need to pull the plug"

I was confused

"What?"

"The board decided to pull the plug on your patient Hanako Yamada, she hasn't improve in 2 years, she hasn't had any visitors or anyone so the board decided that it would be best to pull the plug on her"

I was shocked.. But, their argument is most logical, I was surprised they haven't done it sooner.

"I'll inform Dr.Tsukushi"
I said without facing her as I continue to reach the door.

I felt sad..

I was uneasy for the rest of the shift.
As I pass down empty halls, seeing patients with their family. It just made me think about her, Hanako, struggling for her own life.. alone..

Who are you?
Hanako Yamada?

*****

P.S

Pardon any grammatical error, I am dyslexic and English isn't my first language.

Appreciate the support ❤
Illustrations coming soon!