MORNING
Leyla slowly opened her eyes with a blurred vision, searching around the room she laid, lost in action.
" Where am I? where is this place?", she mumbled weakly, adjusting herself on the bed.
" Ouch, its hurts "
She suddenly screamed in pain, holding her abdomen. This woke Daniel whose head was right next to her up.
" Hey, easy.....", said Daniel helping her back on bed.
Daniel sat next to Leyla and Tiana's bed whole of last night, watching after them that he didn't know when he slept off.
" Daniel ? Oh, honey, you're here....", cried Leyla faintly.
" Yes, love but you need not to stress so much now. You just woke up and I'm sure you're quite weak now ", said Daniel pouring out some water in a glass next to the bed for her.
"Huh, you're right", she nodded wondering what happened and why she's at the hospital. Suddenly, flashes of last night's attack came flooding her mind.
" My baby!!!.... Daniel, where is Tiana ? Where is my daughter?", she screamed in tears.
" Last night....we were waiting for you in the hall when someone suddenly attacked us", she stammered, completing her statement with difficulty.
" He tied me down and forced some unknown substance down my little girls throat.....(sobs) It was such a horrible sight to watch. After which he stabbed me", she breaks down in tears, traumatized .
Daniel dropped back the glass of water on the table and held Leyla closer to himself to calm her down.
" It's okay, love....I'm here now and Tiana is right here with us. She is doing just fine ", answered Daniel calmly, pointing towards Tiana's cot which was right next to them.
" Everything will be alright", he added.
Leyla drew closer to the cot, starring down at the little angel who laid fast asleep.
" oh, my baby....my daughter ", cried Leyla, caressing Tiana's soft cheeks.
Daniel held her and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. She smiled and hugged him with tears of joy.
" It's okay now. Lay back in bed"
She nodded. He held her hand and carefully helped her back on bed. Just then, the door creek opened.
" Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Walter ", a voice from the door called.
" Oh, Doctor Hallmark, you're here. Good morning ", responded Daniel.
" Yes and I can see Mrs. Leyla is already awake", said Hallmark with a smile.
They both nodded cheerfully.
" How are you, Mrs. Leyla? "
" Pretty well "
" That's good to hear. I'm here to check your pressure level and confirm if you can be discharged today"
Just then, Tiana's cry interrupted. They all smiled, turning their attention towards the cot.
" Guess, our little angel is also awake now", he added.
" Oh, right. Don't worry , Doc. I'll take care of her while you attend to Leyla."
" Alright "
Daniel approached Tiana's cot and carefully carried her in his arms.
" Come to daddy", he uttered playfully.
Daniel shuffled through the ward with Tiana, spacing out while Doctor Hallmark attends to Leyla.
" Who will like to hurt my family? ", he wondered.
Could it be, Theodora or Mr. Vincent ?"
Mr. Vincent was a member of the board of directors of Daniel's high investors and partners of his company. He was a close friend of Daniel but became enemies after Daniel was elected the head of their international company, " HALL OF FAME".
" I'll surely make you regret ever gaining this position. Just wait and see...", those were his last word.
" Mr. Daniel? Mr. Daniel !?", Hallmark called, drawing him out of the blue.
" Huh? Oh, sorry Doc. ", he responded and trod over to them.
"How is she now? Can we be discharged today?", asked Daniel starring down at Leyla who laid down on the bed, gazing at them with a faint smile.
" Yes, I'll arrange for her discharge. I'll take my leave now"
Daniel nodded, walking him to the door.
" Okay, thank you so much, sir"
" Most welcome. Later then, bye"
" Alright "
Daniel smiled and locked the door behind while Doctor Hallmark strolled away. He turned back towards Leyla's bed.
" Are you, alright, honey? I saw you were lost in thoughts some few moment ago ", Leyla cried.
" Huh? yes....yes, I'm good. Don't worry dear. Just rest now. I'll go get the documents ready for your discharge ,okay?"
" Alright, if you say so", said Leyla with a smile.
Daniel handed Tiana over to her and strolled out.
THREE HOURS LATER
TATIANA'S WARD
Damsel sat on the bed with Tatiana resting in her arms. Just then, Stephen walked in, full with smiles.
" Time to go now, love", he announced.
" Alright dear. Let me get the things", Damsel replied, lifting Tatiana's bag from the cot.
" No, dear. I'll take care of that"
Damsel looked up and smiled," Okay, honey"
He picked up the bag and followed Damsel out of the ward.
CORRIDOR
Stephen and Damsel were having a heartfelt conversation as they strolled past the wards along the corridor when Damsel suddenly paused in her steps.
" What is it, honey? why did you suddenly stop? Did we leave something or you forgot...."
" Tiana..... We forgot to check on her", she cuts in.
"Oh, right...How can that escape me. Let's go now before they get discharged. We need to find out the mystery behind that wired feeling her name brings"
They both turned back, in search of Leyla's ward.
************
LEYLA'S WARD
The nurses, Nita and Bella helped Leyla pack her things while they got ready to leave the hospital. Daniel sat beside Leyla and his daughter, caring for them.
" All done, Sir ", Bella announced.
" Alright, thank you. ( turns to Leyla) Let's go, love"
She nodded. Daniel helped her off the bed and led the way out. Bella and Nita saw them to the door and returned back to clean the room.
***********
Damsel and Stephen searched earnestly for Leyla's ward but still no luck. Just then, they saw a couple approaching their direction.
" Let's ask them, I'm sure they can be of help", said Damsel.
" I agree with you"
They approached them only to find out it was Leyla and Daniel.
" Hey, Mrs. Leyla.....it's really been awhile. What brought you here ", Damsel exclaimed.
Leyla trembled, slowly covering Tiana's face a little to prevent Damsel and Stephen from identifying their baby.
" Oh, dear, nothing much. Just came to visit a friend but need to rush off now. See you later ", Leyla replied and hurriedly pulled Daniel along, quickly rushing off.
Damsel and Stephen gazed at them bemused by Leyla's reaction.
" Is everything alright with her?"queried Damsel.
" Not so sure, dear. But let's go now before we miss Tatiana and her family "
She stared at Leyla for the last time as their back fade way from the corridor and turned back to Stephen.
" Alright, let's go", she responded and trod after him.