The following morning, Lisa woke up at 9 a.m., as the first doctor had predicted. Four of the best doctors were assigned to her, per Abel's father's instructions. The first doctor had just finished his shift and left, while the second was already by her side, checking her condition. He monitored the machines, ensured she was responding well to the calming injection, and noted that everything seemed to be under control. Even the baby was doing fine, based on the tests and check-ups.
Lisa, pale and drained, lay quietly, watching the doctor's every move. The drip that hung near her head was changed, but Lisa's mind was elsewhere, trying to make sense of this unfamiliar place she now found herself in.
About ten minutes later, Nina entered the room, looking fresh and well-dressed. Her confident steps revealed she expected Lisa's condition to have improved.
"How is she?" Nina asked, her voice filled with concern as she glanced at Lisa.
"She's stable, and the baby's in good condition if that's what you're asking," the doctor responded, continuing his routine checks on Lisa's heart rate, temperature, and sugar levels.
"But she looks so pale, and it seems like she can't speak. Are you sure she's okay?" Nina's worry was evident.
The doctor sighed softly. "It's normal. She's been through a lot, especially in those vivid dreams of hers. Honestly, few people make it through unscathed. Many who do survive never truly return the same."
Nina lowered her voice, the pain in her words almost palpable. "Just like Abel."
"Let's hope she can confide in someone, pour her heart out. Each episode gets worse, but for now, we have to keep her calm," the doctor added, speaking just out of Lisa's earshot.
Meanwhile, Lisa was beginning to panic. She didn't recognize the place, the people, and a sense of dread filled her. She tried to move, even scream, but her body was weak, her voice barely a whisper after all the screaming and crying in her dreams. The doctor noticed her discomfort and signaled Nina to stop the conversation. Both of them approached Lisa's bed with reassuring smiles.
"Wa... wa... ter... ple... ase," Lisa whispered in a faint, hoarse voice.
The doctor bent down to hear her better, recognizing her struggle. "Oh, you need some water?" he said gently.
Lisa nodded weakly.
"Miss Nina, could you please?" the doctor asked, helping Lisa sit up.
Nina smiled warmly and left to fetch a glass of water. But when she tried to hand it to Lisa, she refused. Even the doctor couldn't persuade her to take it. They exchanged confused glances before the doctor went back to the kitchen, returning with a sealed bottle of water, which he opened in front of Lisa. Only then did she accept it, taking small, deliberate sips.
"Mhm... interesting," Nina remarked, watching as Lisa slowly drank half the bottle, her strength slowly returning.
With a hoarse but determined voice, Lisa finally spoke, "I... I want my mum."
Her words, filled with longing, struck Nina and the doctor. They exchanged a glance before Nina, trying to keep the mood calm and soothing, replied, "Let's get you some rest first, my dear, and once you're better, you can see your mum. How about that?"
But Lisa wasn't convinced. "Who are you?" she asked, her confusion growing. Fear clouded her eyes, and her voice trembled.
"I'm a friend, and I promise you're in safe hands," Nina assured her, the smile still on her face, though the tension in the room was rising.
"Friend?" Lisa frowned, tears beginning to well up. She felt lost, trapped in a world she didn't understand.
The doctor quickly intervened, trying to shift Lisa's focus. "Let's get you something to eat. If all goes well, you'll be discharged soon."
But Lisa wasn't having it. "No, I want my mum now!" she demanded, her breathing becoming rapid, her panic growing. Sweat formed on her brow as fear gripped her.
The doctor moved quickly to check her vitals. "Alright, calm down. Your mum is fine. Miss Nina, perhaps it's best she speaks to her mother before this escalates."
Nina wasted no time. She retrieved her phone from the other room and handed it to Lisa, who looked at it skeptically. "What's this?" she asked, her anxiety mounting.
Before Nina could explain, the phone rang. Lisa hesitated, unsure whether to answer, but then a familiar voice filled the room.
"Oh my God, Luiza!" It was Susan, her mother, full of excitement and relief.
"Mum... is this real? Are you... alive?" Lisa's voice was thick with emotion, her teary eyes filled with disbelief.
"Silly child, of course it's me! What do you think?" Susan laughed softly, her tone gentle and reassuring.
"But I thought..."
"You thought I was dead, right? Yeah, me too," Susan joked, trying to lighten the moment. "It's a long story, but I'm alive and can't wait to see you. We've got so much to talk about, but for now, you need to rest."
"Luiza, you shouldn't worry so much..." Susan began, her voice soft but steady.
"No, something feels off. It's like you're hiding something from me. Are you avoiding me? Is everything really okay?" Lisa's voice trembled with growing concern.
Susan chuckled lightly, though the sound carried a hint of embarrassment. "My dear child, you have such a kind heart—just like your father. Let's just say I've started to gain some self-awareness. Recent events have made me reflect on a lot. I haven't been myself, and I've spent time contemplating everything I've done... I even asked myself what would've happened if I had lost you." Susan paused, wiping the tears that had gathered in her eyes.
"But right now, your condition isn't good enough for you to be worrying. We shouldn't dive into this conversation yet. I need you to get better first, then we can talk. I know you're surrounded by strangers, but I promise, you're in safe hands. I'll be waiting for you once you're discharged, alright?" Her voice was filled with reassurance and tenderness, wrapping Lisa in a blanket of comfort.
Lisa was left speechless, the whirlwind of questions that had been swirling in her mind suddenly dissipated. The sincerity on her mother's face, the empathy in her voice, and the tears that brimmed in her eyes felt almost surreal. For a few moments, Lisa seemed lost, unable to process everything. She didn't even hear Susan calling her name through the phone.
It wasn't until Nina gently tapped her back that she returned to the present. Without a word, she simply looked at her mother on the screen, who was still waiting, her eyes filled with hope. Unable to speak, Lisa quietly handed the phone back to Nina, her emotions too heavy to put into words.