"You....you can relax now." The doctor approached Ava. He smiled happily and reassured, "Ma'am, your son is safe now. Thank God there aren't any lasting damages or disabilities."
He released a breath and continued, "Actually, wrist slashing isn't the best way for suicide. It's highly painful, and people almost never, fortunately, make the right kind of cut. This seems to be a public misconception that one cut on the wrist can make you bleed out and die. By the time the person tries to cut the second wrist, they're already highly disoriented and often make shallow cuts that are not deep enough. You found him pretty quickly too, and thanks to that, the situation was mostly under control."
Ava was no longer half-conscious and was carefully listening to every word. It was as if she was filled with a new energy, a new hope when she saw the joy on the doctor's face. "...Thank God. Thank you, doctor. Truly. Thank you."
"It's my job, ma'am. What you should really be thankful for is that he didn't have any disabilities. Often, even the people who ingest poison are saved but are left disabled for the rest of their lives. Trying suicide only kills the person half the time; the other half, they wake up in a life even more horrible than the one they had before. It's truly saddening to think that people are under so much pressure that they are forced to hurt themselves like this and take such a step, with so many risks. Some people might blame the person for trying such a thing, but I pray you won't do that. Who would try to take their own life if their mental state and circumstances were okay? They're obviously under unimaginable tension and pressure, deeming death a better fate than carrying on with their lives anymore."
He smiled, concluding his talk. "Well excuse me. I sometimes get carried away. I'm sure you want to see your son, right? Nurse Nia will lead you."
"Hello." Nia glanced at his sister, who was at some point standing up and was standing beside her mother now. A person walked up to them, seeming near but not daring to stand in the same space as the mother and daughter.
Her breath got caught in her throat when she saw who that person was. She couldn't help but stutter slightly, "P-please follow me."
She led them to a private room at the end of the corridor, opening the door. The woman and the girl entered first, the third person hesitating before standing very close to the door frame, a lost look in his eyes.
"He should wake up in a few minutes." She nodded before walking to the door and excused herself, "Then, I'll be going. You can call me or any other nurse if there are any problems."
Nia couldn't help but shiver slightly when she passed Edward, her eyes downcast with guilt. Edward, however, didn't seem to have eyes for anything or anyone other than the unconscious boy, not even noticing when the nurse stood there, just staring at him for about 10 seconds.
Nia shook her head lightly, trying to sort her thoughts. Yes, she was trash, but confessing now? What would happen to her sick mother then? With a last apology in her mind, she pursed her lips and went away, guilt weighing down on her.
"Brother!" Ivy squealed, "Y-you...you're awake!"
August felt his head ache and winced slightly. He tried to get up but found he had no energy. Ivy immediately stepped forward, gently helping him into a sitting position. Even after 5 minutes, she still didn't let go of his hands.
August was confused and asked, "Hey, Ivy? Release my hands, please?"
Ivy just held on tighter, looking down stubbornly and shaking her head.
August tried to coax her again, "Ivy, you're not a child anymore. Please, let go?"
"No." She felt her eyes prickle, nose ticklish. "No...I won't ever let go, please...I-I'm afraid you'll go. Go away from me. Please..." she trembled in her seat, tears falling on her and August's intertwined hands. "....I don't want my brother to be ever taken away from me. I don't ever want to sit there, waiting, not even knowing if you're dead or alive. Please...." she sobbed, "Is...is that too much to ask for?"
August got a distant look in his eyes and was silent for a long time before he finally answered, "....No. No, it isn't. I'm sorry, I was selfish. I was so selfish in my own sorrow that I didn't even think of the people who would be left behind. You, clary..." he noticed the woman sitting beside Ivy, a strange look in her eyes. The tear stains were evident on their faces, their red eyes proof of their misery. "-Mother, Kaitlyn, yes, even her...all the people who care for me, I can't continue to wrong you all. Please," he apologized, "please forgive me. Please."
Ivy didn't wave off his apology. She was barely trying to keep herself from weeping as she said, "Only if you promise me one thing." She released one of his hands, outstretching her pinky finger. "You won't ever try to do something like this again, right?"
"Promise?"
August couldn't help but curve his lips slightly, intertwining his own finger with hers.
"Promise."
August now addressed the woman, his tone soft and apologetic. "Ms. Castellan. I'm sorry."
The woman looked up at him, hurt evident in her eyes.
August laughed awkwardly, "You can scold me if you want. It...it was very foolish of me to take such a step."
"...Even after all this time, you still won't call me mother?" she smiled bitterly.
"I know...I know I don't deserve it after my ignorance, but still...I couldn't help but want to hear 'mom' from your mouth. I know it's asking for too much-"
"No!" August felt the conversation going awry. He hurriedly apologized, "It...it wasn't my intention to offend you. If you want..." he continued shyly, "... I can call you Mom. Mom?"
Ava couldn't react for a moment. She couldn't believe that the forgiveness she was searching for so long had easily been granted, just like that. She couldn't help but wonder what would've happened if she realized sooner. Something inside her told her that August had forgiven her already and would've done so in the past, if only she had the guts to ask for it.
"Yes, my son." A tear slid out of her eyes as she hugged August, his frail and bandaged body fully engulfed in hers. "I'm sorry..."
"I'm so sorry." She muttered as she caressed his hair, his head on her shoulder. August felt his neck getting moist and lightly rubbed the woman's back and assured, "Miss- Oh, my mistake. It's mom now. Mom, you don't need to feel sorry anymore. It's all in the past."
Ava nodded tearily, still embracing her son and the forgiveness she's been yearning for a long time. All this time, the other person just stood unnoticed by the three in a corner, too afraid and guilty to make his presence known. Even standing here seemed like a sin after all he's done. Edward couldn't suppress the selfish desire to see him, check on him even though he knows he is the very reason he's like this.
August was about to say something when his eyes landed on the doorframe, a certain person standing by it.