In the sterile confines of the hospital room, the harsh fluorescent lights cast a cold glow over the scene. Tubes and wires snaked their way around the small figure lying on the bed, their beeping monitors a constant reminder of the fragile state of the child's health.
Alex, only five years old but already facing a battle beyond his years, lay still, his small frame barely visible beneath the layers of bandages and medical equipment.
His face was pale, his breathing shallow, as he fought against the pain and confusion that engulfed him.
Beside him, his mother sat in a worn chair, her eyes never straying from her son's face. Her hands were clasped tightly together, fingers trembling with a mixture of fear and determination.
She longed to take away his suffering, to shield him from the cruel hand fate had dealt, but all she could do was watch and wait, her heart heavy with worry.
She knew Alex as she was her mother better than anyone he always tried to learn from people despite having no emotions but now also see could not do anything to simply cure his aliments tear came from her eyes sadness took over her face.
Alex stirs, his eyes flicker open, revealing a mixture of confusion and discomfort. His mother's tears catch his attention, and with a gentle touch, he reaches out to brush them away, his expression void of emotion.
His mother's heart aches at the sight of her son's blank expression, a painful reminder of the emotional disconnect caused by his alexithymia. Yet, even in his struggle to understand and express his feelings, she finds solace in the simple act of connection between them.
With a heavy heart, she leans forward to press a kiss against his forehead, silently vowing to remain by his side and provide the love and support he needs, no matter the challenges he may face.
Coming forward Emily asks
"Are you feeling any better, Alex? Do you need anything?
To which Alex just says" I'm okay Mom"
with a slight pause, she speaks again telling
"It's okay. I'm here with you. You're safe now."
Alex tries to sleep but seeing his mother just leave him to rest calls the doctor and asks about his health condition.
Seeing his mother leave he remembers what event took place in the forest and then he heard a knocking which was not coming from the door trying to find out the source of the sound his eyes reached the window there sat a Little squirrel still covered in blood which was dried.
As he observes the injured creature, Alex's mind registers a sense of recognition rather than empathy. The sight triggers memories of his ordeal, the pain and fear still fresh in his mind. In the squirrel's wounded form, he sees a reflection of his vulnerability, a shared experience of suffering that resonates within him.
Though unable to express his emotions in the conventional sense, Alex's heart stirs with a faint glimmer of understanding he extends his hand to the window opening it slightly so the little squirrel can come inside.
The small creature hesitates for a moment, warily eyeing its surroundings before cautiously hopping onto the windowsill and then into the room.
"So what are you"Alex asks question to squirrel
"Squire" tilts its head in confusion not understanding what to say
Getting no answer just squid Alex no longer ponders just watches the squirrel and speak
"You can stay here if u want"
Understanding his meaning squirrel replied with
"Squii" probably thanking him.
Squirrel watches the surroundings sometime after finds a bowl filled with clean water kept on the table used for cleaning and directly jumps into it washes its blood-dyed body giving the bowl water red blood color.
Then it jumped out of the water and made its way to Alex just before it could jump on the white bed making it red Alex caught her with clothes around his arm and rubbed its body making it dry.
"For a squirrel, you're one of the smart," Alex said who was holding squirrel on his hand.
Understanding him squirrel just lay there and let him dry her body giving his answer as
"squii"
"What can I call you little squi is not a name how about scratchy nah no it's kind of big be "Haze"??"
As if approving her name haze Wiggles Ger tale later replying with "squii".
"So I am sleepy let's sleep you can sleep here, "Alex told Haze to sleep on the side of his bed.
But later just got up moved to Alex's chest and made its small body stretch and lie down there curling its body keeping its small head on Alex's chest and closing its eyes seeing haze audacity Alex was kind of suprise but later ignored it and just slept freely not knowing what troubles has he caused.
Sometimes later Emily Carter Alex's mother came to his room after discussing it with a doctor they told him that he was fine just had some scratches from wild animals on his shoulder on his body which would take some time to go recover.
But when see was thinking a surprise came to her face seeing a little squirrel sleeping on Alex's chest in her research career she had not seen such a creature which came to her as a surprise but seeing it sleeping she viewed Alex was sleeping she just came and sat on a sofa near her son's bed waiting for latter to wake up and listen about the whole situation.
She was having many lingering thoughts about how was he in such a condition and what his little guy sleeping over him was. Previously she refrained from asking such a question because he had just woken up she could not just ask him a barrage of questions when he was the one suffering.
{Note: Alex's mother's name is Emily Carter.
His father's name is John Carter, he also has one brother who is 5 years bigger than him his name is Daniel Carter .}