"I will definitely return; just wait for me... at the end of life."
A faint, hoarse murmur escaped her lips as she endeavored to articulate. She clutched the sheets tightly, feeling the reassuring grip of someone holding her hand, accompanied by a soft call, "Alvie... I am here."
In a feeble attempt to speak, she uttered, "Mom." Her tightly shut eyes conveyed the intensity of her emotions as she held onto those warm hands.
"Yes, I'm here," the reassurance echoed repeatedly, but soon clarity dawned. The rhythmic beeping of the monitor, the bustling activity of people outside, and the surreal surroundings enveloped her senses.
Gently, she blinked her eyes open, gradually becoming aware of her surroundings. The sterile scent of the hospital and the soft hum of medical equipment confirmed her realization – she was in a hospital.
Feeling the presence of someone beside her, she slowly opened her eyes. As her gaze focused, she realized that the warm hand holding hers belonged to a man. Turning her head towards him, she observed tears glistening in his eyes. His gentle voice resonated, calling her "sister."
"You came back," he uttered slowly, his voice trembling with gratitude, and he held her hand tightly. Her first impression of this young man in front of her was a mix of confusion and curiosity. As she looked at him, she saw tears in his eyes, and there was a genuine warmth in the way he held her hand. The connection felt unspoken yet profound, leaving her with a sense of comfort despite the uncertainty surrounding her.
Blinking twice, she found herself in a state of confusion, yet the warmth of his reaction resonated deeply in her heart. She struggled to speak, her voice barely audible as she softly questioned, "Who... are you? Have you... lost?"
The young man paused for a moment, his eyes welling up with tears as he looked at her. "Sister," he choked out, his emotions overcoming him. "Maria... My name is Maria..."
Suddenly, the door flew open, and a middle-aged man rushed towards her bed. "Young miss," he gasped, barely able to catch his breath as he almost choked on his words. "You came back," he cried, his eyes filled with a mixture of relief and joy.
Her entire body ached as she struggled to move. Watching a couple of strangers before her, crying as if a river for her, people she had never seen before, left her utterly confused. Before her eyes, the two of them embraced each other tightly, overwhelmed with emotions, and cried hysterically. In that moment, she couldn't help but question her own life and the circumstances surrounding her existence.
Both of them gazed at her, their eyes brimming with tears. The young man spoke first, "Alvie sis, I missed you so much." The other guy added, "Young miss, I am so happy that you woke up. The doctors had given up on you, but young master and..." He halted in the middle of his sentence, swallowing his words as he looked at the young man, who nodded with a tinge of sadness.
"We should call the doctors," he suggested, concern etched on his face.
"Doctors are on the way," the young man assured. The door soon flew open as a group of doctors entered. In a state of confusion, she uttered, "Who are you guys? Why am I here?" Everyone paused for a moment, exchanging puzzled glances with each other.
"Miss Alvie," a person from the group of doctors called her. "My name's Maria. Who is this Alvie?" She struggled to get up, and the young man cried out, "Doctor, what happened to my sister?" Confused, she questioned, "I am not your sister."
"Why are you acting strange, sister?" he cried. "Young Master, please calm down. She will be fine," the male doctor looked at him gently. The young master stared at the doctor with eyes full of tears, causing the doctor's heart to feel as if it had been stabbed by a knife. He turned around, perhaps unable to bear the emotional weight of the situation.
A step in the hallway stopped, and as his gaze turned dark, he slowly walked into the room, standing at the back.
A doctor came forward and began to examine her, casting a tense atmosphere across the room and everyone started to Panick. The man standing at the back exuded a scary aura, adding to the overall sense of apprehension.
He stepped forward and took the lead, stealing glances at the crying young man and asked her, "What year do you think it is?" She said without hesitation, "2018." The atmosphere in the room shifted, becoming colder and darker than before, as everyone grasped the gravity of the situation, especially due to the presence of a particular person.
The young man gently held her hand, tears streaming down his face warmth the room.
"Young Miss has lost her memory," the male doctor announced. He called a staff nurse and whispered something to her before leaving the room with a group of people, including the man with the scary aura.
The room fell silent, heavy with the weight of the revelation and the departure of the medical team.
"I know this is confusing, and it might shock you greatly, but you really are young Miss Alvie, the twin sister of young Master Eagon," he calmly said as he patted the back of the crying young man. "Maybe we have to start again."
The young man raised his head, wiped his tears, and handed her a warm glass of water. "Hello, my name is Eagon Valdenor. We are meeting again after 18 years, and you! You are Maria, aka my twin sister Alvie," he hesitated for a moment before adding, "...Alvie Valdenor."
Her mouth twitched in amusement as she sipped the warm water, processing the surreal revelation.
Following several hours of gentle conversation, she began to place her trust in them. Despite not displaying any signs of a mental breakdown, she still harbored reservations about fully accepting everything from the beginning. Eagon took his time elucidating the situation, acknowledging that there were many aspects yet to be disclosed. He assured her that he would gradually reveal the complete story.