Hospital
When Fred opened his eyes, he found himself in a bed. It was a clean, quiet, and warm place. At first, he couldn't comprehend why he was there. Then, all the events came rushing back to him.
At that moment, Richard's voice echoed. He was speaking to the doctor in his usual loud tone.
Richard said to the doctor:
"Look, he's the greatest treasure and friend I have in this life. Please, do everything you can. Don't withhold your help."
The doctor replied:
"Rest assured, sir. We'll do our best."
Then, the sound of footsteps was heard, and Richard entered the room. His clothes were soaked in blood. The blood had also stained Fred, as Richard had carried him on his shoulders. When Fred saw him, he tried to get up, but Richard stopped him, pushing him back gently and saying:
"No, you're not allowed to get up. The doctor forbids it."
Lying back on the pillow and taking a deep breath, Fred said:
"Thank you for helping me."
"No need to thank me for things like this. Anyone in my place would have done the same."
"No, no one can replace you," Fred said with a smile.
Richard couldn't ignore these words, and a smile formed on his face. At that moment, the doctor entered the room. With meaningful eyes, he looked at Fred and asked:
"How are you feeling?"
Fred nodded, signaling that everything was fine. The doctor, noticing the exhaustion in Fred's eyes, understood that he needed rest. He asked Richard to leave the room, and together, they stepped out.
In the corridor, Fred's friends and his mother, Elina, who had raised him alone since his father's death, were waiting anxiously. Elina looked at the doctor with pleading eyes and said:
"Please, tell me he's okay. Say he's awake."
The doctor replied indifferently:
"He's fine."
Elina, with a sorrowful look, asked:
"Can we see him now?"
The doctor responded:
"He's tired and needs to rest," and then took out his phone. He called a nurse, requesting a sedative injection for Fred, and walked away.
This news brought them some relief. Even the walls, which had seemed to close in on them moments ago, now felt less oppressive. However, Elina couldn't hold back her tears. Richard and Ethan escorted her outside to comfort her.
Sheila, unable to bear the situation, collapsed to the floor, sobbing. Despite Victoria and Emma's efforts to console her, they couldn't succeed. Rima knelt beside Sheila, holding her hands, and said:
"Look, Sheila, everything will be okay. Fred wouldn't want to see you like this. At least don't cry for his sake."
At that moment, the nurse entered the room to check on Fred. She asked if he was in pain, and Fred, as always, responded with a nod, signaling that he wasn't. The nurse gave him a sedative injection and left the room.
Seeing the nurse, Sheila begged for permission to see Fred. The nurse's only response was:
"The patient is asleep, and I cannot wake him."