Love is War

Chapter 71

I opened my eyes and immediately I saw myself inside a white room, filled with bright lights and I can still hear the beeping sounds, I already realized that I am inside a hospital room and I can still feel my whole body being weak because of all that commotion.

I opened my eyes and tried to not get blinded again by the bright lights covering this room. The light met my eyes, and it was not as worst, when I was transported inside the hospital. When my eyes acclimated to the brightness of this room, I tried to move my hands but there is something that restricts my movements.

I completely opened my eyes and saw my dad asleep on my side, and also Alexis that has fallen asleep on the chair. I was happy that both of them are on my side during all of this, and I am very thankful that dad is very loving towards her children and whenever I need him the most, he is still there.

But then suddenly I remembered what he said before the operation, I can’t tell howl long I was out, but my memory clearly remembers those words, that he regrets allowing me to go to the mission.

I am terrified, because technically, I failed the mission, then something struck my heart. The pain and sadness, when I remember all of it. The deaths, the sacrifices. The pain... I started to feel my eyes getting wet.

I sniffled and I carefully navigated my hands towards my eyes so that I can wipe the tears off, and the snot on my nose. I tried my best not to cause as much noise, that is enough to wake them up, I don’t how long they are watching me and especially Alexis, she deserves the rest after all of those exhausting events that happened to us.

“Sweetie,” I heard my dad whispered and I turned to him slowly. I saw him waking up from his slumber and as fast as I could I wipe my tears. “Be careful,” he said to me, when he noticed that I am wiping my tears in a harsh way.

“Dad,” I whispered back. “I’m sorry,” I apologized to him immediately, and right now I am at my softest. I don’t know but I just wanted to cry until my eyes are dried up. This sadness that accumulated inside my heart, I need to release it.

I felt dad’s warm hug enveloping my whole body, and I let him. I rested my fore head towards his chest as he hugs me, as tight as he can.

“There is nothing to apologize for my dear daughter,” he consoled me and he pats my back. “What is important, is that you came back alive,” he said, and I can feel the gratefulness in his voice, but the fact that I am alive right now, I owe it to three people that sacrificed their lives for me.

“They are dead,” I whispered and I cried even more, dad’s hug gets tighter but in a comfortable way.

“Don’t cry,” he said.

“They sacrificed themselves for me,” I told him to tell him their great deeds.

“I am sure that they are happy that you are alive,” he said, but... “And they value your life more than they do to theirs,” he added, and I find that insensitive, but I don’t want to tell it to dad right now.

I continue to cry and my tears are like a stream flowing through my cheeks. That moments lasted for a while, as I told dad everything that makes me sad, and he is continuing to console me. Also, I awoken Alexis but she just watched on the side, not trying to interfere with our dad and daughter moment.

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“What are you feeling right now?” dad asked me as my whole attention is pinned to the show that is playing in the television right now, while he peels of some oranges.

“Just a little dizzy and weak,” I answered his question honestly.

“That’s good, here, have some oranges,” he gave me the oranges already peeled and I sat on my bed and gently grab the oranges from his hand. The doctors and nurses earlier, took off the oxygen mask, when they are informed that I am already awake, and it turns out that I was out for two weeks! That’s hell of a long time!

That’s why I felt so dizzy when I woke up.

I broke a piece from the orange and I continue to watch the show in the TV. I put it in my mouth and the orange juice that gush out from its skin is sweet and tangy that’s why I enjoyed my whole moment. Every went peacefully as I eat the orange.

Dad and Alexis watched the TV with me, and I noticed that Alexis’s body is covered with bandages, that’s why I don’t want to bother her. Maybe in that two weeks-time she had sufficient time to recover from her injuries, but I let her, to rest.

Honestly, my injuries did not completely heal as my leg that’s been broken is still broken that’s why the doctors needed to treat it, so that the bones will heal as soon as it can. They were amazed my femur is not that broken, just a little fracture. Despite my situation back then, they were amazed how tough my body is, and that saved my life.

So, that means that I can walk in no time, as this will not take long, if the doctor’s words are not just bunch of lies.

I’ll just have to wait for a week before they let me out of this hospital, because I need the time to recover my lost strength again. I am very happy and sad at the same time.

Dad avoided to talk about the mission as he knows that this will trigger something on my emotions, and I am thankful for that as I still can’t accept that the three are already dead. I failed the mission because I did not accomplish my goals, which is all of us are getting out alive but turns out only Alexis and I, and the shipment was not destroyed.

I can’t control their actions, especially Anthony’s, that made me think that I am still not fit to be a leader. I still don’t have the complete authority over them, if only I prevented Anthony from causing a ruckus, then all of that will not happen.

I was arrogant, completely confident that I am handling the mission pretty well, and I was wrong. But thanks to them we caused casualties, too many for them. We exacted our revenge but at what cost, my self worth?

My confidence went down significantly if you may ask me, it hits rock bottom, as I don’t want to remember it anymore.

Times have passed and there is nothing special that happened in the hospital room. My sister which I hate, often visits to check on my and I am surprised that she has the time to check on her little sister, but as usual I ignored her. Then some of dad’s men visits to inform him something which he does not tell me. Maybe for me to avoid stressing myself and completely dedicate myself on recovering.

Until... the time has come, it is time for me to be released on this white bed where I lay, to recover. I am thankful...

“Finally,” I exclaimed. “That almost took forever,” I added while I change my clothes to my normal wear because the whole time, I was wearing a hospital gown, and I learned that this hospital was inside the border lands.

I was frightened at first because I remembered that dad pointed a gun towards a doctor, but he let it pass because he understands what is my dad going through in the head when he saw me like that. Because dad wanted to avoid for that to happen again, the enemies taking advantage of my situation and attacking us with our guards lowered.

This way, my safety is secured without being attacked by the Yoshidas.

I went out of the bathroom and there I saw the doctor and nurse that was taking care off me the whole time.

“Congratulations on your recovery,” he greeted me and I smiled to him

“Thank you for everything,” and I slightly bows down to them to show that I am very grateful for their service. I saw Alexis waiting for me in the back and dad is not here right now, as he is attending a meeting right now, too important to miss.

I can take care of myself and besides we are inside the border lands.

“Also I am sorry for my dad’s actions,” I apologized to him pertaining to what he did to the doctor, uhmm pointing a gun to his head.

“Don’t mention it, miss Sherry,” he said and I was surprised that dad used a fake name for me when I was admitted in the hospital. I quickly calmed down and played along with him. To avoid spies. I bowed my head again.

“I am truly grateful,” I said to him and he just chuckles softly.

“It is our job to make sure that our patients are well,” he replied to me. I looked up to him and shake hands to every one of them in the room right now, to show them how much I respect their job.

“It is time for us to go,” I mentioned and I grab my things.

“Have a safe journey,” the doctor said and he waves his hands towards me and I wave back to.

I walked outside the room and Alexis quickly catch up to me.

“Let’s go home,” I told her and she is now back to her cold usual self and did not reply to me. I ignored it and I silently walk towards the hallway.