I'm alright \ I'm ready
1556 Words
Night had fallen deep.
Daniel was half-asleep with his head resting on the office desk.
Suddenly, the phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
With a tired voice, he picked it up—
“Hello?”
From the other end, a rushed voice—
“Mr. Daniel? This is St. Mary’s Hospital. Your friend Ryan… he just regained consciousness.”
Daniel sat up straight instantly.
His eyes widened, breath caught in his chest.
Without another word, he rushed out.
The car engine roared.
Destination—Hospital.
---
""Hospital Room""
Daniel broke down in tears beside Ryan’s bed.
Holding his hand, trembling, he whispered—
“Ryan… you’re awake?
I knew nothing could ever happen to you.
Do you know? For three months, I came every single day.
You slept… and I talked to you… hoping, praying you’d return one day.”
His eyes were wet.
Ryan slowly opened his eyes.
It took him a moment to take in his surroundings.
His lips were dry, his voice weak—
“One moment.”
Daniel leaned closer, hope shining in his eyes.
Ryan turned his head slowly, voice trembling with confusion—
“You… who are you?”
Daniel:
“Ryan! Come on… don’t joke like that.
It’s okay. Today I forgive every mistake, every nonsense, because I waited so long for this moment.”
Ryan:
“Do I… know you?”
Daniel froze.
It was as if his chest shattered into pieces at once.
Ryan’s eyes were filled with fear and emptiness.
Again, he whispered—
“Who am I?
Where… am I?”
The room fell silent.
Only the beeping of the machines echoed,
while the ocean of hope inside Daniel dried up in an instant.
Daniel:
“It’s me, Daniel. Don’t you recognize me?
Doctor? What’s happening? What’s wrong with him?”
Doctor:
“We have informed his legal guardians as well.
Once they arrive, everything will be explained. Just wait a moment.”
Daniel:
“So you informed those snakes too?!”
Doctor:
“What?”
Daniel:
“I mean… was it necessary to inform everyone this quickly?
They would’ve found out anyway.”
The hospital cabin door creaked open.
Doctor:
“Here they are.”
First to walk in was Ryan’s uncle—Mr. Earle Collins.
A forced smile on his lips,
but discomfort lurking in his eyes.
Behind him came his mother Christina, sister Suzanne,
and housemaid Ms. Thomson with flowers in hand.
Every face carried a smile—unnatural, rehearsed.
“Oh my God, Ryan! You’re alright…!”
His mother rushed forward, clasping his hand, tears spilling.
But behind those tears was not relief—something else, something darker.
Daniel stood back, watching.
He felt the performance was heavier than the love.
Family? Or a troupe of actors?
Suzanne stepped forward, placing her hand on Ryan’s forehead—
“We missed you, brother…”
Her voice was sweet, but her eyes were cold.
As if silently saying—
“Why is he still alive?”
Ryan stared back, confused.
His eyes searching—
“Who are these people?”
No one noticed. Or maybe, no one cared.
They were all busy acting.
Mr. Earle smiled at the doctor—
“My nephew is strong…
Look how strong he is.”
But the moment he turned away,
his jaw tightened, eyes filled with irritation.
Daniel, burning with anger, raised his voice—
“Alright, if you’re done handing out your fake love,
let’s give the doctor a chance to speak.
Doctor, tell them.”
Doctor:
“Look…”
Knock Knock Knock
Mr. Earle:
“Who’s there now?”
Doctor:
“Oh, Emily?
That little Emily—look how she’s grown.”
Daniel:
“Yes, and grown arrogant too.
Look, not even a single flower with her.
Doctor, what do you call someone with zero humanity?”
Emily:
“I don’t know medical terms,
but we usually call such people busy.”
Daniel:
“Busy my foot.”
Emily:
“Foot or feet—whatever.
Hello and congrats, dear stepbro Ryan.”
Ryan:
“Who are you?
Are you… by any chance, my sister?”
Mr. Earle:
“My nephew is being funny.”
Emily:
“Bad joke, by the way.”
Daniel:
“Ryan is serious.
He asked me the same thing—‘Who are you?’
Maybe he’s lost his memory. The doctor will explain.”
Doctor:
“Actually Daniel is right.
Fortunately, he survived… but unfortunately, he has lost his memory.”
Daniel:
“But doctor, why?
I mean, he looks perfectly fine…
then how—”
Doctor:
“The accident injured his head. That’s the main reason.”
Emily:
“So he’s forgotten everything?
Like business, education—everything?”
Doctor:
“No, no.
Only his past.
In medical terms, we call this Retrograde Amnesia.
The patient loses episodic memories of their past.
But their procedural memory—language, math, skills—remains intact.”
Daniel:
“I don’t care about all that, Doctor. Discharge him.
I’ll take him home and arrange private care.
For three months you’ve only given me promises,
and now you tell me his past is gone?
I’ve lost my trust in you.”
Doctor:
“If it were in my hands, I’d do everything.
But unfortunately, I’m sorry.
For now, let him stay here.
We’ll observe and inform you when he can be discharged.”
Emily:
“The doctor is right.
He’s weak now…
though honestly, he was always weak.”
Daniel:
“Mind your tongue.”
Emily:
“Or what?
I swear, I’ve always seen him weak. Poor thing.”
Daniel:
“And I’ve always seen you as the devil in disguise.
From your mouth comes not words, but poison.”
Emily:
“Better to be poison than waste my life caring for someone else’s weakness like you.
But I’m not like you.
I hate weak guys.
And don’t forget—Ryan is my competitor.”
Daniel:
“People come to hospitals to show compassion, not competition.”
Emily:
“Compassion, sympathy—none of that works on me.
Okay, I’m leaving.
Bye everyone.
And listen, Ryan—
A man with no roots can’t claim the tree.
Remember that—oh wait, you don’t.
Bye-bye.”
Daniel:
“Not just Emily—why don’t you all leave?
Let him rest.
Today must be your happiest day, isn’t it?
Your only nightmare—Ryan—
has forgotten every wound, every pain you inflicted on him.”
Mr. Earle:
“How dare a cheap employee lecture me?”
Daniel:
“Funny how a ‘cheap employee’s’ words can burn down your high-priced ego.
If you can’t handle it, maybe your status belongs in the trash.”
Mr. Earle:
“No problem.
The day I become CEO, let’s see where you hide your long tongue.
Mind it.”
Daniel:
“The day you step into that office, every employee will vanish,
because you’re already popular among them…
by the name traitor.”
Mr. Earle:
“I’ll make you pay for every word.”
Daniel:
“Fine. But for now, the door is that way.”
Christina:
“We have eyes, Daniel.”
Suzanne:
“Exactly. We can see.”
Daniel:
“Then use those eyes and leave.
No need to come here just to cause more pain.
I’ll take care of Ryan myself.”
----------------------
After surviving the accident,
after lying lifeless for three months,
Ryan finally regained consciousness—
but like a blank diary.
Every page empty.
No good memories, no bad ones.
Only emptiness.
Ryan, who had suffered cruelty since childhood—
from his own mother, sister, and uncle.
He once believed blood ties were sacred.
But now, he knew—
they had only been waiting for his end.
Their breaths carried poison.
As if that wasn’t enough, fate struck harder—
an accident,
three months half-dead,
and now… amnesia.
Was every misfortune written only for Ryan?
Lost in thought, Daniel—his only true friend since childhood—
returned to the cabin with a heavy heart.
Daniel:
“Ryan!
Everything must feel strange, right?
I know you have a lot of questions—
Who am I? Who are you? Who are they?
Once you’re discharged, I’ll tell you everything.”
Today, Ryan felt different.
Something foreign, mysterious in his aura.
Even after hearing Daniel’s words,
he seemed unconcerned about losing his memories.
He leaned sideways, gazing at the fogged window,
his finger tracing shapes into the mist.
Daniel:
“Ryan!
Are you listening?
Ryan! What’s wrong?
Are you okay?”
Ryan:
“Have you noticed today’s weather?”
Daniel:
“Weather? Yes.”
Ryan:
“Just like that day.”
Daniel:
“Which day?”
Ryan:
“Do you know why dinosaurs went extinct?”
Daniel:
“Why?”
Ryan:
“Because even when they had the chance,
they failed to adapt to the environment.”
Daniel:
“Why this question all of a sudden?
Are you sure you’re alright?”
Ryan:
“Don’t worry…
Now, I’m alright,
I'm ready.”
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