The Ashes of Myself

Chapter 3: Fragile Return

The hospital room looked very different from the one Anneliese had seen when she had first woken up. The sun bathed the space in its golden light, illuminating the room in a much softer way than earlier. All the windows were wide open, allowing the fresh air to circulate, which eased the feeling of suffocation she had experienced before. The luxury of the room was evident: the dark wood furniture, with its elegant lines, gave a sense of comfort, yet despite this, a persistent coldness lingered in the atmosphere. She still felt a bit dizzy, but the daylight seemed to soften the pain in her mind.

She began to gently open her eyes. The blue of her eyes was slightly affected by the light, giving them an almost supernatural glow, a striking contrast with the rest of the room. Despite the comfort and luxury around her, she still felt a certain coldness. Her body still felt weak, and the dizziness persisted, but a softer, calmer sensation was gradually beginning to make itself felt.

As she tried to focus on her surroundings, trying to understand why she was there, she turned her eyes and noticed a figure sitting near a window. The light that passed through the shining glass settled on the man, and although she felt like she knew him, her mind was too muddled to recognize him immediately. He was sitting in an armchair, a bit to the side, and Anneliese couldn’t make out who he was.

She wasn’t used to being overwhelmed by confusion. Despite her weakness, she made an effort to stay calm. She tried to sit up in the bed, to get a closer look at the one who had been silently observing her. But the man spoke before she could move any further.

— “Don’t try to get up. You know you’ll get more dizzy.”

She recognized the voice, but that only added to the confusion swirling inside her. She wanted to know more, but she knew deep down that he was right. Her body was still too weak. She resigned herself to staying lying down and tried to distinguish him further.

The man then stood up and, to her surprise, approached her. He gently lifted her into his arms and helped her sit up. His gestures were familiar, tender, and he finally placed her back on the bed, sitting beside her. Anneliese was speechless. It was Léo, her best friend since childhood, the one with whom she had shared so many memories.

Léo was a mix of Arab and Malagasy descent, with curly hair and piercing green eyes. His complexion was neither very light nor very dark, a perfect balance that gave him a soothing, warm presence. He wore dark pants and a casual shirt. His hands were large, and his posture exuded authority but also an undeniable gentleness.

— “I came to visit you as soon as I heard you woke up,” he said, breaking the silence that had settled between them.

Anneliese didn’t respond immediately, simply watching him in silence. He added, his face hardening slightly:

— “You know, you scared us. We thought you were never going to wake up. Then, when you woke up, you left your bed. You, who usually think things through, made a very silly decision. You could’ve hurt yourself… Luckily, you fainted in front of the receptionists and not in the hallway. Otherwise, no one would’ve seen you.”

Anneliese lowered her eyes. She noticed the worry on his face and suddenly felt guilty. But she didn’t say anything. Seeing her silence, Léo moved closer to her and playfully pinched her cheek with more force than she expected. She felt the pain radiate in her cheek, a sensation she hadn’t forgotten.

— “Think before you act, little one!” he said, a bit more sternly.

She rubbed her cheek, feeling irritated but also touched by his gesture. She sighed a little before replying:

— “Stop, that hurts, I’ll think. I PROMISE!”

Léo looked at her, a mix of fatigue and amusement on his face, as though relieved to see her react this way. But before they could talk more, Anneliese, in a calmer tone, asked him:

— “What happened to me? Why am I here? And why does my left arm hurt so much? And how long have I been here?”

Léo’s expression darkened, and a serious air settled on his face. He exhaled a little before responding, his gaze locking directly with Anneliese’s.

— “In the third year of university, there was a fire…”

But just as he began to explain further, his phone rang. He hesitated for a moment, then, seeing the situation, decided to step outside to take the call. He left the room, leaving Anneliese alone.

She stayed there, sitting, her gaze fixed on the window. Outside, she could see the hospital garden, a peaceful and calming green space. A gentle cool breeze moved the curtains, and her long, brown hair gently brushed her round face. The sensation was soothing but also strange, as she remained there in uncertainty, wondering what would happen next.