I SHOULD HAVE WALKED AWAY

MY REDEMPTION

I felt my body moving in a fast motion, like I was being carried on something. There were loud voices around, screaming my name heavily. Among the faint voices, one was familiar.

I managed to move a little. I felt my body was on bandages, heavily wrapped all over. I opened my eyes slightly but couldn’t see clearly. I saw faint images of Mrs Laura screaming, crying uncontrollably and running after me.

“Judy! Judy!” she kept screaming at the top of her voice.

I could hear her, but it echoed loudly like a heavy whistle in my eardrums. Suddenly, everything became blocked. I couldn’t hear any sounds anymore, like all the voices around had gone off.

I tried to move as I touched Mrs Laura’s hand. She looked at me, talking with tears running down her eyes, but I couldn’t hear a single word from her lips. She held me softly, touching my face, looking at me with pain.

I was unable to move. My body felt tied. I just looked at her lips moving, but it felt empty—I couldn’t hear anything.

“Mrs Laura, I’m sorry,” I whispered weakly within myself, tears running down my face.

Suddenly, a nurse came closer and immediately injected something through the drip attached to me. I suddenly felt very weak, extremely tired and sleepy. My eyes closed immediately as I drifted off.

It felt bright around me.

My eyes were still closed. I moved my head a little and managed to open my eyes slightly. The light was very bright. I winced and closed them again, then slowly opened them once more as the light dimmed.

I looked around and realized I was in a hospital room. The place was very quiet.

I turned beside me and saw toys and gifts—so many I couldn’t count. They were beautiful. Next to me on the bed was a soft teddy bear. It was purple, my favorite color. It felt so soft, and I smiled faintly.

Strangely, I could hear the breeze and the sound of machines around me. The machine attached to me beeped softly. My body was no longer tied except for a tube around my neck area, connected to equipment.

I tried to sit up, but I was too weak. I groaned softly inside.

I opened my mouth to speak, but my throat felt blocked. No voice came out.

Suddenly, someone entered. She was dressed in white. I looked at her weakly—it was a nurse. The moment she saw me awake, she shouted:

“Judy! Judy!”

She rushed to me and held me gently.

Since I couldn’t speak, I nodded slightly and smiled weakly. She smiled brightly.

“Finally, you’ve woken up,” she whispered calmly.

I stared at her. Her eyes looked like she had been waiting for me for a long time.

“Judy, wait here. I’ll go call your dad,” she said quickly.

My heart sank heavily.

“Dad…” I thought in shock, tears forming in my eyes.

I watched her run out of the room.

“Daddy is back… Dad…” I thought again, overwhelmed.

I hadn’t seen my dad for almost a year. He traveled and promised that when he returned, he would stay with me.

Is he finally back? Will he stay with me now?

Suddenly, the door opened again and a loud voice called out.

It was my father.

He rushed in and held me tightly. Tears were running down his face. I looked at him, my body relaxing instantly.

“Dad is really back…” I smiled faintly.

He lifted me gently and hugged me tightly. I couldn’t hug him back properly, but I rested against his shoulders.

After a moment, he slowly released me and adjusted pillows behind me so I could sit comfortably.

“Judy,” he said softly.

I nodded.

I held his hand, wanting to speak, but only my mouth opened without sound.

“Don’t say anything. Your throat is still healing,” he said gently, touching my face.

“I missed you, baby… it’s all my fault. I should have stayed with you,” he said sadly.

I quickly shook my head.

No… I wanted to say so much, but I couldn’t. I felt helpless.

“Judy, wait,” he said, getting up.

He brought a pen and paper from the table and gave it to me.

“Use this to tell me anything you want, baby,” he said warmly.

I held it, but my hands were weak. He came closer and helped me hold the pen properly.

“Tell me what you want to say, Judy,” he said softly.

I smiled weakly and wrote:

“I am very sorry, Dad.”

He shook his head immediately.

“It’s not your fault, Judy. It’s my fault. I should have stayed with you. I’m so sorry,” he said, kissing my forehead.

I looked at him and smiled faintly. I had really missed him.

Suddenly, Mrs Laura rushed in.

“Judy!” she called softly.

I tried to smile as she came closer and hugged me tightly, kissing my cheeks.

“I’m so happy to see you, Judy. I should have seen this coming… it’s all my fault,” she said sadly.

I quickly wrote again:

“It is my fault.”

“It’s not your fault,” she said warmly, holding both my hands. “We believe you.”

“We believe you, Judy. Your friends told us everything. It’s over now,” my dad added.

My mind suddenly snapped back.

Karen.

My heart skipped.

I quickly wrote her name.

My dad and Mrs Laura looked at me.

“She is fine,” Mrs Laura said gently. “Your father arranged everything. She was transferred to a different school outside the city on scholarship.”

I stared at them in confusion.

Karen was hit by a car… was she really okay?

I wrote quickly:

“Is Karen alright?”

My dad nodded.

“She was not badly injured. She was discharged three days after the accident. She stayed here with you for over a month,” he said.

My eyes widened.

“More than a month?” I thought.

“How long have I been on the bed?” I wrote weakly.

They exchanged looks.

“This week makes it three months,” my dad said softly, kissing my forehead.

My heart skipped heavily.

Three months?

But it felt like yesterday.

I stared at them in shock.

“You’ve been hospitalized for almost three months, Judy. We were so scared for you,” Mrs Laura said, holding my hand tightly.

I was completely stunned.

Everything felt like it happened recently, but I had been gone for months.

I wrote again, slowly:

“How…?”

My dad held me closer.

“Your accident was very serious. Karen was hit, but she landed safely and survived. You were hit and fell badly, and you lost a lot of blood. It was very severe,” he explained gently.

“The doctors said it was a miracle your injuries were only scratches, but your body went into shock from everything you experienced. Your mind needed rest, so you fell into a deep sleep. That’s why you healed slowly but safely.”

He kissed my forehead again.

“But now you’re almost fully recovered. Your voice will come back soon, Judy.”

I stayed silent, listening closely, feeling warm in his arms.

I had many questions, but I knew I needed time to heal first.