The Rejected Daughter

CHAPTER TWO

"Jade?"

She blinked once then twice, then gave a wide smile like a small child excited for a piece of candy. Her eyes roamed over his face with her mouth agape "You are very handsomeee" She slurred. Kevin froze, unsure of what to do.

Jade studied him for a moment and then said with a pout and large, round eyes"Will you be my friend, Mr handsome"

Kevin didn't know what to say and could only signal to Ethan for help. Ethan quickly acted and told Jade"Yes of course he'll be your friend and I also will be your friend"

Jade looked at him with a blank and deadpan expression and yelled at him" No I don't want to be your friend, Mr handsome's friend alone"

"Ok Ok" Ethan said in surrender"You'll only be his friend"

Ethan closed the door softly behind him,"Let's talk", he said.

Kevin followed him down the hallway without question, and they entered into Ethan's office.

"Have a sit, kevin"

"She didn't recongnize you" Ethan said

"Was she expected to, it's been over a decade we saw" Kevin replied

Ethan leaned back against his chair. "Her memories are patchy, sometimes she relives other times-specifically the part where she was being tortured. Other times it's like she woke up in a place where she'll die if she spoke, so keeping more to herself and looking into nothing. That playful side you saw and the change in behaviour when she saw you, that was new."

Kevin's brows knitted"What are you saying"

"i'm saying..." Ethan hesitated."Stay".

Kevin blinked. "What?"

"Be by her side, as often as you can be. When she saw you, I saw that look in her face again, even if it was a flicker it was there. I saw the old jade, kevin."

Kevin remembered how she looked at him like a stranger, but he wasn't. He was the boy who she once sang to in the dim hallway, who she once fed and cared for.

Flashback: Years Ago – Children’s Ward, St. Raphael’s Hospital

Kevin had been in that same hospital — smaller, quieter, lonelier.

He was eight, maybe nine, stuck in bed with tubes taped to his arms and a heart monitor beeping beside him. The nurses were kind but busy. The days were long and colorless.

Until her.

She’d walked into his room like she owned it — wild curls bouncing, a bright yellow sweater clashing with her oversized volunteer badge.

“Hey,” she said, hands behind her back.

Kevin didn’t answer.

“You look like a sad prince,” she added bluntly. “All pale and dramatic.”

He blinked.

“And cute,” she added, grinning. “So I’m going to be your friend.”

She sat beside him without asking.

Every day after that, she returned. She brought paper airplanes, smuggled juice boxes, and sang silly songs off-key just to make him laugh. She never treated him like a sick kid. She treated him like a person.

He never forgot.

Kevin returned to the present with a deep, shaky breath.

“She’s the reason I made it through that time,” he said. “I didn’t even know her name at first, but she chose me.”

Ethan nodded slowly. “And maybe now, it’s your turn to choose her.”

Kevin looked toward the hallway again — toward Room 23.

“I’ll stay,” he said quietly.

Ethan smiled. “Good. Then let’s start with breakfast tomorrow. Room 23 doesn’t do mornings without sarcasm.”

Kevin smirked faintly. “Noted.”

The next morning,

Kevin was back. A small tray of porridge in hand, sleeves rolled up.

Jade was curled up by the window again, her head leaning against the glass like she was waiting for something — or someone.

She turned when she heard the door.

“You again,” she said with mock suspicion.

“You remember me?”

“Nope,” she said cheerfully. “But I decided you're nice to look at. I’m going to call you Mr. Pretty Eyes.”

Kevin chuckled. “That’s very forward of you.”

“I’m very bored,” she replied. “Is that food for me?”

He nodded and sat beside her. “Only if you promise not to bite me.”

“No promises,” she said, but she let him feed her anyway.

As he brought the spoon to her lips, Jade murmured, “I feel safe with you.”

Kevin’s hand paused, just slightly.

“Then I’m doing something right,” he whispered.

And though she didn’t remember the past, Jade smiled like maybe , just maybe her heart still did.