"Eughh..."
A soft groan broke the silence of the inpatient room, which had been filled only with the soft hum of medical equipment. The window blinds were slightly open, allowing morning light to filter in and touch the pale face of the girl lying on the hospital bed.
Hansen, who had been sitting in a chair near the door, reflexively turned his head. His brow furrowed, making sure he hadn't heard wrong. He rose slowly, his steps deliberately lightening as if afraid the sound of his shoes would make the girl restless again. His gaze fell on the fragile figure who was now beginning to move, her fingers wriggling slightly on the white sheets.
The girl's eyelids fluttered, then slowly opened. She blinked several times, trying to adjust her vision to the overly bright light. The sharp scent of medicine immediately assaulted her senses, making her chest feel tight. Her breath hitched slightly as her gaze swept over the pale walls, the IV line connected to her arm, and the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor.
The realization hit her with a wave of panic, realizing she was in a hospital. Her body stiffened. Her last memory still felt hazy, fragmented like a nightmare she hadn't fully remembered. Her eyes moved again, then settled on the figure of a man in a white coat standing beside her bed.
"You're awake," Hansen said in a calm voice, trying to sound as calm as possible.
The voice startled the girl. Her head turned slowly, staring at him with eyes still clouded with confusion and fear. Her lips trembled slightly before she finally mustered the courage to ask, her voice barely audible.
"Who are you...?"
Hansen smiled faintly, the professional smile he usually gave his patients. He kept his distance so as not to make the girl feel threatened.
"I'm Hansen," he replied softly. "Your doctor."
The girl nodded slowly, though fear was still evident on her face. Her eyes darted around again, as if searching for a way out or making sure she was truly safe. Her fingers gripped the sheets, indicating an anxiety that had not yet completely subsided.
Hansen understood that body language. As a doctor, he had seen that look far too often, the look of someone who had just survived something painful, but wasn't yet sure if the threat was truly over.
"Don't be afraid," Hansen said reassuringly. "I won't hurt you. You're safe here."
A few seconds passed in silence. The girl stared at Hansen's face as if weighing the truth of his words. Slowly, her breathing began to even out. Her grip on the sheets loosened, and the tension in her shoulders eased a little.
Although her wariness hadn't completely vanished, a small sense of calm began to grow in her chest. For the first time since opening her eyes, she felt truly safe.
"What's your name?" Hansen asked softly, trying to keep his tone calm so as not to frighten the girl.
But the girl remained silent. Her eyes stared straight ahead, occasionally fidgeting, but her lips remained tightly pressed together. No words came out, as if an invisible wall were blocking her voice. Her expression displayed intense wariness, like someone still afraid to trust the world around them.
Hansen watched her reaction carefully. He took a deep breath, understanding that the girl didn't yet feel completely safe. Trauma often makes someone choose silence as a form of self-protection.
"Do you want something to eat?" Hansen asked again, this time trying a simpler approach.
A few seconds passed before the girl finally nodded slowly. The movement was very small, almost imperceptible, but enough to make Hansen smile. He chuckled lightly at the innocent response, as if the girl only dared to answer with a nod, not words.
Click…
The sound of the door opening suddenly shattered the atmosphere. The door swung open, revealing Aaron standing in the doorway. His body was straight, his shoulders broad, and his expression cold as usual. His sharp gaze swept across the room.
As soon as she saw Aaron, the girl's body instinctively stiffened. Her eyes widened in fear. Without thinking, she pulled the blanket over her body, as if the thin fabric would be her last line of defense.
"It's a coincidence you're here," Hansen said casually, seemingly oblivious to the tension that had suddenly filled the room. "He's hungry, you feed him. I still have a patient to treat," he continued, straightening his doctor's coat.
Aaron turned quickly to Hansen, his eyes wide with disbelief. Just as he was about to refuse, Hansen had already left the room without giving him a chance.
The door closed again, leaving an awkward silence.
Aaron stood rigidly in place, staring at the bed where the girl was hiding under the blanket. He let out a low groan, his face clearly showing irritation.
"She did ask for her license to practice," Aaron grumbled softly. "She just orders me around."
But despite his complaints, his feet continued to move toward the bed. His steps were steady, without hesitation, until the distance between them closed. For the first time since he entered the room, Aaron's cold gaze met a pair of fear-filled eyes from beneath the white blanket.
"Take off your blanket," Aaron commanded in a flat, uncompromising voice.
The girl didn't move. Her hands gripped the blanket even tighter, covering her body as if the thin fabric were her only protection. Her breathing was labored, her chest heaving irregularly.
"Take off or I'll rip it off," Aaron threatened. His tone remained cold, firm, and far from gentle, a manner of speaking that had become his trademark.
The threat made the girl's body tremble violently. Fear was clearly visible on her face. After a few seconds that felt like an eternity, she finally gave in. With trembling hands, she slowly lowered the blanket, just enough to reveal her still pale face.
Her innocent eyes stared pleadingly at Aaron. Her lips trembled before a soft voice finally escaped, almost a whisper.
"Don't hurt me… please."
Her body continued to tremble, as if the words had drained her of her remaining courage.
Aaron was stunned by this. For a moment, the firmness on his face froze. The sharp gaze dimmed slightly, as if those simple, yet fear-filled words had struck something deep within him, something he hadn't even realized existed.
"No one wants to hurt you," Aaron said. "Now eat, your body needs nourishment," he continued.
The girl nodded slowly, then accepted the bowl of porridge Aaron offered her. She stared intently at the porridge.
"Why? You don't want to eat it," Aaron asked.
The girl shook her head and ate the porridge. Her stomach was so hungry, she didn't know how many days she hadn't eaten.