~ 7: The Departure ~

"Why not, Mother?" I asked, perplexed at her sudden response. "What shall even happen? And, I'm glad that this chain helped you."

"Chain? What chain?" she asked back.

I showed the black stone to her after removing it from her neck. Her eyes widened in amazement.

"How did you get that?" she asked bewildered. "There was not a soul who could fetch it, and yet here you are, as cool as a cucumber. Is there really not a scratch on you?"

I proudly revealed the few grazes I got from beasts. It felt like I was receiving a badge of honour. The scars that will be left behind would be a memory that will exist for years to come. As it was my first time battling hardships for the sake of saving a life, I was prepared to face more in the distant future, if such an opportunity were to arise. I was ready to put my life on the line for the people I loved.

"My lovely daughter," she whispered. "If it weren't for you to be in my life, just where shall I be and who shall stand by me?" Tears streamed down her eyes.

I pressed my arms around her and said, "I will never abandon you. The both of you. Even if the world were to separate us, I will find you and do everything in my power to protect you."

She laughed and said, "You are still a small girl. When did you grow up to say such things?"

I pouted with annoyance at having been ridiculed about my deeds while she laughed away. Later, Father entered and embraced her lovingly. I only smiled as I observed them showing various forms of endearment to console each other, although it made me slightly jealous. I wish I could find and have this affection too.

And thus, the week passed of in fond memories. After I got the diamond checked by Mother for any usefulness, I sold it off to another jeweller who lived near the foothill of Mount Jyran, which had always been the glittering mountain of the Kazuki range. I spent a few days at my cousins' place near the shop, babysitting them whenever their parents went out.

When I returned, the money was given to the bank. I made sure to tell them that they had better give my father the money in small amounts. I wanted him to be thrifty as I was afraid he would spend it all out on unnecessary things.

On Saturday, I went out with my small circle of friends to watch a movie. This would be our last hangout before we parted our ways, and so we passed it valuably. Of course, we would meet during vacations. Except that would depend on each one's decision to stay at the hostel or visit our home.

Soon, the crucial day arrived. I was to leave our sweet bach for university. The farewell was filled with sorrow, as my parents and cousins wept tears of sadness and gave me parting gifts for my travels. But it hopeful because I promised to return for the summer, and the little ones danced around at the joyful news. With that, I hopped on the bus and was off to the capital.

The journey was rather tiring, though the scenery was beautiful. Beautiful cottages lined the neat, narrow aisles, with flower beds around their fences. The trees were laden with leaves and flowers and formed a flowery thicket.

Eventually, my poor eyelids became heavy, as they couldn't bear the pain of the sleep I was deprived of in my excitement. In a moment or two, after about an hour's drive, I drifted off to sleep.

A sudden jerk gave me a scare. My eyes fluttered open at the motion because it had turned dark. I looked at my watch and saw that it wasn't even two hours since I had stepped onto the bus in the morning.

I looked out of the window to figure out what had gone wrong. Dark clouds loomed in the gloomy sky, and from them fell torrents of rain that pitter-pattered against the windowpane. I tried to see from above the tall seats, but the tightly fastened seatbelt held me too securely.

Clicking it open, I moved to the front of the bus, where everyone had crowded. A car was facing the bus, with one of its headlights flickering as it was broken. The bonnet of the car was smashed, and the windshield was cracked. I saw a small pool of blood growing beside the car.

Fear seized my heart and without a second thought, I dashed towards the driver's side from where the blood dripped down to the wet ground. Water and blood mixed and spread the pool towards my feet.

Inside the car, a woman was seated awkwardly, with her head leaning against the wall of the car. The belt was undone, and her feet were made to hang down from the car. Her forehead was bleeding, her arms were scathed, and her breathing was shallow for her to be considered on the brink of death.

I snatched the first-aid box from the nearest absent-minded fool and immediately treated her with utmost care. I took out my largest napkin-sized handkerchief and wrapped her profusely bleeding arm with it. After dabbing the blood away from her head, I put a square cotton pad of a few layers which I secured with a gauze cloth and some tape. Then with my spare scarf, I made an elbow sling, just in case she had a fracture that I couldn't observe.

The people standing at the accident site just started at me working my way to get her to be alive. But I was not a medic to continue any further treatment. I was getting irritated as time slipped out of my hands.

'These fools,' I cussed. 'Will they watching me as this lady bleeds to death?'

"What are you doing?!" I screamed at them, losing my patience. "Call the emergency hotline this instant!"

One alert person had the sense to bring an umbrella to protect the lady from the downpour while he called an ambulance. He shouted at the top of his lungs to be heard on the other side however, I didn't bother to even glance at him.

In a minute or two, the paramedics had arrived and were rushing to assist me as I delivered the small and lightweight young lady from my arms onto the stretcher. Some of them stared at her perplexed. I only wondered what was wrong when one of them asked me, "Did you treat her, madam?"

"Yes, I did. I couldn't sit and let her die while some people lost their senses," I remarked as I glared at them for their slow reactance and stupidity.

"You have done it well. Are you an acquaintance of her? If not, you might still join us and accompany the lady."

I looked at the conductor, who understanding my question, granted permission and said, "It'll take at least two hours. You can come back then. The driver is calling at all places like a madman, so use the time wisely."

I quickly got into the ambulance as there was not a second to waste. Drenched as much as I was, I didn't refuse from holding her free hand with both of mine as her fingers twitched. Although she was a stranger, I was ready to give her some affection in her time of need.

Some kind man put a towel around me and passed me some hand warmers to prevent me from shivering and catching a cold. Then, he continued checking the patient's vitals. The others ventilated her with a BVM and nursed her with shots from the medication bag.

I looked at her face and realised with pain that she couldn't even contact the nearest person to aid or company her. Instead, a perfect stranger, who she knows nothing about her, was by her side.

The hospital was pretty near, but the slippery road, brought about by the rain, made it risky to drive safely. The visibility was very poor, and the traffic on the road had started to build up. Ten minutes later, the bed was rolling down the corridor to the most proximal surgery room.

I sat down, slightly concerned about her survival. When the worry weighed heavily on my mind, I took to pacing up and down the corridor in front of the sliding doors to relieve it, but in vain. About an hour passed before they brought her out in the same bed and steered her to her allocated room.

I walked behind them into the room after a small talk with the surgeon. It was large and spacious as though it was meant for the VIP. After fixing up the meters, they silently left after acknowledging me with a slight bow of their head, which I return. I heaved a sigh of relief that things had turned out well, as the doctor had said it wasn't something extremely major but needed quick attendance.

"Thank you for your assistance," he had said. "You are gifted in this art at the minimum level, which many people don't know. Your aid was crucial. Otherwise, she couldn't be revived with the blood loss she incurred."

"It's my pleasure to see her alive," I replied with a smile. "It is every human's duty to do their part, whether great or little."

Bringing a chair close to her bed, I sat there quietly and set a soft alarm to wake myself up if I fell asleep unintentionally. Her face was peaceful in her deep sleep, and I felt sure that she would recover soon. Thus, I closed my eyes for a while, taking my mind away from any cares.