Luna arrived at the hospital in the evening, carrying a bag of food. Spotting the nurse who had helped her before, she approached with a smile.
"Thank you again for taking care of Daniel while I was gone. I really appreciate it."
The nurse smiled back, shaking her head. "No problem at all. It's our job to take care of our patients, and I'm glad to do it."
Luna nodded, relieved. She made her way to Daniel's room, gently opening the door.
Luna quietly set her things down in the room. She unfolded the small blanket, draping it over her lap, and settled into the couch. After placing the headphones over her ears, she hit play on her favorite playlist, letting the music wash over her.
As the melody filled her ears, Luna closed her eyes and leaned back, trying to push aside the worries that had been haunting her all day. But even as the music soothed her, she couldn't help but steal glances at Daniel, lying motionless in his bed.
Daniel groggily blinked open his eyes, adjusting to the bright light in the room. He winced as he tried to move his hand, the IV drip tugging at his arm he saw cast on his arm and leg m. Gradually, the memories of the night before came flooding back: the accident, the gunshot, the chase. But the details after that were hazy.
He shifted his gaze to the couch, where a young woman was fast asleep, her body contorted in an awkward position. Her peaceful snoring was punctuated by the occasional snort.
Luna, who had been sleeping soundly on the couch, was jolted awake by Daniel's persistent "hey hey hey!" She sat up with a start, rubbing her eyes and blinking in confusion.
"What? What's happening?" she mumbled, still half-asleep.
Daniel, frustrated at not being able to move, spoke in a frustrated tone. "Hey, who are you? Are you my nurse?"
Luna, still disoriented, looked around the room. "Nurse?
"I'm not your nurse," Luna replied, a hint of annoyance in her voice. She looked at Daniel, who was still struggling to sit up. "You're in the hospital. Do you remember what happened?"
Daniel, his expression still baffled, shook his head. "I don't remember much. But my hand and leg hurt. And who are you and who am I , if you're not my nurse?"
Luna sighed. "My name is Luna. I brought you here two days ago. You were in an accident."
Daniel was looking at with a curious look.
Luna gave Daniel a sympathetic look. "It's okay. You're safe here." She patted his arm gently. "I'm going to go get the doctor. Try to rest."
Daniel nodded, his expression solemn, and sank back into the bed. Luna quickly left the room, making her way to the another doctor's office because she did not see the doctor that attended to Daniel the first time.
The doctor, a middle-aged woman with a kind face, greeted Luna with a warm smile. "Good morning miss."
"Yes," Luna replied. "I'm looking for a doctor, my friend is awake."
The doctor nodded, her face serious. "I'm not in charge of Daniel's case, but I'll do my best to help." She turned to leave the room, pausing at the door. "Ms. Luna, please stay with him. I'll be back."
Luna nodded, watching the doctor disappear down the hallway. She took a deep breath and reentered the room, finding Daniel staring at the wall, a vacant look in his eyes.
The doctor returned shortly, followed by a team of nurses who pushed a large, sophisticated-looking machine into the room.The doctor nodded, her face serious. "I'm not in charge of Daniel's case, but I'll do my best to help." She turned to leave the room, pausing at the door. "Ms. Luna, please stay with him. I'll be back."
Luna nodded, watching the doctor disappear down the hallway. She took a deep breath and reentered the room, finding Daniel staring at the wall, a vacant look in his eyes.
The doctor returned shortly, followed by a team of nurses who pushed a large, sophisticated-looking machine into the room.
"Alright, Mr. Daniel," the doctor said, her tone professional and reassuring. "We're going to do a brain scan, just to make sure there's no serious damage. It's routine, nothing to worry about."
Daniel, still looking dazed, nodded his head. "Okay, Doctor."
The nurses carefully positioned the machine around Daniel's head, adjusting various settings. Luna watched, anxious, her heart racing.
"Now, Mr. Daniel," the doctor continued, "this will take a few minutes. Just lie still and try to relax."
Daniel, though clearly confused, obeyed the doctor's instructions. He lay motionless on the bed as the machine began to whir and click, generating a series of images of his brain.
The doctor and nurses observed the scans, their brows furrowed in concentration. Luna, unable to take her eyes off the screen, held her breath, waiting for an answer.
"Hmm," the doctor finally said, turning to Luna. "The scans don't show any physical damage. But his brain activity is… unusual. It's as if certain memories have been suppressed."
"Yes," the doctor confirmed, meeting Luna's shocked expression with a grim nod. "It seems Mr. Daniel is suffering from some kind of memory loss. The extent and nature of this loss are unclear at the moment. It could be temporary or permanent."
Luna's mind was racing. She had rescued this man, taken him to the hospital, and now he couldn't even remember who she was. She looked over at Daniel, who was watching them with a blank expression, not understanding the gravity of the situation.
"What do we do now, Doctor?" Luna asked, her voice quivering.
The doctor nodded solemnly. "Yes, that's the most likely outcome. But the brain is a strange and wonderful thing, Luna. Sometimes, memories can resurface in unexpected ways. In the meantime, he'll need plenty of rest and care."
Luna swallowed hard, determined to be there for Daniel, even if he couldn't remember anything because his like an empty vessel. "Okay. I'll make sure he gets what he needs.
The doctor smiled. "Good. You're a kind person, Luna. I'm sure he's lucky to have you."
Daniel looked at Luna, his eyes still full of confusion. "You're sure we didn't know each other before this?"
Luna shook her head. "No, we didn't. I was just in the right place at the right time, I guess."
Daniel sighed, the weight of the situation beginning to sink in. "So I can't remember anything."
Luna reached out and placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "It'll be okay. You'll start to remember things. Don't force it. It'll happen naturally."
The doctor and the nurses will go out.
Daniel managed a small smile, his gratitude evident.Daniel looked at Luna, his eyes still full of confusion. "You're sure we didn't know each other before this?"
Luna shook her head. "No, we didn't. I was just in the right place at the right time, I guess."
Daniel sighed, the weight of the situation beginning to sink in. "So I can't remember anything."
Luna reached out and placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "It'll be okay. You'll start to remember things. Don't force it. It'll happen naturally."
Daniel managed a small smile, his gratitude evident.
"Thank you, Luna," he said, meeting her gaze. "I'm grateful for your help. I don't know what I would have done without you."
Luna blushed, looking away. "It was nothing. You would have done the same thing for me."
Daniel considered this for a moment. "I suppose you're right. But I feel like I owe you something."
"Don't worry about that," Luna said. "How about I go get you some food? You must be starving."
Daniel nodded, feeling a rumble in his stomach.
With that, Luna stood up and gathered her things. "I'll be right back. I have a little money on me. I'll get you something to eat from the hospital cafeteria. In the meantime, try to rest."
Daniel watched her leave, still grappling with the unfamiliarity of his surroundings. As he settled back into the hospital bed, he couldn't help but wonder what else he had forgotten.
Luna returned some time later with a tray of food. "Here you go," she said, placing it on Daniel's lap. "I hope it's not too bad."
Daniel's stomach growled again as he eyed the food. "I'm sure it'll be great, Luna. Thank you."
Luna smiled, happy to see him perking up a bit. "You're welcome. And don't worry, I won't make you eat hospital food for long. I'll smuggle in some real food tomorrow if you want."
Daniel chuckled. "Smuggling, huh? Sounds like you're a rebel, Luna."
"Only when it comes to bland hospital food," she quipped.
Laughter filled the room with Daniel slowly warming up to Luna.
In a dimly-lit room, a mysterious figure paced back and forth, his cellphone pressed to his ear. "Daniel survived the accident," he said, his voice low and menacing.
The voice on the other end of the line spat in disgust. "What? How is that possible? I thought you took care of him!"
The shadowy figure hissed into the phone, "I'm looking for him as we speak. Don't worry, boss. I'll finish the job.
With a flick of his wrist, the shadowy figure ended the call, his expression dark with determination.