HOSPITAL
Pediatric Ward – Room 54
Amber: "Good. Then let's start from the beginning, let's go out ."
Both were going to out ,but ...
Justin: "WAIT!"
Both adults turned towards him.
Amber: "What happened, dear?"
Justin raised his hand like a student in a classroom.
Justin: "I have an important question!"
Jonathan: "What now?"
Justin: "I still don't know your name properly, Sister!"
Amber blinked.
Amber: "Didn't I tell you earlier?"
Justin: "You said I could call you Sister. But I want to know your actual name!"
Amber smiled.
Amber: "My name is Amber."
And suddenly...
BOOOOOOOM!
An entire tsunami erupted inside Justin's mind.
His smile froze.
His eyes widened.
His fingers tightened around the blanket.
Justin's inner thoughts:
(AMBER?!)
(Wait... AMBER?)
(That's my mother's name!)
(What kind of coincidence is this?!)
He looked at the woman sitting beside him.
Her elegant appearance, confident voice and gentle smile...
But she wasn't the same woman he remembered.
Or was she?
Justin's inner thoughts:
(No, no, no! Don't jump to conclusions. There must be thousands of women named Amber!)
(But why does she feel so familiar?)
(And why does my heart feel strange whenever she smiles at me?)
He swallowed.
Amber: "Justin? Are you alright?"
Justin: "Y-YES!"
He smiled a little too quickly.
Justin: "Nice name!"
Amber: "Thank you, dear."
Justin: "Very nice! Extremely nice! Super nice!"
Jonathan raised an eyebrow.
Jonathan: "What's wrong with you?"
Justin: "NOTHING, DAD!"
Amber chuckled.
Amber: "You're quite expressive, aren't you?"
Justin: "I'M ALWAYS LIKE THIS!"
Jonathan's inner thoughts:
(Why is he suddenly behaving like someone who has seen a ghost?)
Amber gently patted Justin's head.
Amber: "Alright, little troublemaker. We have something important to discuss."
Justin nodded.
But his mind was still occupied with one word.
Amber.
---
A Private Discussion
Amber stood up and adjusted her clothes.
Amber: "Jonathan, let's go somewhere private. We need to discuss Justin's condition and the curse."
Jonathan nodded.
Jonathan: "Agreed."
Justin immediately looked at them.
Justin: "Where are you going?"
Amber: "Just outside, dear. We'll discuss something important."
Justin: "Can I come?"
Amber: "Not this time. You need to rest."
Justin: "But I'm not sleepy!"
Jonathan: "And you're not supposed to interfere in adult conversations."
Justin: "I'm fifteen, Dad! Not five!"
Jonathan: "Exactly. Fifteen-year-olds need their rest."
Justin: "That's not even logical!"
Amber laughed.
Amber: "We'll be back shortly. Don't try to escape from your bed."
Justin: "I'm not a prisoner!"
Amber: "Then behave like a patient."
Justin pouted.
Justin: "Fine..."
Amber adjusted his blanket one last time.
Amber: "I'll be back, dear."
Justin nodded.
Jonathan followed Amber towards the door.
Just before leaving, he turned around.
Jonathan: "And don't order food without asking us!"
Justin: "DAD!"
Jonathan laughed and closed the door.
---
Outside Room 54
The moment they stepped into the corridor, Amber's expression changed.
Her gentle smile disappeared.
Amber: "Jonathan, now tell me everything."
Jonathan sighed.
Jonathan: "I knew you wouldn't forget."
Amber: "This isn't a joke. That curse was spreading across his chest. I managed to reverse some of it, but I need to know its origin."
She looked directly into his eyes.
Amber: "Who did this to our son?"
Jonathan remained silent for a moment.
Then he looked towards Room 54.
Jonathan: "Let's go somewhere quieter. I don't want Justin overhearing this."
Amber nodded.
They began walking down the corridor.
Inside the room, Justin stared at the closed door.
Justin's inner thoughts:
(Amber...)
He pulled the blanket closer.
(What if...?)
He immediately shook his head.
(No! First, I'll understand what's happening. I don't want to make another mistake.)
Meanwhile, outside, Amber and Jonathan entered a private consultation room.
The door slowly closed behind them.
And the discussion they had avoided for fifteen years was finally about to begin.
TO BE CONTINUED...