CHAPTER 5: THE STRANGER
"We need to treat her immediately," the stranger urged, his voice firm but polite. "She's bleeding."
The doctors exchanged a glance, their expressions serious.
"We need a partial payment before we can begin treatment," one of them said. "It's hospital policy."
The stranger's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched. "Can't you see she's bleeding? Every minute counts."
The doctor remained firm, leaving the stranger with no choice.
Elizabeth could barely keep her eyes open. Everything around her came in fragments—the stranger's voice, the movement of people around her, and the hurried footsteps of the medical staff.
She watched the stranger walk toward the front desk, her vision becoming increasingly blurry.
After a brief conversation with the receptionist, he pulled out his wallet and handed over his credit card.
A few minutes later, he returned.
"They're going to start treatment now," he told Elizabeth, his voice soft.
She wanted to respond, but her lips barely moved.
The medical team immediately began attending to her.
After the necessary scans were done, the doctor discovered that Elizabeth had internal bleeding and a large hematoma that was putting pressure on her brain.
She needed surgery to remove the accumulated blood and relieve the pressure.
Due to the severity of her condition, a neurosurgeon was called in to assess her immediately.
---
The waiting area was dimly lit, the silence broken only by the occasional footsteps of nurses moving through the corridor.
The stranger sat quietly, his eyes fixed on the doors leading to the operating theatre.
A few minutes later, Dr. Thompson, the neurosurgeon handling Elizabeth's case, approached him.
"Her scans show a large hematoma putting pressure on her brain," he explained, his voice low and serious. "We need to operate immediately to remove the blood and relieve the pressure."
The stranger's face remained calm, but his eyes revealed his concern.
"Do whatever it takes," he said.
Dr. Thompson nodded.
"We'll do everything we can."
Elizabeth was wheeled into the operating theatre shortly after.
The doors closed behind her.
The stranger remained outside.
He glanced at his watch before sitting down.
A few minutes passed.
Then another.
He stood again.
He paced the hallway, his eyes repeatedly returning to the closed doors.
He didn't understand why he was still there.
She was a stranger.
He could have left after bringing her to the hospital.
Yet somehow, walking away didn't feel right.
Hours ticked by at a painfully slow pace.
Finally, the doors swung open.
Dr. Thompson stepped out, exhaustion etched across his face.
The stranger immediately approached him.
"How is she?"
Dr. Thompson removed his mask and gave a small nod.
"The operation went well. We were able to remove the hematoma and relieve the pressure."
The stranger's tense expression finally relaxed.
"Thank you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"She's stable for now, but she's not completely out of danger. The next few hours will be important, and we'll need to monitor her closely."
The stranger nodded.
"Okay."
He hesitated before asking, "Can I go check on her?"
Dr. Thompson studied him for a moment before nodding.
"You can, but you'll need to be prepared by the nurses first. And keep your visit brief. She's still unconscious."
"Thank you."
The stranger followed the nurse toward the ward.
For someone he had never met before that night, he had done far more than most people would have.
And somehow, he still couldn't bring himself to leave.