ONE WEEK FOUR DAYS AGO
she had just woken up to the uncomfortable heat in the room. She felt sweat dripping down her face. Her eyes which was heavy with sleep went up to the ceiling. A little habit she had since she was a kid. Little stars lined up the ceiling which was wierd cause there isn't any in her room, she looked around pausing at each unfamiliar view.
This wasn't her room, the realization struck a new fear in her heart and she immediately tried to move, if not for the sudden pain in her ribs and abdomen. The pain caused her to lay back on the bed just as quickly as she tried to stand up. Just as she was groaning in pain, the door opened slightly and a short, petite woman walked in carrying a bowl and towel. Instinctively, she tried to move further away, shrinking back toward the wall. She didn't know the woman, how did she find her?. Did her father finally abandon her? As the woman moved closer, her breath spiked even more. She wouldn't do anything to her... right. Fortunately, she was right.
It's okay, the woman said. I'm glad you're awake, I was already contemplating taking you to the hospital cause you didn't wake up since I brought you here two days ago. Not to even talk of the horrible state I found you in and the fever you had the first day. With that, she reached out her hand to touch her forehead.
She had flinched but the woman just smiled before reaching out her hand again to feel her temperature. The woman then adjusted her pillows before proceeding to wipe her down. It was cold at first but soon the cloth brought a cooling effect to her bringing down the uncomfortable heat she had first felt and she found herself leaning closer to the touch surprising the woman and also herself. Maybe it was because the woman reminded her of her mother since this was the closest call she has to motherly care in over nine years now. Tears slid down her eyes and she quickly tried to blink it back cause she couldn't move her hands, not because it was was hurt, but she felt weak and tired. The woman noticing her tears wiped it, telling her not to cry.
As the woman finished up, her eyes were already starting to droop slightly. Don't sleep yet, I made mug bean soup, let me warm some up for you. She then left warning her again not to sleep since she hadn't had anything since two days before.
She tried, she really tried not to sleep but it seems that every element of her being was working against her as she found herself dozing the next second.
Maybe, just maybe happiness was slowly making its way towards her.
When she woke up, the whole place was dark and the curtain had been thrown open, probably by the woman whom she still doesn't know how what to address her as. The moon was exceptionally bright as it shone down lighting up the room in complement to the glow in the dark on the ceiling.
She willed herself to stand up and with new profound strength, she dragged herself out of the room making use of the sparse furnitures. As she threw the door open, the scent of freshly cooked meal wafted through her nose. She couldn't recall the last time she had a home cooked meal. Her stomach rumbled with hunger and her hands instinctively found its way to it, rubbing it slightly. That was when she noticed she wasn't wearing her clothes. Just a round neck which was huge on her stopping almost near her knee. It must surely belong to a man. She couldn't ponder about that as her thought were interrupted by her helper's voice.
Thank goodness you're okay?, The woman then began to fuss around her, asking if she had a head ache or was dizzy before a male voice echoed through the room.
She's fine honey, you might make her more sick with your fussing. Hi, I'm Seung and this is my wife. Sorry if she bothered you, she tends to talk and fuss a lot. The woman whom she now knew as Mrs Seung argued with her husband obviously not agreeing with his words. She watched the old couple bicker and she felt this sense of peace. They looked like a perfect family, one she always dreamed of when she was seven. She Wondered If they had any kids, ones she knew would be loved since there parents were so in love. She could tell from the look in their eyes. How she knew the look wasn't understandable, probably because she had learnt how to depict her father's thought and emotion through his eyes.
Later on, they sat around the kitchen table. It had just two chairs and Mr Seung had to get a spare chair from their store room confusing her greatly cause their children would also use chairs right. Both couples looked not less than 45, or maybe their kids didn't live with them. She looked towards the sitting room but could only find pictures of the couple, no signs of a child. Deciding not to bother herself, she focused on filling her stomach with the meal provided after thanking Mrs Seung. The dinner consisted of soup with soft, tender fish which Mrs Seung said would aid easy digestion since she hasn't had a proper meal.
After dinner, she thanked the couples again for their hospitality and proceeded to leave, promising to return the top after washing when Mrs Seung stopped her. You're a really brave girl, I would say you should report him to the police cause he left you for dead. We just moved in last week right next door to yours and I was so scared when I saw you unconscious. If I hadn't seen him coming out with his hand all bloodied and bruised up I wouldn't have seen you like that. I'm glad my intuition told me to come in or who knows what could have happened. Seeing you in that state, I couldn't help but want to take care of you and we know you may not be comfortable with living with us but whenever you want we're always here. We run a restaurant just down the street so always make sure you pass by. I now see you as my daughter since I don't have one and I hope you don't mind. Please, don't hesitate to come to us, okay.
With a final hug and lots of tears by the couple,she finally left. She couldn't believe such kindness found her. As she stood outside her home door that day, she felt more relief in her than fear. Relief that maybe finally someone would care for her. And maybe truly her happiness was coming.....