After what had happened in the herbalist’s home, both of us were told to go home earlier than what was asked, and with a small bag of medicine that the doctor had made for me to drink. It was a very… special experience for me.
Now here I was, lying against a group of children in order to rest, thinking about if that those kind of events were the norm for the doctor that lived up the mountain. If it was, well, I would have to get used to it if I was to start working there.
“Orphan, it’s time for you to drink your medicine.” Said Second, who was holding a chipped cup of tea. He had taken the bag and brewed them with water just as instructed.
“Ah, thank you.” I brought the cup to my lips and gulped down the bitter medicine. I guess that no matter reality or dream, medicine still tasted horrible.
My fever was no longer as strong as it was, and it had only lasted for a day. I should be thankful, really. At least it didn’t go on for a week. With this I would be able to return to work faster.
My eyes were starting to get droopy, I was feeling sleepy. With a sigh, I placed my hands over my stomach and closed my eyes.
“You’re not going to fall asleep, are you?” asked White, who was holding my arm.
“Well, yes, I am. Why?” I blinked multiple times to keep myself awake.
“When you go to sleep it’s like you’re not here anymore. You never wake up when we try.” Said the little boy, tilting his head and pretending to snore to prove his point.
“She’s just a heavy sleeper, White.” Said Second, who was comfortable in his position behind Orphan.
Afterwards, I had fallen slowly into slumber. I didn’t really know what they were saying, but the last thing I knew before falling asleep was that the two of them continuing their conversation. I was really sleepy. I couldn’t help it.
As my eyes opened, I appeared in a room of white. The hospital room. I looked around and looked down at my hands which were clasped together, cold. Looking outside the window, it had stopped snowing, but the weather was grey, not a single patch of blue sky to be seen. The clouds blocked the sky with a beautiful and calming mixture of white and grey.
It was my favorite type of weather.
While I was admiring the sky, the doctor came in with a nurse in tow, he raised his brow at the sight of me standing right next to the window when I should’ve been resting on the bed.
“I see you’re doing well.” He said as he handed his papers to the nurse beside him.
“Yes, I am.” I said with a small smile to be polite.
“Well, then, I guess there’s no more need for you to stay inside this cramped room.” Said the doctor with an amused smile. “Just take this,” he gestured for the nurse to hand her a small box, “This is the medicine I think would be able to fix you up.”
I received the box and observed its contents, and the smiled towards the nurse. “Thank you.” I said.
“Well, go outside and get yourself registered to get out.”
With the medicine in my hands, I walked out of the room and signed the necessary papers on the Hospital’s front desk. It was a nice feeling to be out.
Yes, I was still coughing from time to time, but at least I no longer had a fever to worry about. All that was there for me to do was go back to work.
“No.” said David, his face stern.
“W-what do you mean, no, sir?” I stuttered as I tried to keep my composure in front of his desk.
“I mean, no. You can’t go back to work yet.” he glanced at his computer screen, and typed down a few things.
“But, sir. Why?” I asked exasperated. I was fine. Granted, I just got out of the hospital, but I’m alright now.
“No, you can’t. This is for your own good.” He motioned for his new assistant, a lanky woman who was scrambling around the room, to fetch him a specific document in one of his cabinet’s drawers. “I’m giving you a few days off from work, you need it.”
I tried to say something in protest, but what came out of my mouth was just a bunch of incoherent gurgles. I cleared my throat, that wasn’t very professional of me, and said, “Yes sir. I will use this time as well as I can.” He nodded towards me, and I left the room.
As I went down the elevator, I sighed. What was I going to do now? My work was all I had. I had no life besides it. I frowned at that thought. I really had no life, huh.
When I arrived at the house, I prepped myself up on the coach and sighed once again. What to do. I looked around my house in search for something to entertain myself with, but nothing. I searched through my phone’s contacts to find someone to converse with, but all I found were people from work, not anyone close.
Well then… time to take a nap. Back to the place where I had someone to talk to.
Opening my eyes, I found the children surrounding me, except for one. Lucy. Of course. There was no helping it, I guessed.
I smiled and brought them closer to me, until I heard Coocoo giggle from behind me. “Good morning, Orphan!”
I gave her a smile, “Good morning.”
“Let’s go into the village today! Just the two of us!” she yelled as she wiggled herself out of the pile of kids.
I furrowed my brows, but why would she want that? “Why is that?” I asked.
“You got to go out with Second and Joke last time. It’s my turn.” Coocoo jumped up and down, her straight, dark, hair bouncing and her purple eyes sparkly.
From beneath her, Second mumbled, “Get off me, Coocoo…”
Coocoo giggled and rolled off of her brother, fixing herself when she was able to stand up. “Come on, Orphan. Let’s go!” she took my hand into her little ones, and said, “I don’t want the others to beat me to it.”
Gently, I pushed the others away so that they were comfortably lying on each other. “Alright, alright.” I decided to humor her. She was far too cute to say no to.
With that, Coocoo led me outside of the cottage through the usual snow covered trees and the freezing ground. She never let go of my hand.
I was… happy for that. At first, the children had acted so hostile towards me, mostly Lucy, but now it’s as if they have accepted me as one of them. It was a nice feeling.
“So… what are we going to do now?” I asked awkwardly as I looked around the bustling town. Even in the morning they were busy.
“Um… well, I don’t know.” Said Coocoo as she looked down, “I never really thought about what we would do when we got here.”
We had no money to spend on food, and nothing to do inside of the village.
I held her hand tighter and pointed at the town gates, “Why don’t we go over there? I’ve never seen what’s outside of this town.”
“Oh yes! I can show you all that I know!” once again, she pulled me forwards, her feet crunching the snow beneath her. In front of the gates, we a saw a group of men on horses about to enter.
My eyes widened when I realized that if Coocoo kept running forwards, her little body would be crushed underneath the horse’s hooves. “Move!” in one motion of panic, I pushed her away, and watched as one of the horses reared up in fear, neighing. I flinched and prepared for pain, but when it didn’t come, I opened my eyes.
“What are you doing!?” yelled the young man with green eyes who was riding the horse. He glared at me with his murky eyes and brought his horse to go around me. “Be more careful.” I could’ve sworn that somewhere, his eyes held a hint of brightness, but it was gone as fast as I saw it.
I picked up Coocoo, carrying her, and nodded. “Yes sir…” quickly, I scurried away with Coocoo in my arms, through the gates. That was another experience that I didn’t want repeated. “Are you alright, Coocoo? I didn’t mean to push you that hard…”
“No, I’m alright!” she gave me a bright smile and circle her thin arms around me for support, “Thank you, Orphan.”
I smiled and then looked behind me, to check if that man was no longer there. Instead, I found a young woman staring at me from the distance. What… why? I shook my head, and moved forward, maybe it was just nothing.
I put Coocoo down and said, “So, where do you want to take me?” we were already outside of the town’s walls. “I would go… where… huh?” my vision started to go black, and in front of me I could barely see Coocoo excitedly pointing at somewhere, but I wasn’t able to hear whatever she was saying. “Coo…coo.” And with that…
I blacked out. The last thing I saw was that woman’s face still staring at me from the village’s gates, and then nothing else.
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