The Girl Next Door's

Lulled

"Vital signs are stable. The MRI scan was good too."

"It's the blood lab this morning, Doc."

"Hmm, we report to the doctor in charge first. Whether the MRI needs to be repeated again, since the sedation effect will soon run out because it has begun to be reduced."

"Good, Doc. I'll call the patient's parents as soon as we know the next plan."

"Please, yes, Sus."

Deril opened his eyes, after hearing two foreign voices from his left. The smell of medicine instantly burst in, filling his parrot cavity. Deril could see a clean white ceiling and a few bags of infusion over his head. He knew he was in the hospital right now.

His eyes were back closed. Mind fucked. He could not immediately remember what happened and how he could be in the hospital right now. Deril tucked his lips. His throat was very painful, like he was hurt by something. Something stuck when Deril wanted to swallow. A second later, Deril realized that something was attached to his nose.

"B-" her voice choked. His eyes were getting longer, the harder it was to open. However, Deril decides to stay sober and find out how he is currently doing. Deril opened his eyes with all his strength. The beep sound that had accompanied earlier was in line with his racing heart.

"Doc! Doc! Patient bed two is conscious!"

"Call the doctor in charge! And you, check the vitals!"

Deril saw a man in his early thirties in a white coat approaching his bed. His face looked friendly with thick eye bags. He looked over here and there first, before his eyes finally turned back Deril's gaze.

"You want water?"

Deril nodded immediately. He was grateful because it was the first question he gave, because Deril's throat was very dry at the moment. The doctor immediately thrust a glass complete with straws into Deril's mouth.

"Slow down. Your throat may be uncomfortable and you may choke. There's a hose in it."

Deril according to. He took a slight sip, then was careful while swallowing it. 'Better, ' thought Deril when his throat had gotten a little wet.

"You know your name?"

Deril nodded once. "Dav.ril..."

"Where do you know this?"

"Home... Sa.kit..."

The doctor nodded. Deril glanced at the nametag he was wearing. Doctor Bram. "You know, why are you here?"

Deril nodded this time. He wanted to know what the answer to that question was.

Dr. Bram turned to the nurse who was checking the droplets of Deril infusion. "Sus, vital signs well?"

"Everything's good, Doc."

"Deril, does your head hurt?"

Deril did not answer. He felt his head first. Deril remembers, his head was hit by Doctor Stephen. "Ukh! Docs... Doctor Step-uhuk! Uhuk!"

"Calm down! Can you hear me? Relax!"

Deril's head seemed to spin so considering the figure of Doctor Stephen who pointed a gun at him. Her chest feels tight. His body shivered in fear.

"Suster, inject five milligrams of diazepam slowly until the patient is calm!"

"Diazepam five milligrams, enter slowly!" replied the nurse, swiftly giving a sedative to Deril who had a seizure.

"I guessed it. His trauma will affect his current condition. We better discuss this with a mental health doctor."

***

A warm feeling that spread across Deril's right hand, awakened the slumbering Deril. The cold air of the room really made him want to sleep on. His eyes blinked, as his surroundings seemed dim. The sun that had burst in from the small window had now disappeared.

"Deryl?"

Deril turned to his right. Serena sat down while hugging Deril's hand. Her tears had fallen down her cheeks. Serena's face was paler than Deril ever remembered. Her hair is tied up haphazardly. Serena did not look after herself.

"Deryl?" Serena called again. "You see Mom?"

Deril nodded. "A.l.ir..."

Serena puts Deril's hand back to Deril's side, then takes a glass of water and thrusts a straw into Deril's mouth. "Slow down just drink it," said Serena.

After he finished drinking, Deril closed his eyes again. He's feeling tired. A sense of security and comfort suddenly ambushed him, when he saw Serena there.

"Son... Are you feeling better?" whispered Serena.

Deril nodded. It was still difficult for him to make a sound. When his eyes opened again, he looked at his mother deeply. Deril could feel an overwhelming worry within from his mother's eyes.

"We have to thank Mika. Ah. I mean Mother, Ardi," continued Serena, still in a slow tone. "He saved you."

Deril could not answer. He could not remember what happened after the gun burst. I don't know how long he's been lying in that soft hospital bed.

"Your father and sister are outside. Diana cried every day because you didn't open your eyes."

'Every day? That means I've been here long enough?' inner Deril.

"Mom will tell you everything, once you have fully recovered. Right now, I'm resting and calm."

Deril agrees. He didn't want to rush to know what was going on. From his mother's words that require him to thank Ardi, Deril can conclude that Ardi survived. There was nothing else he needed to think about right now.

"Sleep..." Serena stroked her head full of affection. "Mom will always be by your side now. Everything's fine. Be strong, my child..."

Deril closed his eyes again. Within seconds, he was asleep. This time, he had a very beautiful dream. Dream about his days at home while painting, as usual.

***

(Ten years ago)

The man cleansed his wife's lifeless body. He cleaned it as thoroughly as possible. He deliberately did not attack his wife's face, because he felt unable to hurt the person he loved so much.

After enough, he carried his wife's body into the kitchen, then pushed the secret door into the basement room open.

"Please! Help u! Help me!"

The screams did not bother him. He was already getting used to the cry for help from a fifteen-year-old boy he had been brushing up on since a few days ago.

"Sir! Please release me! I'm wrong! Sorry!"

The man did not heed the request of the boy who was tied up in a teak chair.

He placed his wife's body very carefully in front of a large refrigerator. "I guessed it. The fridge is useful too."

***