“This is Ivan Royce, whom am I speaking with?” His voice was deep and calm until I answered.

“Ivan, it's me- Sophia.”

There was silence. Before I heard hurried rustling on the line, a faint sound of a turning wheel and a breath caught mid-motion.

“Ivan? Are you there?”

“Sophia, are you alright? I just left a few moments ago to handle the press, I'll turn the car back now.”

Ivan sounded hurried over the phone. His usual calm voice was tense.

He said he left a few moments ago. That means he was here with me.

Right through the phone, I heard the sound of the wheel of a car and I gripped the phone tightly.

“Ivan! Drive carefully!” I realized I was too loud after I spoke. 

There wasn't a response from him. 

I sighed. Did I have trauma now or something?

I need to see my therapist.

“I’m not going anyway. Safety is more important.”

“Alright.” A quiet voice came through. “I'll be there soon, don't go anywhere.”

I hanged up after that and handed the phone back to Doctor Oliver.

“Miss Bett, if I may ask… who did you call?”

I glanced at the doctor and told him. “My fiancé.”

That was how the phone call went before I entered to see my parents.

But he came quicker than I expected. As I was leaving my parent's ward, he was already walking to me.

“Sofie.” His clean-cut suit was a little wrinkled and under his green eyes were eyebags. His light blonde curls slightly covered his eyes.

Taking long strides, he was close to me in no time. “Are you feeling alright?”

“Yes, I think so.” I nodded as he squatted down to my level.

And his cold face broke into a frown. “Why are you moving around after just waking up.”

“I wanted to see my parents.” I replied and he nodded slowly, while watching my reactions.

“Is the wheelchair uncomfortable?” He asked.

I shook my head. “No but… piggy back ride?”

“Okay.” He turned his back to me and held my legs apart, while I wrapped my hands around his neck.

He carried me effortlessly to my ward, while Doctor Oliver dragged the wheelchair as he followed us, quietly.

“Your brother has landed in the airport, he'll be here soon.”

“Okay.” 

I felt like swinging my legs but then the action didn't follow and I stared at my legs blankly.

He dropped me on the bed carefully. “Are you hungry?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. 

“Doctor, is she allowed to eat?”

Doctor Oliver who entered after us, nodded. “Light foods for now. Please, excuse me, I need to inform Professor Quinn.”

He walked out and I watched Ivan opened up a lunchbox for me.

“When did you get this?” The auroma made my tummy grumble, begging for food.

“I got it on the way here.” He took a spoonful and ate. “I hope it's delicious.”

“It smells that way.” I mumbled, trying to take the spoon from him but he took another spoon and blew on it.

Then, pointed it to me. “Eat.”

I glanced at him. His eyes were serious as he pointed to spoon to me.

Looking away, I felt weird.

“I can feed myself.” 

He still kept the spoon in front of my mouth. “Eat… please.”

His voice was laced with an emotion I couldn't pinpoint.

Judging by his appearance, he must have had a lot on his plate.

I opened my mouth and took the spoon in.

“You look tired. I have never seen you like this.” I told him after looking at his appearance.

There were times Ivan got so swamped with work, that he practically lived in his office but he never looked this way.

His hand paused, his eyes flicked to me. “This is different. You were in a car crash.”

“True.” My eyelids dropped. “What about the media?”

“Julian has more than half of the company under his control so things didn't blow out of proportions. Eat.”

I opened my mouth and ate from the spoon again. “Thank you for watching over me and my family.”

“...I didn't tell my parents about this but they will hear about it in a few days. Give or take- a month.”

“Thank you.” I smiled and he patted my hair. 

Ivan speaking that way, made me realize that he didn't talk about my parents' condition. Perhaps because he was worried about me.

“I'm full.” I told him as he tried to feed me again. “You can eat the rest.”

Ivan stared at me for a moment before dropping this spoon.

“I met my parents.” I whispered softly as I remembered they looked.

The room smelled like antiseptic and wilted roses.

My mother’s hand was warm but limp in mine.

Beside her, my father’s chest rose and fell steadily, his breathing machine humming in rhythm.

I stared at their still faces. Pale. Quiet.

Machines kept them tethered to this side of life.

Ivan watched me but didn't say anything for a while. 

“How should I feel in this situation?” I asked him. “I can't feel my legs, my parents are in a coma. Tell me, how should I feel when things are like this!”

“You're frustrated.” He whispered, still patting my head.

Then I told him. “I think I need to see my therapist.”

“We'll talk about that when your brother arrives-”

The door opened. A familiar presence. It was my brother who came in.

Julian looked like he hadn't slept for days. As I looked him over, Ivan shifted to the corner to give us some space.

“Sophia.”

“You look like you got run over by a hurricane.” I laughed, trying to lift the mood.

He rushed forward and pulled me into an embrace.

“You're awake. You're really awake.” 

I could feel his hands shaking, his body was tensed as his voice shook.

I wanted to tell him that I am alright, but I wasn't sure if I was.

I slowly hugged him back and rested my head on his shoulder.

“Are you alright?”

“Hmm.” I nodded. “I think I am.”

“You think?” He pulled away and looked me in the eye. “I'll call Doctor Quinn to run some tests on you.”

Doctor Quinn was our family doctor so it was understandable.

“Have you seen Mom and Dad?” I asked him.

“Not yet.” He blinked. “I came here immediately I heard you were awake.”

“I saw them. They are still breathing and I'm happy and a bit scared but… I don't feel sad… is that wrong?”

I looked up to see Julian staring at me, motionlessly. His lips slowly turned up in a small smile.

“Big brother?”

“I'll talk to Doctor Quinn later. You should rest first.”

“You need more rest than I do. You look terrible.” At my words, my brother let out a dry chuckle.

Then he noticed, Ivan who standing by my bedside.

“Thank you for taking care of my sister.”

Ivan nodded, silently.

“As for you.” Julian turned to me. “Don't worry about a thing. I'll take care of everything.”

“Go see Mom and Dad first.” I ushered him and he flinched.

It was noticeable, but small. His eyebrows furrowed and he looked lost in thought.

The door opened again and three of us eyes turned to the door.

Doctor Quinn- a middle aged old man who walked in, and was attacked by our gazes.

“Doctor Quinn.” Julian stood up and greeted him.

“I heard that you've arrived.” The doctor spoke. 

“What's the situation with my parents and sister.” My brother got straight to the point.

“Your parents suffered hits to their heads and haven't woken up but we are still monitoring their conditions.”

So was it a coma or not?

I noticed how the doctor didn't use that word.

“Let's stay positive and watch their brainwaves carefully.” Doctor Quinn glanced at me. “Miss Bett sustained trauma to her spinal cord which is why she can't move her legs.”

Trauma? To my spinal cord…

“But luckily, the damage wasn't severe. With good rest, recovery and rehabilitation, you'll be able to walk again.”

“So it's a temporary paralysis from spinal cord bruising?” Ivan asked.

“Yes.” Doctor Quinn looked surprised that Ivan knew about this to explain it easily.

“How long will it take for her to walk again.”

“A few months, hopefully.” 

“Hopefully?” I asked, softly.

That wasn't a definite answer.

“Then what about my parents, when will they wake up?”

“I am not going to sugarcoat it.” Doctor Quinn ran his fingers through his dark hair. “Their brain injuries weren't so severe that I would rule out them not gaining consciousness again.”

“So?”

“I'm giving it five months. Let's see if they wake up from now to five months.”

Five months.

I blinked and glanced at Ivan and my brother's expressions.

I believe we had the same thoughts then…

That's too long.