Chapter 10: He's Alive

"Did you know that he's still alive?"

I couldn't immediately respond to what Mrs. Sarmiento said.

Did I hear that correctly? What did she mean?

"Anne, can you come with us to the City? He's in the hospital, still in a coma, and maybe he's waiting for you to let go and leave this world," she continued.

"W-what?!" I exclaimed, my eyes wide with shock.

What was this? I was confused. I thought Danny was dead when he was brought to the hospital that night.

"So, please, Anne, come to us. Nobody knows that he's alive, not even Daniel. I'm telling you this because I know you were one of the people my son loved," she said.

I closed my eyes tightly and held my temples.

My head hurt.

"O-okay," was all I could say. Maybe I needed to face this situation.

No more hiding. Maybe I need to confront them all to end my inner torment.

What if it's true that Danny is still alive? And what if he wakes up? Will he remember everything that happened when he was a spirit?

***

My hands were trembling as the doctor who was with Mr. and Mrs. Sarmiento opened the door to Danny's room.

We were in a private hospital in the City. At first glance, it didn't look like a hospital because it seemed like a simple clinic from the outside. But when we clicked, I realized that the facilities were underground.

Even though it was underground, it still looked like a normal hospital.

I couldn't help but think of 'The Hive' from Resident Evil.

I heard that this hospital was built because of a rare disease that afflicted a friend of the owner.

I jumped when I felt Mrs. Sarmiento hold my hand.

"It's okay, Anne. It's not your fault. No one is to blame. If my son were awake, he would say the same thing," she said tearfully.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I forced a smile, nodding at her.

"T-thank you, ma'am."

When the double-sealed door without a doorknob, locked with only a passcode, was opened, the doctor entered first, followed by the couple. I didn't know if I should go in or not because I was nervous.

At the end, I entered and was amazed by the beauty and size of the room.

It didn't look like a hospital room; it looked like a room for the wealthy. The interior design was beautiful, and the surroundings were pleasant.

There was also a shiny chandelier hanging in the center of the room.

After I looked around, my gaze settled on the man lying on the soft bed, seemed just asleep.

Danny..!

I slowly approached the bed while the couple and the doctor stood by its side.

Tears immediately filled my eyes when I saw him up close.

He looked thinner compared to his appearance as a spirit that had appeared to me.

I swallowed hard when I saw that only the life-saving ventilator was connected to his body.

I looked at Mrs. Sarmiento in confusion, and before I could speak, she spoke first.

"He won't survive without it. This is the only thing keeping him alive," she said tearfully.

I looked at his appearance. He had a bandage on his head. Only his eyes were visible because the ventilator mask covered his nose and mouth.

Danny..!

Tears finally fell from my eyes as I stared at Danny.

Danny... I've found you. You told me to find you, right?

Please, wake up. Wake up, Danny...

Please...

I quietly sobbed and held Danny's hand. I sat by his side and grasped his hand.

"H-hey Danny," I said, my voice choked with tears.

I remember how he used to greet me whenever we met.

"Ahmm, we'll leave you alone for a while, dear. I think you need some time with him," Mrs. Sarmiento said.

I nodded gently at them.

When they left, the room fell silent, and the only sound was the slow, steady beeping of the machine connected to his body.

I looked at him closely.

"Hey Danny.." I repeated, trying to hold back my tears.

"I... I'm sorry. It's because of me that you're here, lying like this," I said, quickly wiping away the tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Do you know that you've been lying here, sleeping for a year? And did you know that your spirit traveled to annoy me..." I cried again, reminding the past days we spent together.

"Danny... if you wake up, will you remember me?" I said between tears.

"It's okay if you don't remember me or the short time we spent together, just please wake up. Wake up, Danny. Everyone who loves you is waiting for you. Your parents, Daniel, your friends. Me."

I closed my eyes and gently rested my head on his chest.

I could barely hear his heartbeat, as if it would stop any moment.

It's okay if you forget me, just please wake up. I'm sorry for everything I did to you. I'm sorry if I forgot you, the times we spent together when we were kids, the times I pushed you away. I'm sorry, Danny...

Please wake up...

I lifted my face and looked at him.

I grasped his hand and gently kissed it.

"When you wake up, I'll let you annoy me every day if you want. I promise I won't get mad. I won't leave if you ask me to. That's a promise."

I stood up, approached his head, and gave him a warm kiss on the forehead.

***

"Craig was always a happy person. He always had a mischievous smile on his lips, as if everything was just a game to him. But he was the type of person you'd always want to be around— a good friend, a nice brother, a kind son. He never failed me or disappointed us in anything he did. He never made us worry about his whereabouts, and he was full of surprises. So when he had his accident, it felt like we lost a son, although Daniel has always been by our side."

I smiled slightly at what Mrs. Sarmiento said. We were already in the car, leaving the hospital. They were going to drop me off at home. I decided to stay here in the city to attend the death anniversary of my brother and friends tomorrow.

"I love them both, but I must admit I have always been biased when it comes to Craig. Daniel knows about it and has accepted it. Craig is a mama's boy, while Daniel is close to his dad," she continued.

"He never mentioned any girl to me except you." She smiled slightly, as if recalling a memory.

"At first, I didn't pay attention when he said you would come and meet again. He was always on the mango tree, looking at the neighborhood and sometimes at the sea where they used to hang out. And later, I realized that he was always waiting for you. He never forgot about you. You were his first girlfriend."

I looked down and bit my lip to hold back the tears threatening to fall.

"If he happens to wake up, I know he will remember you, Anne. I know," Mrs. Sarmiento said with a confident smile.

I smiled and looked out the window.

I hope so...

But that's impossible. He may remember the old Anne he knew, but not the Anne he's been bugging about these last few days.

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