St. Therese Hospital is a mid-grade infirmary with facilities suitable for emergency care. However, that is the only high point of St. Therese Hospital, any treatments beyond the immediate emergency care are not its forte.

In a muted corridor, through the large glass pane one can see a woman in the hospital bed of the only ICU ward in the hospital. The woman in the ward has most of her face covered in gauze and the remainder was masked with the artificial respiratory system. The beep of the Electrocardiograph is the only evidence that life still exists in her mortal coil.

Lydia stood beside Chief Inspector Liu outside the glass pane. The duo quietly stared at the lady in the bed from the other side of the glass. The tear-filled eyes of Lydia fixedly looks up the ECG, half in fear that her mother might also leave her like her father, half in heart-stabbing guilt of her helplessness and the inability in preventing this dreadful fate upon her family.

Mr. Liu sighs inwardly looking at the torment of this good child that he tratedmore like family over the years. Breaking the stilled silence, Mr. Liu started...

"She was attacked at her workplace by people unknown. Tortured until the police arrived. The people next door called the cops hearing the screams."

"…"

"I know what you wanted to know. You are a smart kid, you probably know who it is, by my hesitation towards the name that I'm not saying.

"As much as this is going to crush you, I have to say this to not let your lose your mind in a moment of anger, you can do nothing against them."

"…Mr. Liu, you can't even arrest..."

"… I joined the police force with pride, the pride to protect the innocent, and for the authority to punish the evil. I was young like you and was also hopeful, like you. The years went by, my pride was stripped with only shame remaining in my thoughts. I understood that when I was young I was only naive... just like you...

"

Saying his piece Mr. Liu walked away leaving Lydia alone with his unconscious mother.

 

***

Life is measured with time.

Times good, times bad, times ordinary, times of surprise, times of defeat, times of victory, times of happiness and times of despair.

The experience of the mentioned times are inevitable in one's life. No one smiles throughout and no soul cries forever.

Forgetful, we are over good times. Fearful, we are over times of despair. Rightfully so...

Unfathomable is the feeling of being crushed by despair and those who can stand with a straight spine are far and few.

Despair is a stabbing pain. The pressure makes you bones creak. Like you are being burnt aline with veins filled with magma. IT is a jagged saw that is slowly rendering your soulinto pieces.

Despair is the worst not for its inhumane pain…

...withstand it, nothing changes

...buckle under, nothing changes

In despair, you fight or give in...

... But despair once experienced

...is never forgotten…

***

Lydia felt crushed and had no force or life left in her, but the sight of her struggling mother forced her to stand straight and hold back her tears. The young girl's paradise was ruined by bloodthirsty wolves hidden in human skin. One may think that she is fortunate to be not besides her parents when the attack happened or she'd be a cold corpse by now.

 

But only Lydia knows...

 

Only she knows that to die fighting would be a release than to live now, with every breath, guilt breaks her a little more...

 

The need for the strength to just stand after what she has been through is monumental. Looking at the stoic face of Lydia none can tell the thoughts and feelings that are coursing through.

If given the choice she is very much willing to exchange her life for her father and bear the bodily wounds for his mother. But no matter how much we wish, misfortunes and fortunes are pre-destined for those who are fated..

A destiny of ill fate befell this quaint family.

The mournful silence in the hospital is broken by the loud voice of an agitated Mr. Liu...

 

"How can there be no ambulance available?"

"I have a half dying woman here who needs to be taken to safety! I damn well know who are involved in this incident, the girl's father is dead, is it still not enough?"

"Qianfan, please just do this favor for me...

 

"I... I beg you... please..."

 

"You monster, you are killing a child and her injured mother..."

 

In the shade by the corridor, overhearing the flustered Mr. Liu, Lydia pieced together the conversation from the helpless tirade of Mr. Liu.

Lydia has yet to come to terms with the demise of his father and now she got to knoe that someone is gunning for her family again, her emotions are set ablaze. Like a simmering volcano that is about to erupt, Lydia could barely hold back her blisteringanger.

A child is born with innocence. Growing up, the major of its emotions are replaced with curiosity, fear, expectation, longing, desires and much more.

Every child comes across this bottleneck. Everyone has to cross this threshold at a certain point. Some lost souls in its futile attempt pierce through, may becomes aggressive with anger lashing out and displeasure dripping down turning everything toxic.

A child does not become an adult when one explodes out with emotions, but when one can hold it together at times of great duress. One becomes an adult if the eyes are clear even when the heart and mind are imploding with continuous emotional pressure crushing the limits of sanity.

The calm in the eye een when a sword comes to the head marks the consolidation of one's maturity and courage.

Despite her age, despite her weak stature, despite her inability, despite her lack of strength, despite her incapacity to fight back, despite her all shortcomings; a warrior princess is born when she can look straight at death and can calmly see it coming.

Lydia back straightens up, the walk from her mother's ward was like baptism to the young girl. Her thoughts of the tomorrow are voided, her understanding of his ability is forgotten. The only thought in the young girl's mind is the complete surrender of her everything, even her soul, in exchange for a fighting chance. Even at the cost of death, she wishes to chase after life for the barely alive Mrs Brockman.

The sight of the weak pulse of his mom hardened her fleshy heart. The disheartening sight snaped something deep inside of Lydia.

She walked towards Mr. Liu , who was begging to the person on the other end of the phone. Insanity creeps into her soul as her eyes slowly become deranged. With a crazy look, she pulled the phone from Mr. Liu.

"... you're Qianfan?"

 

"Who's this?" the man on the other end noticed the change of voice...

 

"...your regret."

 

Saying her piece Lydia cut the call.

 

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