The sharp, familiar scent of antiseptic and the gentle hum of medical monitors slowly pull me back.
My eyes flutter open. Instead of the vaulted, candlelit ceiling of my luxurious room in the Valerius mansion, my gaze is met by the stark, sterile white tiles of a hospital ceiling.
I shift slightly against the propped-up mattress and glance toward the wall clock. The hands glow softly in the early morning light: 5:49 AM.
Ah... it's still not even six in the morning here, I think to myself, a quiet wave of surrealism washing over me. It feels like I spent an entire lifetime walking through that massive garden, eating a feast fit for royalty, and taking a three-hour nap over there, but down here in reality, hardly any time has passed at all.
Outside my semi-private room, soft footsteps and murmurs echo down the hallway as the morning nursing staff begins their early rounds.
Well, since it's still this early and nobody's bothering me yet, I might as well catch a few more hours of actual sleep before the doctors come by for their rounds, I muse, pulling the thin hospital blanket up over my shoulders.
I close my eyes, letting the quiet routine of the hospital lull me back into a peaceful sleep.
Several hours drift by in a quiet, dreamless haze.
Around 9:00 AM, the door clicks open, and the attending physician steps in accompanied by a couple of resident nurses to check my charts and vitals. Not long after they finish, the morning visitor hours officially begin, and the familiar, comforting face of my mother walks through the door. (My dad, as usual, is tied up with work commitments, but mom handles things with her usual steady presence.)
Mom and I chat with the doctor as he reviews my latest morning scan.
"Well, her recovery has been remarkably steady," the doctor notes, flashing a reassuring smile as he taps his clipboard. "Her vitals are completely stable, and there are no signs of lingering complications. Honestly, she's healing much faster than we anticipated. If everything looks good after a final set of afternoon tests, we can easily clear her for discharge today."
My mother's face lights up with relief. "Oh, thank goodness! Thank you so much, Doctor."
Listening to their conversation, a profound sense of relief washes over me from the inside out. Discharge today... I think, a genuine smile spreading across my face. Finally, I'll be able to go home, get back to my normal routine, and take a huge burden off my parents' shoulders. They've worried enough about me over this hospital stay.
Later that afternoon, the medical staff wheels me down for a final series of routine tests like blood , vitals check, and a neurological scan. To everyone's astonishment, every single result comes back completely normal.
Sitting back against my hospital pillow while waiting for the final discharge papers to clear, a quiet realization settles into my mind.
Could this rapid recovery really be because of that strange deal I made with that mysterious angel-like entity? I wonder, staring down at my hands. Whatever the reason, my body feels surprisingly balanced, healthy, and full of energy, almost like nothing ever happened.
A soft, determined grin touches my lips. If my life here is finally getting back on track, and my double life over in that fantasy world is opening up brand-new possibilities... then I guess I can really focus on making things work in both worlds.
The rest of the morning passes smoothly. After a light hospital lunch, the afternoon arrives, and true to plan, my mother returns to help me pack up my things. She carefully gathers my luggage, and before we head out, she hands me my smartphone.
The moment my fingers wrap around the familiar sleek device, a profound wave of relief washes over me.
As soon as the phone powers on, the screen lights up with a cascade of notifications and dozens of unread messages from my boss and colleagues asking if I'm alright, checking in on my health, and wondering when I'll be able to return to work. I scroll through everything, feeling a sudden surge of warmth at their concern.
Settled into the backseat of the taxi alongside my mother, I decide to dial my boss directly.
After a few rings, he picks up. "Hello?"
"Hi, Boss," I say, clearing my throat gently. "I just got discharged, and I wanted to let you know I'm feeling much better. Honestly, I could probably come back to the office as early as tomorrow if you need me.."
"Hold on, hold on," he interrupts with a chuckle. " After one day it will be the weekend anyway. There's no need to rush back right now. Take the rest of the week to properly recover and save your energy. I definitely don't need you collapsing from exhaustion in the middle of the office. Just take your time and join us after the weekend."
I let out a relieved breath. "Alright. Thank you, Boss. I appreciate it."
Hanging up, I realize I practically have the next two days completely free to rest and readjust.
As the taxi pulls up outside my apartment building, a strange rush of emotion hits me. Stepping inside my front door, it feels as though I haven't been home in an eternity. Between being cooped up in a hospital room and jumping back and forth into Eleanor's luxurious fantasy world, this humble apartment feels both unfamiliar and intensely nostalgic.