My vision was blurry, like I was underwater.
I tried opening my eyes they were heavy, almost sealed shut. My body ached. My chest felt tight. My head… it throbbed, as if I was carrying the weight of the entire world on my shoulders.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I managed to open them. Wait… where am I?
White walls. Machines. A faint beeping in the background.
A hospital.
I blinked rapidly, panic rising in my chest. When did I get here? How? Why can't I remember anything? "Aahh…" I whimpered. My head pulsed violently with pain.
Just then, a nurse entered, holding a tray with my medication. She walked in with a kind smile, but I wasn't interested in kindness. I needed answers.
"Nurse?" Yes, miss?"
Why… why am I here?"
The nurse hesitated. Her eyes softened. She drew a slow breath. "I'm sorry to tell you this, but… you've been diagnosed with GSPD. You'll need a bone marrow transplant immediately."
"What?"
My voice cracked from the shock. "Isn't that… isn't that a genetic disease?" She nodded slowly. "Yes, it is." The truth settled in like ice.
"So basically… I'm suffering from leukemia," I whispered.
The nurse blinked at me, startled. "How… how do you know that? You're only twelve." I shrugged faintly. "I read a lot of books. I want to be a surgeon one day. So… I know about this stuff."
Her expression softened into awe. "Wow. You're very smart." She smiled and gently tucked the blanket around me. "I'll leave you to rest." But rest? That was impossible. My mind was spinning.
If this is a genetic illness… does that mean Charles and Rose aren't my real parents?
Who am I? I closed my eyes, and slowly, sleep claimed me.
****Twelve Years Ago*****
"Bro… it's been twelve years."
William sat at the edge of his desk, his eyes hollow, his voice raw. He stared at the old photo frame on his desk Hazel's sonogram and a picture of Kim holding her the very day she was born. A photo frozen in time.
Kim… hadn't been the same since.
"I know," said Drake, his best friend since childhood. "I know it's been long. But we're still trying. We've searched everywhere—"
"Not enough!" William barked, slamming his fist on the table. The sound echoed through the office. "When? When will we find her?" His voice cracked. "Do you know what it feels like to look at your wife every day and see her slowly dying on the inside?" The room went still.
Then….a knock.
"What is it?!" William snapped, desperate and tired. "It better be something important."
A nurse peeked in, nervous. "Sir… Ma'am has woken up." William's heart stopped for a moment. He and Drake bolted from the room, their footsteps echoing through the corridor as they raced toward the VVIP ward.
When they burst through the doors, Kim was sitting up eyes wide, cheeks soaked in tears.
"Kim!" William rushed to her side. "My love… you're awake."
"William…" Her voice trembled. "She's here. Hazel. She's here! I can feel it…I can feel her pain. She's in trouble… we need to save her!" she wept. William froze. The room did.
Everyone stared, confused.
"Kim, sweetheart—"
"NO!" she screamed, gripping his shirt. "Don't tell me to relax! I know she's here. I feel her!" Her sobs shook the room. She was breaking, unraveling in his arms.
William glanced at the nurse and gave a subtle nod. The nurse swiftly prepared a sedative. "Please, take me to her," Kim whispered before falling limp as the injection took effect. Her head slumped onto William's chest.
William's eyes welled up.
"O God…" he whispered, hugging her close. "When will I find my Hazel? I've lost one of my diamonds. I can't bear to lose the other…"
Drake pulled him into a tight embrace, holding his friend as he trembled with silent cries.
The Brooks (P.O.V)
Back at the hospital's waiting area…
Rose was pacing like a lioness in a cage.
"Out of all the hospitals in this entire city… you brought her HERE?" she hissed under her breath. "Her own father's hospital? The very place you kidnapped her from twelve years ago?!"
Charles kept his gaze down, calm but cold. "Lower your voice. "No, YOU should have thought twice!" she snapped. "Why would you risk everything just to bring her back here?" I have my reasons," he muttered.
"To hell with your reasons and your stupid obsession," Rose spat. "You always knew what this was really about. Admit it you brought her here just to get a glimpse of Kim."
Charles didn't deny it.
"God… how you love that woman," she sneered. He turned to the hallway, eyes dark with longing. "You wouldn't understand."he said under breath.