The world was a blur of colors and sounds. A faint buzzing, like the hum of distant voices. A cold pressure pressed against her chest, making it hard to breathe. Then darkness and then light. Her eyes fluttered open, but the scene before her was unfamiliar. White walls. A ceiling dotted with recessed lights. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled her nose. She tried to move, but her body felt heavy, like it was made of lead. Panic fluttered in her chest.
"Where am I?"
A sharp pain stabbed at her temple as fragmented memories tumbled through her mind scenes she didn't recognize, yet somehow felt deeply personal. Faces she couldn't place, laughter that echoed with bittersweet warmth. She tried to sit up but winced, something was wrong.
The sterile room came into focus, a hospital room. Machines beeped rhythmically beside her bed, tubes connected to her arm.
"Hospital? "
Her heart pounded as she tried to remember how she'd gotten here.
Then a voice soft, distant, almost like a whisper reached her ears.
"Welcome back."
She turned her head, surprised to see a woman standing near the door, a gentle smile on her face.
"You're awake. Good."
The woman's eyes shone with a mixture of relief and something unreadable.
"You've been unconscious for a while."
The woman stepped closer, holding a clipboard.
"Do you remember your name?"
She opened her mouth to speak but found her throat dry. The words came out hoarse.
"Y-Yes… I think so."
"Good." The woman nodded.
"Your name is Han Seo-yun."
The name echoed in her mind. It sounded familiar, but strange like a name she once knew but forgot.
"I… I don't remember how I got here," Seo-yun said, struggling to keep her voice steady.
"You were found unconscious after a car accident. But it's more complicated than that."
Seo-yun's mind reeled. Car accident? She tried to recall any recent memories but nothing, just a haze. The woman leaned down, her voice softer.
"You've been through a lot, Seo-yun. But the important thing is you're alive."
Seo-yun's eyes darted to the window. Outside, the world moved on, oblivious to the storm inside her. And then a sudden image flashed in her mind, a man's face. Sharp features, dark eyes, a smile that felt like both a promise and a curse.
Who was he?
Her fingers twitched, brushing against the sterile white sheets. She felt the faintest ache ripple through her fingertips, as if the body she now inhabited was unfamiliar terrain. The door opened again, this time with a soft thud. Two figures entered, their faces marked with exhaustion and anxiety, a man and a woman. Her parents.
Seo-yun's heart fluttered weakly, though something was off. Their faces looked familiar but not like memories she could reach. They smiled warmly, but their eyes searched her face like strangers hoping to find a piece of home.
Her mother's voice trembled with relief. "Seo-yun, you're awake. We've been so worried."
Seo-yun blinked slowly, trying to focus on her mother's features. But her mind drew a blank. Who are you? A sudden, strange thought burst through her fog, Are you really my mother?
The words hovered in her mind unspoken. Instead, a strange question slipped out,
"Do you like pineapples on pizza?"
Her mother's eyes widened, surprise flashing through her face.
"Pineapples? I didn't know you liked that."
Seo-yun gave a faint smile, the effort enormous. "I've been craving something sweet and salty. Is that weird?"
Her father, standing quietly beside her mother, chuckled softly. "Not weird. But you're in the hospital. We can get you anything you want once you're out."
Seo-yun's brows furrowed. "So… why am I here? What happened to me?"
Her mother hesitated, then explained gently. "You were in a car accident. The doctors say it was serious. You've been unconscious for days."
Seo-yun tried to recall, a flash of a sudden screech, a shattering sound, then nothing. "I don't remember anything."
Her father's hand reached out to gently squeeze hers. "It's okay. Just rest. We're here."
A sudden flutter of confusion gripped Seo-yun. Her gaze shifted to the door again. Another figure entered, a young woman with short hair and bright eyes. Her best friend. The friend's face lit up.
"Seo-yun! You're awake! I was so scared."
But Seo-yun's heart tightened with an unplaceable sadness. She looked at her friend, searching for recognition. But nothing stirred. Instead, another strange question came out,
"Do you think cats can understand humans when they talk?"
Her friend blinked, taken aback, then laughed nervously. "I think they understand us more than we realize."
Seo-yun smiled faintly, then added, "Maybe I should get a cat."
Her friend reached out, brushing Seo-yun's hair back softly. "You're going to be okay. We all missed you."
But Seo-yun's mind was tangled in fog. Who was she? And why did she feel like a stranger in her own life?