Somewhere else inside the building, another door opened.
A nurse stepped out carrying a small tray in her hands.
On the tray rested a glass of water and several slices of apple arranged neatly beside it.
She walked slowly through the corridor, but stopped when a stretcher passed in front of her. Two hospital workers pushed it towards another section of the building. The wheels rattled softly against the floor before the sound gradually faded into the distance.
Only then did she continue walking.
A few moments later, she arrived outside another room.
The door stood slightly open.
Using her shoulder, she pushed it further and stepped inside.
The room was quiet.
A single bed occupied most of the space near the centre.
A man rested on it.
His upper body was wrapped heavily in bandages. Even part of his face remained hidden beneath the white layers. Only one side of his features remained visible.
The nurse placed the tray on a nearby table before moving closer.
"Someone is coming to meet you," she said.
The injured man remained still.
Only after several seconds did he slowly move his eyes towards her.
The nurse smiled faintly.
"Your recovery has been surprising."
The man stared ahead.
His expression did not change.
Finally, his voice broke the silence.
"Who is coming?"
His voice sounded weak.
Yet it remained steady.
The nurse shook her head.
"I don't know."
The answer disappointed him slightly.
"The visitor only registered under your records."
The injured man looked away again.
Beyond the hospital window, cars moved along the road below.
Their distant horns drifted into the room.
For a while neither of them spoke.
The nurse eventually brought the tray closer.
Before she could assist him, the injured man slowly forced himself upright.
A little pain crossed his face.
Still, he managed.
The nurse placed the tray beside him.
He quietly picked up a slice of apple and began eating while staring through the window.
Outside, traffic continued moving beneath the afternoon sunlight.
Several horns echoed through the air.
Then one horn sounded louder than the rest.
A car had arrived.
The injured man's eyes followed the sound.
Far below the hospital building, a vehicle moved along the riverside road.
Its driver never looked away from the hospital.
It was Juson.
---
Only one car remained ahead of him.
Juson pressed the horn briefly before accelerating.
His eyes shifted towards the riverside for a moment.
Then back to the road.
Half a minute later, he slowed down.
The hospital appeared ahead.
Without realising it, he had arrived at exactly the place he wanted to find.
The car rolled to a stop.
For several seconds he remained seated behind the wheel.
Then he unlocked the door and stepped outside.
Warm sunlight immediately fell across his face.
The hospital building towered quietly above him.
Juson closed the car door and began walking.
His footsteps carried him through the entrance and into the hospital corridor.
Near the reception desk sat a woman speaking on the telephone.
The moment she noticed him approaching, she ended the call.
Juson stopped in front of her.
Before she could ask anything, he spoke first.
"I need to visit a friend."
The receptionist nodded.
"What name?"
"Oshire."
Recognition immediately appeared on her face.
She checked a nearby register before answering.
"Room 17."
Juson thanked her and continued walking.
The room was closer than he expected.
Only a few steps beyond the reception area and a turn to the left brought him directly outside the door.
He stopped there.
His hand began moving towards the handle.
Before he could touch it, the door slid open from inside.
A nurse emerged carrying an empty tray.
Seeing her, Juson immediately stepped aside.
The nurse understood he was the visitor and moved past him without saying anything.
As she left, Juson entered the room.
The first thing he noticed was the bed.
The second was the man sitting against it.
Bandages covered him almost completely.
Juson froze.
Only one word escaped his mouth.
"Hakiten."
The man slowly looked up.
Despite the bandages, there was no mistaking him.
It was Hakiten.
Alive.
Hakiten motioned towards a nearby chair.
"Sit."
Juson obeyed.
For a few moments neither of them spoke.
The silence felt strange.
Heavy.
Hakiten finally broke it.
"How did you find me?"
Juson leaned back slightly.
"We received a call."
Hakiten listened quietly.
"From a hospital in our administrative city."
Hakiten exhaled.
His shoulders relaxed slightly.
Then he surprised Juson.
"When I recover, I'll come to see you."
Juson frowned.
"Why?"
Hakiten looked towards the window.
His answer came slowly.
"I need to tell you about your memories."
Juson stared at him.
The word repeated itself inside his mind.
Memories.
"What happened to my memories?"
Before Hakiten could answer, a knock sounded against the door.
The nurse had returned.
She stepped inside and apologised.
"We need some time."
Hakiten gave a small nod.
Juson stood from his chair.
Before leaving, he looked towards his friend once more.
The nurse rolled a dustbin closer to the bed.
A pair of scissors appeared in her hand.
Bandage removal.
Juson understood immediately.
Without another word, he walked out of the room.
The door slid shut behind him.
Yet even after leaving, he remained standing there.
Staring at the closed door.
Thinking.
Only one word escaped his mouth.
"Memory."