Chapter 12: To be alone
12
~Lisa’s POV
I must have dozed off again, because the next thing I heard was the sound of footsteps. Soft, careful ones. When I opened my eyes, the light in the clinic room had changed. It was still daytime, but the sun had shifted. The room was quieter now, filled with that strange stillness that only comes after exhaustion.
The door opened with a quiet creak, and Milo stepped in again. This time, he wasn’t alone. Beside him was a man in a white coat, the doctor. He looked older, with short gray hair and sharp but kind eyes behind wire-framed glasses. His face was serious but not cold, and his steps were steady and practiced, like someone who had seen everything before.
"You’re awake again," Milo said gently, giving me a small smile.
I nodded slowly, trying to sit up a little straighter, but my arms felt too heavy. The blanket over me shifted as I moved, and I noticed my legs were still weak, my whole body like it had been wrung out.
The doctor came closer and placed a small tablet-like board on the bedside table. "Don’t try to get up too quickly," he said, his voice calm and professional. "You fainted because of severe dehydration and exhaustion. You’ll need to take it easy for a while."
He looked at the drip still attached to my arm and made a few notes. Then he pulled out a small flashlight and leaned closer.
"Let me take a quick look at you," he said.
I nodded, too tired to speak. Milo stayed to the side, quiet and respectful, his hands folded in front of him.