Chapter 22: Three beds, three patients
"Well, if we’re talking about you," Tashi said, looking at Kaelen while scratching his greying beard, "you’ll be completely healed by next week."
A brief pause followed, and then with an awkward cough, he added, "But for this Dallas boy, it’ll take half a year..... maybe two months, if luck smiles."
"...Great," Jered muttered under his breath, sarcasm thick in his voice.
He leaned his head back against the pillow, wincing at the movement. Every breath, every blink of an eye, seemed to demand more energy than it should.
Just then Bang! Bang! a loud knocking sound echoed outside the room, followed by a firm voice.
"Let me through! It’s my little brother!" the voice demanded.
Outside the ward, two guards stationed at the door moved quickly into position.
"Halt. No one is allowed to enter without the express permission of the medical department," one of them stated, eyes narrowing.
"I’m a family member of the patient. Let me in!" Alex barked again.
"Prove your identity and relation to the patient," the other guard added, expression stern.
Before it could escalate further, a calm voice from inside called out. "Let him in."