Kelvin Thorne.
The name echoed in Sonia's head a few times before it settled.
Then silence followed, thick, stretching, almost suffocating as neither of them said another word.
Kelvin returned his attention to her vital signs, his movements calm, precise, almost detached just like any doctor in the hospital.
But Sonia couldn't look away. Her gaze remained fixed on him. She was silently searching… probing… as though the answer to something buried deep within her mind lay somewhere on his face.
Several thoughts coursed through her mind. His voice felt awfully familiar, but the name didn't ring any bells, even as she repeated it softly.
Quietly searching for it through her memory, hoping to have any recollection of the man before her.
But it was blank and empty.
To be more clear, she would say their paths never crossed.
After a while, she slowly shook her head. Her voice, when she finally spoke, was calm, too calm for the turmoil raging in her chest.
"I am sorry, but I don't know you."
Kelvin didn't react, his expression was blank and unsurprised. Such an outcome he had already expected it.
Besides, he had already broken off his years of friendship with Alex Hort right from the early days of her marriage.
And since then, he never visited Alex Hort's home for any reason.
"It's natural you wouldn't remember me," he said evenly. "And it's understandable. Our paths only crossed a few times."
Sonia blinked.
This wasn't the response Sonia was expecting. Isn't it natural to tell her who he was?
"But…" she began.
"I am Alex'your husband's friend…we go way back."
Sonia's heart skipped a beat, her fist curling into a fist as she tried to suppress the bitterness clawing at her heart.
She felt disgusted.
The memory of Alex making out with her friend right beside her on her hospital bed was so vivid that she dared not take it lightly.
And then those words that were said…Sonia's heart drummed against her chest as she let her gaze drift over to the ceiling.
"What's the problem?" Kelvin asked, as he felt her recoil.
"Mr. Thorne…" She started slowly. "I guess you know I had only one month to live, right? And I guess it must have been…"
Her voice faltered as that familiar voice in her subconscious echoed again in her head resonating through her mind.
The people that killed you would walk the face of the earth free and acquitted without trial.
Kelvin's brows drew together slightly as he watched her pause.
"What do you want to say?" he pressed.
Sonia swallowed hard, forcing the unease down.
"How long have I been dead?" she asked instead, smoothly changing the subject.
Kelvin studied her for a moment before answering.
"Dead for four days," he said with a light shrug. "Maybe you're this generation's biblical Lazarus."
Sonia didn't respond.
Instead, her gaze swept slowly across the room and for the first time she took notice of a few things.
The wardrobe at the side where he had just walked away from.
The door opposite her bed, which she could count as the door to the restroom.
The curtains, which were not the same white colour that was so much cherished by the hospital; rather, it was a cream colour.
The faint scent of antiseptic was present , which contrasted the heavy and overwhelming scent of the hospital.
Adding a few points together, realization clicked.
This wasn't a hospital.
Her eyes snapped back to Kelvin. "This is your home?"
Kelvin glanced around briefly, then sighed. He had prepared the room in a hurry. "You are right."
"And that means?" she pressed, her eyes locking onto his.
She had a few questions swirling through her mind, but she found herself lacking the words to say them.
Kelvin stared at her face for a moment. He could see the curiosity in her eyes, the doubt in her expression, and the fears in her heart.
He sighed. "I brought you here when you gave up at the hospital…"
Sonia's eyes widened.
"Gave up?" she murmured, her heart thumping against her chest. So, it's true, she really died…and it was still in the hospital.
Does that mean the words she had heard had all been true?
Then, were those words real?
Was that voice real?
And if it was, Who was he?
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
Alex's friend…shouldn't he be working for him?
Sonia queried herself, but there was no response whatsoever to her thoughts.
She lifted her gaze to him. "So, does that mean you've always been with me all the while?"
Kelvin chuckled. "I thought you wanted to blame or maybe accuse me of working for your husband."
Sonia's breath caught.
Her head lowered, her eyes on anything that wasn't Kelvin. She dared not admit that she had thought about it that way.
Besides, she shouldn't really be blamed. It is said that birds of a feather…
"You don't have to be embarrassed about it…Kelvin said. But I don't just like it when people give up unnecessarily."
"I didn't give up," she snapped, her voice sharper this time.
"Really…Miss Sonia, tell me, if you didn't give up, why are you waking up only now?"
"I…I…" she stammered. "It wasn't my fault… Besides, you said I had less than a month to live. My organs were already…"
Kelvin stepped closer. Too close to feel their body heat.
He leaned forward to stare into her face. Sonia's breath caught, and she swallowed. Her cheeks burned into a shade of pink.
"Go on?" Kelvin said, with a soft smile on his lips.
She shook her head, quietly averting her gaze. Her heart thumped hard against her chest.
What's wrong with you, Sonia?
You are already betrayed by one, yet you are smitten the moment you wake up from the land of the dead.
Kelvin smiled knowingly as he straightened up.
"You should rest," he said, adjusting the bed. "I'll see you later."
He turned around to leave, but her hand shot forth and held his. Kelvin turned around.
"But is it true?" she asked, her voice almost inaudible.
"What is true?" Kelvin asked, a flicker of confusion crossing his face.
"That I have less than one month to live," she forced herself to say.
Kelvin swallowed. "Sonia, one month or not, that's still a long time to live and be you…"
Sonia's face was drained of all colours. Her lips trembled, her hand tightened around Kelvin's hand.
"Does that mean…there's no way to change that?" she asked.
"Sonia…" His voice softened. "Right now, we have something more urgent."
He exhaled slowly. "We need to prepare your funeral."
Her breath hitched.
"We have to make your death convincing," he continued. "Make sure Alex doesn't suspect anything."
"We still have to make your body convincing and make sure Alex doesn't have a reason to doubt."
He paused slightly. "Only then can you truly think about the rest."
Sonia nodded.
A bitter smile curling her lips at the reminder.
Even though she woke up after a few days of giving up, it seems she wouldn't be able to change this fate.
And she still has to die in one month.
How ironic.
"How about Alex?" she asked.
Kelvin's expression shifted. A flicker of irritation crossed her face.
He exhaled sharply, rubbing his brow helplessly. "Can we focus on you?" he said, his tone tightening. "You'll have an entire month to think about Alex if you want."
Sonia frowned. Her brow furrowed at the tone of his voice.
Why did he sound… Angry?
"Kelvin?" she called softly.
But he carefully peeled her hand away from his.
"Sonia," he said, his voice steady again, "you should get some rest…" Then, after a brief pause, "If you have the energy to worry… worry about yourself."
He turned toward the door while Sonia stared at him in confusion. "You have two choices."
His hand rested on the handle. "Return to the Hort family… as someone who rose from the dead."
Exhales.
"Or remain dead… and live peacefully for one month."
The room fell into a depressing silence at his pause.
Their gaze locked. "Whichever you choose…"
He pulled the door open, Sonia lips parted but before any word could leave her lips…
Bang.
The door shut behind him with a forceful thud.