Oh, you're back! This story is getting intense. I took a bit longer to upload because I was busy studying, but enough about me—let's get back to the story.
AT THE HOSPITAL
ME: "Uaaah..." (Yawning) I slept so well. Wait a minute... is this a dream? And what are these things in my arms? Ouch! Why does my head hurt so much? And these needles in my arms... I can't move! What is happening to me? Where am I?
While I was talking to myself, my mother walked in.
MOTHER: "Angello! You're finally awake!" — She hugged me tightly, her voice a mix of joy and sadness.
ME: "Mom, you're squeezing me too hard... Mom, where are we? Why can't I move? My head hurts so bad..."
Everything went black again. I fainted right there.
MOTHER: "Angello! Wake up!" — She ran to find the doctor.
A while later...
MOTHER: "Doctor, why did my son faint again?" — Her voice was trembling.
DOCTOR: "It's likely weakness. He lost so much blood that his body barely has enough energy to stay awake. We can't give him too many transfusions at once; we have to wait and see how his body reacts."
THREE DAYS LATER
ME: "Ugh... where am I?"
MOTHER: "You're finally up." — She hugged me gently this time.
ME: "Where are we, Mom?"
MOTHER: "We're in the hospital. Don't you remember what happened?"
ME: "What happened? What exactly occurred?"
MOTHER: "What's the last thing you remember?" — She asked, looking worried.
ME: "I was... having dinner with my grandmother."
MOTHER: "WHAT?"
ME: "I'm sleepy, Mom. Can I go back to sleep?"
MOTHER: "Yes, of course. Wait for me, I'll be right back."
My mom went to speak with the doctor immediately. "Doctor, my son is awake, but he doesn't remember anything! He thinks he was at his grandmother's house."
DOCTOR: "It's possible he's experiencing memory loss due to the anesthesia and the trauma. Don't worry, just stay calm."
THE FEAR IN THE HALLWAY
Later that day, I found myself thinking: Where am I? Why am I in a hallway?
I saw nurses rushing past, pushing gurneys. I looked to my side and saw a person without legs. I couldn't help it; I screamed at the top of my lungs. My mom rushed to my side.
MOTHER: "Calm down, Angello!"
ME: "Mami, I'm scared! I want to go home!"
MOTHER: "It's okay. Just wait a little longer and I'll take you home."
She had to step away for a moment. I tried to stand up to follow her, but my body wouldn't respond. More people passed by—some with deformities, others missing eyes. The sight was too much for a six-year-old. I fainted again.
Eventually, the doctor gave the green light. "He can go home now. Please come sign the discharge papers."
BACK HOME
ME: "Uaaah... where am I? Oh, this is my room. It was all a dream!"
I tried to move, but I couldn't. I panicked and screamed: "MAMIIIIII!"
ME: "Mom, I'm hungry!"
MOTHER: "Oh, right! I'll go make you something to eat."
After eating, I tried to move again, but my limbs felt like lead. "Mom, why can't I move?"
That's when she told me the truth: I had hit my head at the church. I reached up and touched my forehead. I felt the stitches. Fear washed over me.
Weeks passed. I recovered slowly, bit by bit. At first, I could only move my hands and toes. I started playing with playdough to get my strength back, then practiced walking by holding onto my parents or siblings.
The doctors predicted a six-month recovery, but I beat the odds. I was back on my feet in just three months.
LATE FEBRUARY
I had fully recovered just two weeks before the start of 1st Grade. When my mom told me it was time to go back to school, I protested.
ME: "No, Mom! I don't want to go! They're going to laugh at my scar!"
MOTHER: "No one is going to laugh at you. Bullying is strictly forbidden."
(By that time, bullying was no longer seen as 'rough play'; it was recognized as harassment and abuse.)
I hadn't been to church in a long time, and my memory was still hazy. I could barely remember Dina or Kaori.
THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
6:00 A.M. MOTHER: "Angello, wake up!"
ME: "In a minute, Mom..." — I mumbled, half-asleep.
6:30 A.M. Thirty minutes later, my mom walked in and splashed a jar of cold water right in my face.
ME: "AH! YES! I'M UP! I'm changing now!" — I jumped out of bed, terrified.
I honestly didn't understand why she treated me that way, but I didn't have time to think about it. I got dressed, had breakfast, and we headed to school. We waited in the car for an hour until the gates opened.
When I entered the classroom, most of the kids were crying. Suddenly, I ran into my old friends from kindergarten: Dina and Sayuri.
A sharp pain shot through my head. Memories of the three of us flooded back all at once—things I had completely forgotten.
ME: "Oh! You guys are in my class too?" — I said, surprised.
THEM: "Yes! The three of us are together again!"
In the middle of the lesson, the pain returned, even sharper than before. Without thinking, I shouted: "Oh, sh*t!"
The entire room went silent. The teacher glared at me and sent me to the corner. I tried to explain that my head hurt, but she wouldn't listen. Luckily, she didn't tell my parents.
THE INCIDENT IN THE HALLWAY
At dismissal, I found Dina. Sayuri had already left.
DINA: "Angello, why did you say that to the teacher?" — She asked, worried.
ME: "I didn't mean to. My head hurt so bad, the words just came out before I could think."
DINA: "Oh... but it was still bad. Why did your head hurt all of a sudden?"
She reached out to look at my forehead. As soon as I felt her fingers near the scab, a spark of fear shot through my body. Before I could think, my hand moved on its own and I slapped her hand away. The sound of the smack echoed in the empty hallway.
DINA: "Ouch! Why did you hit me?" — She looked upset.
ME: "I'm sorry! I have a wound there, and it hurts whenever anyone touches it."
DINA: "Oh... I understand. Sorry."
ME: "It's okay."
But I didn't realize that Sayuri had been watching from afar. She was angry—not just because I was talking alone with Dina, but because of the way I had "hit" her.
(Later on, this would become a huge problem.)
I'll try to upload the next part sooner! Next Chapter: 4) Discord and the Final Goodbye. Coming soon!