"Excuse me, Miss. Your mobile phone fell," Alvin handed her the phone.
Aurora feels completely relieved. "Oh, thank you, sir..." She slightly bowed to him before continuing to walk, not wanting Alvin to say anything more.
However, the long corridor was not the visitor area but the patients' ward. Unsure of where to go, she noticed an "Exit" sign above a door; she quickly opened it.
As soon as the door closed behind her, she felt her knee weaken in fear. She was terrified that Alvin might recognize her.
...
Before long, Aurora reached the ground floor, startled to find it raining heavily. The gloomy sky mirrored her heart and mind, filling her with nameless sorrow.
The image of her father crying haunted Aurora, especially as she heard him blame himself for what had happened to her, which only deepened the pain in her heart.
Feeling heartbroken, she began to blame herself as well. If only she had been able to break the glass window or avoid the collision, perhaps she would still be alive, and her father wouldn't feel the sadness or blame himself.
"I apologize, Dad! I never intended to make you feel this way—" The heavy rain and the distant claps of thunder drowned out her voice.
"Hey, excuse me, miss. You can't stand here. This is an emergency exit!" A loud voice from behind startled her out of her sorrow.
Aurora turned to see a male nurse opening the exit door and gazing sharply at her.
"Sorry," Aurora said weakly as she stepped out into the rain. Only a few strides away, she could feel the cold rain soaking through her clothes.
The September rain was surprisingly cold enough as it touched her skin. Although she felt uncomfortable and chilled to the bone, she chose to ignore those sensations.
Every flash of lightning and clap of thunder in the distance added to her sadness. Her steps felt heavy, even though she struggled to move faster. Pulling up her hoodie, she walked toward the bus station through the rain. After a few minutes, she finally arrived.
She felt relieved that the rain was no longer drenching her, but her clothes were completely soaked, as if she had just come out of a pool.
Standing there, she hoped a taxi would stop, but after another minute, no cab slowed down to pick her up. She waited for the rain to cease, but it grew heavier.
A bitter smile started to spread at the corners of her lips as she looked at the dark sky above.
"Did you mourn for me as well?" she whispered.
Another thunderclap echoed as if the sky had responded to her question.
After a while, Aurora decided to walk. Perhaps if she were away from the hospital, the rain would cease, the blue sky would return, and her heart would heal.
However, it appeared that God didn't want her to escape just yet. A motorcyclist brushed past her, causing her to fall onto the concrete path.
"Sorry, sorry, young lady. I'm in a hurry," the middle-aged man said, bowing to Aurora before picking up his fallen motorbike. "I have to deliver this package or..."
"It's alright, sir. I'm fine. But please be careful next time." Aurora interrupted him gently while signaling the man to leave. She smiled faintly as she watched the man start his motorbike and fade from her view.
Aurora didn't have the energy to argue with the middle-aged man; she just wanted to leave that place immediately.
Her knees hurt so much when she attempted to stand that she fell back down, using her hands for support.
"God, why? Why now..."
She inwardly laughed at her situation: soaked in the rain, someone had hit her, and now her knee refused to cooperate. Her condition was utterly heartbreaking.
Aurora was grateful that people still had the sense to avoid walking in the heavy rain. Otherwise, they might have thought she was losing her mind for sitting on the road in the downpour.
She remained there for a while, laughing bitterly, until suddenly the rain stopped.
"Well, at least the rain has stopped now..." Just as she thought the downpour had ceased, her gaze fell upon a pair of white sneakers that had stopped before her.
Aurora glanced up, wondering why the man had stopped before her, holding a large black umbrella, big enough to shield them from the rain.
"Why are you sitting there, Aurora?" he laughed, extending his hand toward her. But Aurora felt her blood run cold, realizing that this man actually recognized her.
'Oh my God... Who is he?' Aurora wondered as she watched the man laugh while extending his hand, wanting to help her to her feet.
"I never knew you liked playing in the rain, Aurora Spencer," he continued, teasing her with a playful laugh. But you must stop now, or you might catch a cold if you play in the rain for too long. Come on, let me help you. " His tone grew serious as he leaned in to grasp her hand.
"Argh—" A scream of pain escaped her lips as she struggled to hold her leg.
"Aurora, why? What happened? Are you hurt?" the man asked worriedly, grabbing her arm to help her stand straight. After ensuring she could stand, he tilted his head and looked at her leg.
Aurora was too busy to respond. She focused intently on her memory to recall who this man was. It didn't take long; she finally remembered him—he was David, her classmate.
Before Aurora could say anything, David tightened his grip on her arm.
"Aurora, you're bleeding. We need to get you to the hospital," he said, pulling her toward the building. However, seconds later, he abruptly stopped when he noticed Aurora wasn't moving.
His worry grew as he looked back at her. "You can't walk? Do you want me to carry you? Alright, let me—"
"David," Aurora replied, her voice trembling. Noticing his thick eyebrows slightly raised, she continued, "I'm fine. I don't need to go there. I just want to go home..."
Aurora couldn't risk running into her father there. If she did, she would likely faint, unable to endure witnessing his sorrow.
David held onto her hand tightly, feeling increasingly concerned for her.
"I'm sorry, Aurora, but you can't refuse me. You look awful right now, and you are hurt. Look at your sneakers. You are bleeding!" He sighed deeply before glancing at her feet again, noticing that her white shoes were now stained red. "You also need to change; you're soaking wet."
When Aurora saw the blood on her right foot, she felt shocked; she didn't feel any pain near her feet at all.
Aurora couldn't refuse David's request to return to the hospital; she could only stop him when he was about to lift and carry her.
...
As they entered the hospital and walked toward the emergency room, Aurora prayed silently that no one would recognize her again.
But luck seemed to be against her. Their steps halted when someone called out loudly from behind.
"David? What brings you here?"
Instantly, Aurora felt a wave of cold blood rush through her as she recognized the voice well. It was Alex's. Yet, something confused her.
'OMG! Alex knows David?'