A PAPER

Chapter 4: A Paper

Anna Pov…

I could hear faint voices around me.

“Why isn’t she waking up yet? It’s been twelve hours already,” a familiar voice said.

I wasn’t sure where I was, but I managed to open my eyes. A white ceiling greeted me.

I groaned as a sharp pain shot through my head, and I slowly raised my right hand to my temple in an attempt to soothe it.

My eyes shut again. The pain was still there, lingering.

Then I felt a cold touch on my hand and heard that same familiar voice again:

“She opened her eyes just now.”

Hearing that voice gave me the strength to pry my eyes open once more, and once again, I was staring at the same white ceiling.

The sharp pain returned, though this time it wasn’t as intense. Gathering all the strength I had left, I slowly sat up.

“Anna! You’re up?”

My eyes settled on Eva, who was smiling excitedly. It was only then I realized—she was the familiar voice I couldn’t place earlier.

“What am I doing here…?” The words caught in my throat as memories from the previous night came flooding back.

I glanced around and realized I was in a hospital room. A doctor stood next to me, examining me carefully.

“Oh dear! You’re awake,” he said in an aged voice. I could only stare back. I had no words.

“You really scared me,” Eva said, pouting as she cupped my cheeks with her warm, brown hands. “At one point, I thought you’d never wake up. How can someone sleep for twelve hours straight?”

“Twelve hours?” I repeated, stunned by the weight of her words. How could I have possibly slept that long?

Since my family died, I haven’t been able to sleep for more than two hours. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw it—that scene, the one where they died.

“What are you thinking about?” Eva asked, smacking my arm lightly.

“Nothing,” I muttered, pulling myself away from the spiral of thoughts.

“How did you know where I was last night?” I asked.

“Right before I lost contact with you, the last thing I heard you say was ‘bridge.’ So I ran there—and found you lying on the ground like a cold corpse,” Eva said, smacking me again, this time harder. “How could you scare me like that, you asshole?”

“By the way, what were you doing there at that hour?” She stared into my eyes, like she was daring me to tell the truth.

But I couldn’t. If I told her the real reason I went to that bridge… she’d be so disappointed in me.

“Huh, I just went out to get some fresh air,” I said, surprised by my own lie.

I didn’t even know when I got so good at lying.

“Really? Then why didn’t you ask me to come with you?” she pressed, narrowing her eyes.

“I didn’t want to bother you,” I replied quickly.

She frowned. “As if I ever complain.”

“Well… I’m just glad you’re okay now. That’s what matters most,” Eva said, gently taking my hand.

As our eyes met, a pang of guilt surged through me. She had no idea what I had really gone to the bridge to do.

“I’m here with you. I’m not going anywhere,” I said, forcing a smile. I hoped it was enough to reassure her.

She smiled back, and that was all the confirmation I needed—she was okay.

“I already called the boss and told him you won’t be coming in to work for a week,” Eva added casually, dropping the bombshell.

I froze, my mouth hanging open.

“Don’t give me that look,” she said. It was only then I realized I was staring at her in disbelief.

“You need to rest, okay?” she continued. “I told him you fainted from stress and asked for a week off on your behalf.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but she gently placed her hand over my lips.

“Shh! You just need to rest. Don’t say anything.” She removed her hand and smiled softly.

“But you—”

“Didn’t I say don’t talk? You’ll hurt your lips if you do,” she interrupted again.

I gave up and stayed silent.

“You’ll be staying at my place for a while, so I can keep an eye on you,” she announced.

I nodded. Being around someone who cared… it didn’t sound so bad.

“I’m going to pamper you and take care of you, okay?” she said, grinning.

I smiled in return.

Suddenly, her attention shifted to the doctor, who was still silently checking over some charts.

“What was that thing you wanted to tell me earlier? The one I asked you to wait on until she woke up?” she asked, her eyes sharp and focused on him.

I looked at the doctor too. What was she talking about?

“Oh, that,” the doctor said with a smile. The tension building inside me eased slightly. His smile seemed to do some magic.

“I’ll be back,” he said, then left the room.

A few minutes later, he returned holding an envelope and handed it to me—but Eva snatched it before I could take it.

“Let’s see what we’ve got here,” she said with a mischievous smile, starting to open it.

I watched her carefully, my heart thudding with anticipation.

She peeled it open, pulling out a neatly folded sheet of paper.

“Now I’m nervous,” she muttered, closing her eyes for a moment before unfolding it.

I held my breath as she slowly opened her eyes and glanced at the paper.

Her expression shifted in an instant—from curiosity to shock.

“What is it?” I grabbed the paper from her and looked for myself.

The moment my eyes landed on it, I understood.

And my shock… was even greater than hers.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

What the hell!?