He looked at her in mild surprise.
"Why am I here?" she asked, her voice raspy.
"You were hit by a car yesterday," he replied, his gaze unwavering. "I saw you, covered in blood, and took you to the hospital."
"How long was I in the hospital?"
"Two days," he said simply.
She tried to sit up suddenly, but a jolt of pain shot through her body, forcing her back down. "Sorry, but I can't afford the hospital bill," she whispered, her voice laced with anxiety.
"You don't need to," he responded, his voice cold and low, before turning and leaving the room.
Ausse lay there, confused, staring out the open window. A sudden, gentle breeze brushed her face. The wind was light, the weather serene and beautiful, but instead of enjoying the peaceful day, she remained lost in thought. What if my parents were searching for me? she wondered. But a part of her knew that would never happen. With the calming weather surrounding her, she drifted back into a peaceful sleep.
A Faint Awakening
Again, a faint voice called her, waking her up.
"Here. I thought you'd be hungry."
He placed something down and left before she could fully process his words. She pretended not to hear him and nestled back into the comforting embrace of sleep.
It was nearly noon when she truly woke. Her eyes drifted around the room, a spark of curiosity in them. On the bedside table, she saw some food with a note beside it: 'Eat properly.' Her eyes welled up with tears. A stranger, who barely knew her, was treating her with more kindness than the parents who had given her life.
Two more days passed. She waited for him, but he didn't return. Each time the nurse brought her food, she asked who had sent it. The food always came with the same note, 'Eat properly,' but that wasn't enough to satisfy her burgeoning curiosity. She longed to thank her savior, to see his face again. She didn't understand these unfamiliar feelings, but all she wanted was to meet him.
Over a week passed. She was recovering well, but the peaceful days were dwindling. She knew she had to return to reality. Days merged into one, her body mended, and it was finally time to leave the hospital. A new, daunting thought surfaced: Where shall I live? It had been three weeks since she'd fled her forced marriage. Returning to her parents was simply not an option.
Scene 2: A Fateful Encounter
She took a taxi to a nearby hotel, but she had no money for a room. Once again, she found herself walking the streets as darkness descended. Exhausted, she decided to rest on a nearby footpath. The cold wind bit at her, and she fainted, collapsing onto the pavement.
Suddenly, a car passing by noticed her motionless form. It stopped, and from it emerged the same handsome man.
"What a fate," he murmured, his eyes fixed on her. He then gently lifted her and carried her to his car.
Even in her unconscious state, she could almost hear the steady beat of his heart. A faint, inexplicable obsession stirring within the girl, carried by this enigmatic stranger.