8. DOCTOR'S APOLOGY
'Hm…' Adam slowly opened his eyes and looked around.
He was shirtless and covered in bandages, lying on the beach under the sun.
He tried to get up, but the extremely sharp pain from his abdomen forced him to lie back down.
'Ah!' he yelled.
'Adam!' Maria turned around.
She got up from the nearby rock and went to her friend.
'Maria… What the…'
'Don't move! I know it hurts, but bear it, I don't have any painkillers on me'
'Hah… It's okay… I've had worse… Ow…'
Maria smiled.
'Where… are we, anyway?'
'After the ship sank, our lifeboat was stranded here. We're waiting for support right now. You're not the only one that's injured, you know'
'Heh… Sorry about that…'
'You idiot, what are you apologizing for? It's not like it's your fault or anything!'
'Yeah… Guess you're right… Then sorry for coming here… I wasn't invited after aAW! Man, that hurts!'
'Then don't speak, you moron!' Maria smiled gently. 'Listen… I need to apologize. Not you. I'm sorry, Adam. It won't happen again. Ever again'
'Eh? What are you talking about?'
Maria laughed cheerfully.
Her decision to never allow such doubts again filled her heart with joy.
'It doesn't matter'
'Aw… Okay… I'll just be quiet now'
'Yeah, you do that… Huh?'
'What is it?'
'You hear that?'
Maria turned around.
'Hear what?'
'THAT!' she laughed and pointed up.
A red helicopter was flying high above them.
'HEY! WE'RE HERE!' she yelled. 'GABE!'
On the other end of the beach, the diagnostician had also noticed the chopper.
Luckily for them, it noticed them too.
Meanwhile, in the woods surrounding the beach, the girl was observing everything quietly.
She looked at her cellphone, then quickly put it back in her pocket, smiling.
After that, she turned around and started walking.
