"It may be much to take in, Madam Nakiri. For now, I recommend plenty of rest…"
The doctor's voice seemed very far away, like white noise.
The ringing in my ears was not helping.
Worst of all, though, was the void I was feeling at my lower abdomen.
A void is right, for it may as well be as an empty space now, where the fresh scars were.
I did not cry, nor did I fume. What would be the point? It is never going to undo things
I was just… cold and numb, seeing myself in a third person.
It all seemed pretty usual: a taste test in a public setting, a ceremony to announce the launch of a new product line, dinner, ending with a handshake session with the dignitaries around the room.
One person, however, managed to slip in without the proper credentials.
I heard from a police captain that that person had claimed to be part of the press and was waved in, assumed to be part of another crew. It was after the dinner that he managed to pick up a steak knife off a random table while moving around, under the guise of taking photos to commemorate the event.
Security was light, in view of the occasion and being surrounded with gentle company of my peers. So when he came up to me, I unreservedly turned to smile for the camera.
The next thing I knew, there were screams and gasps as the photographer was pulled back in a wild scuffle, with him shouting something about "let's see you eat without a stomach!"
I had thought he punched me in the gut. Then, it was the warmth, not the pain that made me look down to see red spreading all over my white dress.
Three downward stabbing motions had gone into my pelvic region before he was pulled away. Three saw tooth stabs that, due to the incorrect assumption of how low the stomach was, as well as the downward backhand strikes and lack of proper aim due to the rush, missed the stomach altogether.
And instead, punctured my uterus.
Useless bodyguards.
Three messy wounds: the serrated steak knife cut arteries, veins, capillaries, and nicked the intestines on the way in, as well as on the way out, spewing chyme everywhere that contaminated everything, complicating the situation.
Through my family's influence, top doctors were urgently flown by helicopters into the hospital to work on me. No expense was spared to provide for the best and highest chance of success for the surgery, and subsequent recovery.
Though alive, I was just told the news:
Due to the excessive damage, I would not be able to bring a baby in my womb to full term.
I am as good as infertile.
And for what? All because of a negative review I gave a taste test to a billion dollar company that had to eventually close its doors after being in business for five generations.
They signed the terms of the agreement that they understood the judgement was to be unbiased, and were advised not to make it a public spectacle. The current owner was unable to take the shame of his failure due to cutting corners and switching to inferior ingredients, and blamed me instead.
Not that any of it matters; It all seems irrelevant now.
"Madam Nakiri, you have a guest." I was pulled out of my daze, expecting to see my assigned personal nurse saying that.
Instead, it was the CEO of the hospital.
I thought it odd. I only met the CEO once when I came to, who greeted me and told me how much it was an honour for the hospital to have me there, and should I need anything...
The usual spiel that they would give for VIPs, I suppose.
The CEO was already quite a high level and well respected person. Yet she's the one personally announcing that I have a guest?
Who is that?
"Erina-sama."
"H-Hisako?" Wide-eyed disbelief. She looked the same as the last time I saw her, albeit back to her bob cut hairstyle, wearing a pair of glasses, with more poise and an air of commanding confidence. My eyes were drawn to her neckline… no necklace there. "Why are you here?" My straight words betrayed by surprise.
"I flew over once I heard the news." She stood beside me, setting down a fruit basket that I naturally assumed was for me. "You were still in an induced coma when I arrived. I wished I was here when you woke up."
"It's alright." I cleared my throat, parched after a period of time without drinking water. She immediately poured me a cup and helped it to my lips. While taking a drink, I mused that Akemi would still hesitate to do this for me. "Thanks."
"How are you feeling?" concern filled her soft voice.
"Not very good, actually." a self deprecating cynical tone as I sat up a little higher on my bed, ignoring what the post-op doctor said about not moving too much due the stitches. Then again, my nurse and the CEO who saw me shifting said nothing at that, so it should not be an issue.
Well, it is a gone case, anyway.
"I was told that I cannot bring a baby to full term in this now useless uterus of mine."
Hisako looked struck, "I'm so sorry to hear that. Was there… a second opinion?"
"Checked by three specialists, all confirmed independently."
There was a moment of stunned silence.
I witnessed Hisako look towards the CEO, who shook her head lightly when their eyes met. "The main focus now is to get you well enough to return to your usual standard of living, Madam Nakiri." the CEO addressed me. Rest assured, you'll be given the best care on your journey to recovery."
Hisako turned to the CEO, "Tell me whatever you need: any equipment, specialists, or resources, I'll direct them to this hospital."
What was that she said?
"Yes, Arato-sama."
"Make a transfer to the presidential suite. Also, please get me her meal chart. We have to build back her health with extra care in her diet."
"Will do, Arato-sama."
"I would like to speak with the medical team too."
"I'll make the arrangement now." immediate typing on the handphone.
Hisako nodded in appreciation, "Thank you." She turned back to me, "Excuse me for a moment, Erina-sama. I'll be back shortly."
Once she stepped out of the room, I asked the burning question I had, "It seems like Hisako has quite an influence here?"
"Of course, Madam Nakiri," the CEO said, "This is a hospital owned by the Arato family."
A/N: Thanks for the reviews!