'Urgh… Where… Where am I?'

'Don't speak, Mr. Wesker, you're still very weak. The surgery was intense'

'Dr. Tachibana… I'm alive… How?'

'Thanks to two of the most skilled surgeons in the world' she smiled.

'Heh… Too bad it's a wasted effort'

Tomoe frowned.

'It is against the path of honor to be ungrateful for someone else's kindness. You have no idea what those two surgeons went through just so you could live!'

'But… But why? I caused so much pain and suffering…'

'Don't you understand, Mr. Wesker?' she smiled. 'You're not alone! You haven't lost everything as you thought! You may have made mistakes in the past, but it's the future you must look at! And that's exactly what they gave you – a future'

'I... I don't know what to say, Dr. Tachibana'

'Then don't say anything' she smiled gently. 'There'll be plenty of time for speaking when you recover'

Albert started to shake.

'I… I…' tears started to fall down his eyes, which he fruitlessly tried to cover up. 'I'm sorry… I've never cried before in my life…'

'Then I guess this is the first time you've truly realized you're not alone in this world, and that no matter what you did, there will be people like us that can forgive you and help you'

Wesker wiped his tears off.

'Thank you'

Dr. Tachibana smiled once again.

'I'll leave you now. I strongly suggest you take some rest and let your body recover'

'You know what… Maybe I'll do just that, Dr. Tachibana'

'Please, Tomoe is fine' she smiled and left the room.

Meanwhile, on the opposite end of the hospital, another patient was also waking up from their slumber.

'Uhm…'

'Hey, are you alright? Can you talk?'

'Hmm… Maria? What… I'm alive?'

'Yahoo!' the paramedic gave her friend a strong hug. 'You really got me worried for a second!'

Lizzy looked around.

'But how… I felt life slipping away… How did I survive?'

'That would be me' a man entered the room. 'I'm Adam Graham, Resurgam's neurologist'

'Huh? But…'

'I had to open you and restore the damage the virus had done to your brain manually. It… really wasn't easy… But it was worth it when it worked at the end' he smiled widely.

'Doctor… I don't know what to say…'

'A thanks is always nice' he grinned.

Lizzy's eyes filled with tears.

'Thanks! Thanks, Doctor!'

'Alright, that's enough, Adam! Leave the girl to rest!'

'What? Why won't YOU leave her too?' Adam resisted Maria's urging.

'Because I… Uhm… Shut up! She's my friend, you asshole, of course I'm staying with her!'

'Well, alright, as you wish!' Adam winked and left. 'I'll check in on her later, tho—'

'Leave!'

'Okay, okay…' the doctor did just that.

And almost bumped with Gabe Cunningham.

'Hey, watch it!'

'Sorry, Dr. Cunningham. It was Maria' Adam laughed.

'Heh, it's alright. After what you did, it's forgiven'

'Doctor… I don't think I've properly thanked you yet for not turning me in… It… It means a lot, it truly does!'

Gabe laughed.

'Don't thank me. Thank the whole trauma team, it was their decision'

The man smiled.

'Besides… Even under a fake name, you still saved two lives. Not to mention, you helped distribute the cure. And in my book, that means you're good enough'

Adam smiled, then remembered something.

'And… And what about Albert Wesker? What will happen to him?'

'Well, he will be reported to the authorities, but…' Gabe bit his cigarette. 'The T-Virus suitcase will be found in 15 days at the reception of the hospital. And until then, he may or may not be still here'

'Oh, I see… You're a good person, Dr. Cunningham'

'No, I'm not. Again, it was the team's decision. They didn't want to undermine the kid's efforts'

'I'm not sure that's all there is to it. I spoke with Dr. Tachibana earlier. She's surprisingly good at seeing through people'

'Yeah, she is' Gabe laughed.

'She said Mr. Wesker had changed. And I believe it'

'Heh… Maybe he did. What's wrong with someone changing for the better?'

Dr. Graham smiled.

'Hey, Dr. Cunningham… I'm going to the roof for a while'

'Alright. Catch you later!' the diagnostician said and departed.

Adam quickly passed through the staircase and went to the rooftop.

The chaos that had ensued just a few days ago had now stepped down to the usual harmony and quiet.

The man looked up.

The sun was rising.

And with it, a new and hopeful future.