July 1, 2016

14 hours and 25 minutes

Surprisingly, he could still do his job. A few sedative pills. Some time spent in peace and quiet. In the end, he even managed to fall asleep. More than once he woke up in a cold sweat, trembling with terror. Each dream repeated the same events. An inexplicable nightmare that happened in the operating room. Nevertheless, in the morning, despite the warnings of colleagues, he went to work. And he agreed to continue working with a patient whose wound did not even leave scars.

The surgeon was in his office now. He was idly massaging his temples, wondering what he should write in his report. It is unlikely that the authorities will perceive him as an adequate person if he describes to them everything that really happened. It was safe to say that there were no witnesses. The nurse was lucky that there were few burns, although he was very close to the exploded monitor. He refused to remember and talk about what happened in the operating room. The nurse who ran to the exit was even more fortunate. Just one cut. The two remaining nurses did not receive any physical injuries. Fortunately, they managed only with a strong fright. After the sedative, they were also able to work. However, he does not think that they will dare to recount all those events. He wouldn't dare himself.

14 hours and 30 minutes

He lay, as if enchanted, in one position, staring at the ceiling. He was breathing. He was in complete silence. And he heard the rhythmic beating of his own heart. It was beating. How? It was a mystery to him. Thoughts were clarified. He recalled the events that occurred after his speech. Remembered the pain. And he realized that his wound was fatal. But a mysterious man saved him. Brought back to life. How?

Now, the sounds followed him everywhere. Sometimes he heard someone whispering. Sometimes it seemed to him that he saw someone's silhouettes. And sometimes he heard footsteps. And so the whole night. He's probably just overworked. Of course, he didn't fall asleep. He didn't seem to want to sleep at all. He could only think. Although he felt quite normal.

Well, these steps again. Or not? William tried to think rationally, keeping his mind. He survived his own death. There must surely be consequences to this. Oh, and they definitely will and just won't leave the world alone. The main thing is not to succumb to insanity. The footsteps got louder. The man closed his eyes and listened.

Before that, he had already been followed. It was followed, apparently, fearing to get too close. Then he was in a worse state and did not quite perceive reality. There was a fog in his eyes, so he couldn't see the doctors. William could only hear their conversation. He didn't quite understand what exactly happened at the moment of his "resurrection", but judging by the dialogue of the doctors, the hospital was afraid of him. This explained why he was the only one in the intensive care unit. Apparently, other patients were transferred somewhere, so as not to take risks.

Now the man could hear the conversation outside the door. One of the voices was female. For a moment he thought it was Clara. William's ears were ringing. Ever since he got here. So it was hard to make out what the conversation was about. So, all that remained was to wait. Perhaps his savior will tell him everything.

14 hours 35 minutes

- When will I finally be able to talk to him? - Clara asked pleadingly.

- Mrs. Afton, I'm sorry. But until we are sure that the patient is in a stable condition, you will not be able to communicate with him. - the surgeon explained.

- But he's conscious! At least let me see him... - Clara said.

- Only after the examination. - Robinson answered calmly and opened the door.

Clara had nothing more to say. To meet her husband, she could only wait for the results.

14 hours 36 minutes

He didn't have to wait long. The conversation quickly ended, the door opened, and a doctor came into the intensive care unit.

- Mr. Afton. - he smiled.

William smiled tightly in response.

- How do you feel? - the doctor continued.

- G-Good... - it was his first word in the last twenty-four hours.

- Great! And... Don't you feel any pain?

- No... - the man still answered uncertainly.

- Okay... Then you know what? Let me ask you a series of questions that you need to answer as quickly as possible, okay?

William nodded.

- Well, then let's get started! And so, the first question. What is your wife's name?

The man frowned at such a simple question. However, he remembered that questions need to be answered quickly.

- Clara.

- Okay... How many children do you have?

- Four.

- Wonderful. Do you remember how old you are?

- What kind of stupidity? - William answered unexpectedly. - I told you that I feel fine. Why would you test my memory?

- Oh, I'm afraid you don't understand. After all, we can't just send a patient home without first making sure that everything is fine with him. If something happens to you after that, all responsibility will lie with us.

- Then let's finish this quickly. - the man got up from the bed, taking a sitting position. - Is there anything other than a memory check?

- Well... In fact, we need to carry out a number of diagnostics and checks before sending you home.

William sighed. The ringing in his ears was fading. He seemed to be getting better by the second. And now these checks seemed useless to him. However, he respected doctors and their work.

- Get started, doctor. - William replied.

15 hours 58 minutes

It was just phenomenal! Every diagnosis, every test, every analysis showed excellent results. As if the patient had never had any injury. They did an MRI of his brain. There was no trace of the shard. Each lobe of the brain functioned stably. No changes. Absolutely healthy person. The last checks were coming to an end, and he hesitated even more. What should he write in the report?

- Well, how is it? - William Afton walked up to him, pulling on a T-shirt along the way.

At that moment, Robinson was just re-viewing the results of the tomography.

- That's it... Just wonderful. - he answered distantly.

- Then why do you look so thoughtful? - William asked. During this time, he completely returned to normal, and already behaved like a completely adequate and healthy person. It even seemed to William himself that he had stopped hearing side sounds coming out of nowhere.

- Me? - asked Robinson, raising his head and smiling. - I'm just impressed! You're completely fine, Mr. Afton. I don't even know how to describe it...

- Something strange happened, right? - William asked, and the man almost choked on his saliva.

- W... What are you talking about? - the doctor answered anxiously.

- I heard other doctors talking. They seemed to be extremely worried about something.

- Ah... That... I think they were discussing someone else. - the doctor lied.

- Are you sure? I was the only one in the intensive care unit.

Robinson finally reached a dead end. He could not describe to the patient all the madness that happened in the operating room.

- That's all... No matter. - the doctor said.

- Really? It seemed to me... I felt something strange at the moment of my awakening. Then everything was too confusing, too unclear... but... Did I hear the screams?

That was the last straw. The patient could not be conscious at that moment. It's just impossible! No way! It was time to put an end to this madness.

- Follow me, Mr. Afton.

- What? Where to?

- Home. I will fill out the necessary documents and discharge you from the hospital. You will go home to your family.

And he walked quickly towards his office. The mysterious patient moved right behind him. And now he knew what he would write in his report. He knew how to complete it all. Forget like a bad dream.

- "The operation was carried out successfully, the patient survived." - he thought to himself. - "After it, he returned to normal in a day. All the tests were taken. All checks have been carried out. Now, the patient can go home."

And period.