Bab 1: Prologue

Beeeep. Beeeep.

He wondered where the sounds were coming from. His lips were parched, his throat was dry and his head hurt like there was no tomorrow. He scrunched his nose up when he realized all he could smell was some sort of disinfectant.

A pool?... No he was on a bed, a hospital? If the beeping noises were any indication, he was on the right track.

He heard muffled noises, footsteps and, as what he assumed was his door swung open, voices.

"And here we have our golden patient, Mr. Aslan. Anyone care to read his chart?" annoying guy number1 asked.

"Golden patient?" cute female voice number1 asked back.

"'Been with us for 6 glorious years, he has. We're practically family now", annoying guy number 1 chuckled. Probably the doctor in charge. "Well, Lucy you go on and read the chart."

"Yes, doctor Philips. Julien Aslan, White Male, 15 years of age, persistent vegetative state following a car accident. Was brought in 6 years ago at the age of 9. Has not shown any sign of cerebral activity since then." Lucy said.

"6 years in a vegetative state...? No cerebral activity? Doesn't that mean he's basically... technically brain dead? Jesus, do people even come and visit him anymore?" someone asked.

"His family comes every week, a lovely couple and their 5 year-old daughter, they've never given up hope." Dr. Philips answered, "The new hospital wing was funded by them."

"I see, no wonder they can afford keeping him here for so long."

He was getting a headache. Julien Aslan... Was that him...? He couldn't remember. And what were they talking about, wasn't he doing just fine? He struggled to open his eyelids, they were painfully heavy, heavier than anything he could remember.

"Well, that's that. Let's go to the next room."

He heard rustling and finally opened his eyes, it took him a second to come to and he saw a blur of white making its way to the door.

"Ex... excuse... me..." he croaked.

"Hmm? Russell, you said something?" Dr. Philips abruptly stopped and turned around.

"Huh? No, sir. I didn't." a guy said, Julien recognized his voice to be the one who had asked if anyone visited him anymore.

"Weird... I could swear..." Dr. Philips mumbled then chuckled, maybe his wife was right after all, he should get a hearing kit.

Julien took what he hoped was a deep breath but his throat was so dry he didn't know if he could say those words again. But he had to try.

"EX... excuse... me..." he managed to get out, louder this time.

He saw from the corner of his eye Dr. Philips whipping his head around and staring at him in disbelief, just like the rest of the people whom he assumed were interns. They just stood there, frozen and there mouths gaping.

"Wa...ter" was all he could say before all went dark.