Chap 2: Whispers of Resilience

Beep... Beep... Beep. What's that sound piercing through the haze of my consciousness? My chest feels like it's bearing the weight of the world, crushing me with each labored breath. Why does this agony persist even in the realm beyond life?

I tentatively opened my eyes, the harsh light revealing the sterile walls of a hospital room. No escape... Tears traced down my cheeks, silent witnesses to my anguish.

A nurse entered, noticing my awakening. "Are you okay? Are you feeling any pain?" she asked anxiously. How can I explain this never-ending agony?

After the doctor's examination, the nurses lingered, unaware I was awake. "Did you hear? This patient tried to commit suicide by jumping off the bridge," one nurse whispered. "Why would she do that?" the other nurse questioned. "I don't know, but a boy saved her life by calling rescue services," the first nurse revealed.

I opened my eyes. "Why did I jump?" I whispered, memories flooding back.

The day I climbed a tree for the first time, it was not a tall tree. But I barely managed to climb it, scraping my skin on my knees in the process. "Mom! I did it, I climbed the tree on my own," the younger me said excitedly. "Well done, Fiona! I knew you could do it. Now come down and have some sandwiches I made for you." "Come down! I'm not coming down. I climbed it just now," I said. "If you won't come down now, the branch you are sitting on will come down for sure," Mom said jokingly. "It won't... b-brea-ak... a-hhhh," the branch tweaked and broke, and I was lying down on the grass.

Mom started to laugh uncontrollably, showing a perfect smile,"oh! Goodness." , tucking her silky black hair behind her ear.

I blinked, grappling with fragmented memories. The tree, the fall... my mother's laughter mingling with my pain.

"If only I could turn back time," I murmured, longing for a bygone perfection.