Seraphina
Magnus finally led me out of the hospital room.
“I know you’ve been through a lot lately, Seraphina. That’s why I agreed to your request today,” Magnus said, holding my hand.
Our hands intertwined tightly. His hand was large and warm, and as he held mine, it felt like the heat seeped into my skin.
I watched as Magnus entered the code. His movements were quick, and the password was incredibly complex.
I only glanced at it, but even though I tried hard to remember, it was just a fleeting moment-impossible to recall.
Soon, the door opened, and Magnus guided me out.
That’s when I noticed that the entire floor consisted of small, identical rooms.
Every door was made of iron and equipped with a keypad.
Each door was tightly shut, revealing nothing about what lay inside.
The hallway had no windows, only dim wall lights casting their glow. I saw our shadows tangled together on the floor, and for some reason, the unease inside me grew stronger.
“Why does this place look like a prison rather than a sanitarium?” I couldn’t hold back my question anymore.
In my mind, a sanitarium should at least offer a comfortable environment, like being at home but with added medical equipment.
Otherwise, how could it be called a place for healing?
But judging by the surroundings, it was hardly different from a prison.
The thought left a deep discomfort in my chest.
“This isn’t like an ordinary sanitarium, Seraphina,” Magnus explained. “The people here are very seriously ill. That’s why there are no windows, and the doors must stay tightly secured. If they escape, they could harm others.”
My heart trembled uncontrollably.
So that’s how it is? Is this what it’s like?
Does that mean my condition is also severe-so severe that I need to be kept in a place like this?
But something still felt off.
I didn’t think my condition was that serious. Was it really this bad?
Magnus seemed to notice my hesitation. He smiled softly and said, “Seraphina, I know what you’re thinking. You’re wondering if your condition is really that severe, aren’t you?”
I nodded.
“I understand,” he continued, “many patients feel the same way. They don’t believe they’re sick at all. But their behavior is already far from normal. You have to understand-ordinary people don’t treat the things they imagine in their minds as reality.”
His words reminded me of my university life, my best friend Evelyn, and the man I loved, Kael.
Perhaps because I hadn’t been taking those pills, the memories in my mind had become clearer.
But now, standing beside Magnus, I could also feel the affection I had for him growing stronger.
So, who did I really love?
The thought made me frown.
Maybe those memories weren’t real. Maybe they were just images my mind conjured because of my illness?
Magnus’s gaze was fixed on me. He must have noticed my hesitation because he asked gently, “What’s wrong, Seraphina?”
I shook my head. “Nothing. Let’s just get out of here.”
I hated this building. It felt so stifling. Even after leaving the hospital room, the oppressive weight hadn’t lifted.
I just wanted to get out, to find some fresh air.
Soon, we reached the lower floor.
I looked around, surprised to find that the sanitarium was situated in the middle of a forest.
The surroundings were desolate.
Behind us was a dense expanse of trees, while in the distance, cliffs dropped steeply into the sea.
It was already late at night. The darkness engulfed everything, and the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves echoed eerily.
I turned to look at the massive sanitarium sitting against this backdrop.
How had my parents found this place and sent me here?
Surely, even a prison wouldn’t have felt this suffocating.
The thought made me frown again.
“Let’s take a walk in the garden, Seraphina,” Magnus said, holding my hand tightly as he led me to a small garden.
The greenery here was meticulously maintained. It was an artificial garden, carefully designed to be picturesque.
We strolled through it, breathing in the fresh air. Slowly, I felt my mood lighten.
This was much better-far better than being confined to that hospital room.
Not far ahead, I noticed a rocking chair.
Excited, I ran over to it and sat down.
“Magnus, can you push me? I want to try it,” I said, a little embarrassed.
After all, it had been so long since I’d done something like this.
“Of course,” Magnus said, his laughter warm and pleasant. He stood behind me and began to push the chair.
The wind brushed past my ears, and my body swayed gently with the motion.
It felt like I hadn’t been this happy in a very long time.
At this moment, I was genuinely joyful.
Had it really been this long since I last felt such simple happiness?
Perhaps it was because I’d been locked away for so long, confined to a small, suffocating space like a prisoner.
Now, I could feel the breeze, smell the faint fragrance of flowers, and hear birds chirping in the distance.
I was truly happy-and incredibly content.
For the first time in forever, I felt free.
Was this what freedom tasted like?
If Lyra was right, should I use this opportunity to escape and claim my freedom forever?
The thought surfaced in my mind, and I found myself unable to suppress it.
“Are you having fun, Seraphina?” Magnus asked from behind me, his voice as gentle as ever.
“Yes, Magnus, thank you,” I replied.
But as I sat on the rocking chair, my back to him, I began to carefully observe my surroundings.
I scanned the area. Beyond the cliffs, I could hear waves crashing against the rocks below.
On the other side was the forest, its dense trees stretching endlessly into the darkness.
Oddly enough, I hadn’t seen a single proper road anywhere.
How had my parents managed to bring me here in the first place?
As I pondered this, Magnus suddenly stopped pushing the chair.