Leaning on the soft pillow, Gao Ming felt the start of a headache. He seemed to have experienced a horrible nightmare when he was unconscious. He encountered many things that couldn’t happen in real life. Before this, he couldn’t understand why he’d dream about those things. But now, he realised that his neighbour would come over every night to tell him ghost stories.
“At least my efforts are not wasted. You are now awake.” The man looked awkward. He thought Gao Ming was comatose. It was why he was not afraid to share everything with Gao Ming. Who would have thought that Gao Ming would regain consciousness so quickly?
With a frown, Gao Ming studied the man before him. He had a clean appearance and a bright smile. Such a character had scars hidden under his sleeves and would come to tell ghost stories to a comatose patient at night… Was he a normal person?
“Stop frowning. I really treat you as a friend.” The man explained softly, “No one understands me and is willing to listen to my ideas. Over the past few months, only you have never once rebutted me and approved of everything I said.”
“That was because I was in a coma,” Gao Ming couldn’t help but say.
“In any case, you’re one of my few friends. You can’t be going around telling me about my secrets,” This statement appeared to be the man’s true goal.
“Don’t worry. I can’t even remember my own name,” Gao Ming pulled back his gaze. Everyone called him Gao Ming. Even the dream version of himself was called Gao Ming. However, for some reason, whenever he tried to figure out his name, a voice would appear in his heart, “Actually, our names are not Gao Ming. I hope you can do it this time.”
We? Why we? Are there more than one version of Gao Ming?
“Interesting. When you leave the hospital, I’ll treat you to a meal,” The man patted Gao Ming’s blanket with satisfaction, “Take care of yourself. We’ll meet outside the hospital.” The man seemed to be certain that they’d meet again. He left the canvas and walked out while humming.
“Doctor Xuan saved my life, and Xia Yang is my neighbour in the hospital. He’d come over every night to tell me ghost stories. From the looks of things, every character who appears in the nightmare is related to the people around me. The more often they appear in the nightmare, the closer they are to me in real life. But…” Gao Ming’s brain jolted with pain. “I have my parents in the nightmare, and they are very important to me. They have helped me many times. However, the nurse told me that I grew up in an orphanage. That doesn’t match!” The details about Gao Ming’s parents didn’t align with the nightmare and the real world.
“I feel like they’re still waiting for me.” Gao Ming raised his hand with difficulty. He tried to grab the painting. Ah Fang noticed this and moved the painting to Gao Ming, “This is abstract and scary, but it gives me a familiar feeling. Have I really changed due to his influence?”
“That uncle is not a good person. Sister Ling Ling doesn’t allow me to get close to his room.” Sister Ling Ling was the female nurse. “Everyone tries their best to get better. However, the man has been sent to the emergency room several times already. I heard he kept a fruit knife under his pillow.” Compared to Xia Yang, Ah Fang felt Gao Ming was more approachable.
“So the root is mental illness.” Gao Ming studied the painting, trying to get a clearer read of Xia Yang’s personality. He was rapt until rapid footsteps came from the corridor. Ling Ling rushed in.
“Was Xia Yang here?!” The nurse glanced at Gao Ming’s bedside table. Her expression was severe as she snatched the painting away, “Teacher Gao, you mustn’t get yourself entangled with Xia Yang. That man is a total bastard.”
“He appears quite nice.”
“That’s a lie.” The nurse whispered, “One time, he went to the shared sick room and stood beside another patient’s bed in the middle of the night. He sliced open his wrist and used his blood to paint. He almost scared the other patient to death!”
With that, a scenario appeared in Gao Ming’s mind. In the silent night, while he was unconscious, a stranger entered his room and stayed beside his bed. He held a sharp carving knife in his hands.
“Other than you, all the other patients’ family has lodged a complaint about him.” The nurse checked Gao Ming’s vitals. Gao Ming chewed on Xia Yang’s words. Suddenly, he grabbed the nurse’s wrist, “Can you do me a favour?”
“Can you show me the hospital records? I want to see who else was admitted on the day I was sent here.”
“I don’t think that’s possible,” The nurse looked troubled.
“Then, can you tell me who came to visit me when I was unconscious, and what did they tell me?” Gao Ming didn’t want to remain passive. He started to actively search for his missing memory.
“There were student parents, teachers and the hospital superior…”
“Not them.” Gao Ming interrupted her, “I mean special people in my life.”
The nurse thought about it and took out her phone to check, “There was a person who claimed to be your girlfriend. However, the other school teachers haven’t seen her before. Plus, your conditions hadn’t stabilised back then, so we didn’t let her in. She came back a few more times, but she mostly stayed outside your room.”
“My girlfriend?” Gao Ming had no impression at all.
“Her name is Liu Yi. I hear she’s in court for malicious harm towards others.” The nurse patted her brain. “Right. Since you’re awake, I’ll bring you the things you had on you when you were in the accident. Perhaps you can remember more things when you see them.”
The nurse hurried away. She appeared so straightforward and direct.
“Liu Yi,” Gao Ming tried the name on his lips. “She also exists in the nightmare! Is that really a dream I’ve made based on my life?”
In the room, Gao Ming closed his eyes to think. Ah Fang kept to the corner to play with his blocks.
The wind fluttered the curtain. The clock ticked by. No one noticed there was a figure outside the window who had been waiting for the female nurse to leave. They stayed there to stare at Gao Ming.