Chapter 63: Chapter 63

"He's alright Nate and he'll surely recognize you.", Grace tells me patting on my shoulder as we sit on the cold steel chairs put outside the casualty. I nod my head a little in reply and keep on looking at the floor. My eyes are still pooled with tears and I don't want Grace or anyone to see that.

The awful silence, the suffocating smell of antibacterial wipes, the dull white paint, everything about hospital sucks. And it's more than two hours since we are sitting in this horrible atmosphere.

After Ethan was taken away from the field in that van, we went to the school nurse and asked what is the issue. She said it was probably a concussion and Ethan will be alright.

We then directly drove towards the hospital in Milan's car and was send to this unfortunate area to sit and wait.

The coach and a few of the footballers joined us a little later after that, seeing how they had to finish the match first. I heard one of the players telling Milan that they almost lost the match because they were all distracted.

I wasn't so worried at first as I thought it's just a concussion and it's not a big deal. Gavin said it often happens to football players and Ethan will be alright. And the school nurse also didn't sound very nervous.

But then I really didn't know much about concussion and I googled it as I was simply sitting here. And then a variety of different articles about football players who had died of concussion and scary words like brain damage, surgery and memory loss appeared. And I almost broke out into sobs at that.

Grace took my phone away and said Ethan would be perfectly alright. She tried to console me but I couldn't feel a bit calm. I was so freaking worried until an hour ago when a nurse came and told us Ethan is alright and has got back his consciousness. I can't explain how relieved I felt at that moment

But then she told three of us to go and see Ethan to check whether he can recognize us. Grace told me to go along with Gavin and the coach, but I was afraid he wouldn't recognize me and I wouldn't be able to control my tears. So at last Gavin and Grace went along with the coach. And Ethan could recognize only the coach.

The coach said doctor told him that Ethan is suffering from short term amnesia as a result of the concussion, due to which he can't remember things happened recently. But they said he'll be alright in a few hours and he can soon remember everything clearly.

But I'm afraid he won't recognize me. Since he don't recognize Gavin and Grace now, he surely won't recognize me too. What if he won't get back his memory?

I can't imagine him looking at me and telling that he don't know me. I don't know how shocked Grace and Gavin felt when he said he can't recognize them. Good that I didn't go with them.

But one way it's actually good. If he forgot he liked me, then all problem is solved. Maybe I can try and become friends with him again and he may date Gabriel. Everything's fine.

But I don't know why I'm simply shedding tears right now. Grace and Gavin said Ethan has a bandage round his head and he has three stitches. He might be in pain right now. But I don't think, that is the only reason why I'm worried right now.

Let me admit honestly, I don't want Ethan to forget me and all the things that happened between us, even though some are unpleasant. I don't want him to forget he liked me. And I don't want him to date Gabriel. Don't ask me the reason.

Talking about Gabriel, strangely she hasn't come here yet. Don't know what happened to her. Did she also lose consciousness on seeing Ethan getting hit and falling down ? Or else she should be here. She and Ethan are almost lovers, right ?

" Who is Michael ?", Someone suddenly asked. I looked up to see a doctor.

" He..", Grace said and stood up from her seat, pointing at me.

" Oh..you are Ethan's friend ?", the doctor asked looking at me. I nodded to him and stood up.

" Ethan is saying your name. But he can't remember who you are. But don't worry. He'll get back his memory in an hour or two. Anyway you go and see him. Maybe that would help him get back his memory soon.", he said. I was more than relieved to hear that.

And Ethan remembered my name. And he didn't remember Gabriel's or anyone else's name !

I was about to go along with the doctor to Ethan's room but then a woman came barging towards us, dragging a five or six year old girl along with her. The women's face was pale and revealed extreme worry while the little child was almost about to cry.

" Doctor..I- I'm Ethan's mother. How is my son ? Where is he ?", she asked the doctor.

So, this is Ethan’s mother. Don’t know who informed her. Maybe the coach or some other staff.

" Oh..he is alright. Please calm down.", the doctor said. Our coach also moved towards her and tried to console her saying Ethan is alright and he just talked to him. The three other staff who had brought Ethan to hospital had left sometime ago after Ethan got back consciousness.

Ethan's mother let out a sigh and her worried features seemingly relaxed. I observed she was beautiful. She had beautiful blue eyes. And Ethan's sister was a cute little thing like he said.

" What actually happened ?", Ethan's mother then asked the doctor.

" He was hit by football on the right side of his head and there is three stitch. And right now, he is suffering from a concussion. He has lost memory about things happened in the last 3- 4 months period. But he will soon regain his memory. No need to worry.", the doctor explained.

" Head ! ", Ethan's mother gasped in shock and looked more worried now. The little girl started crying and sobbing on hearing the doctors words and her mother's worried looks. "Doctor, did you do scanning?", Ethan's mother asked, pulling her crying child closer to her.

" No..but I don't think there's any need for scanning. He is alright and scanning is not actually helpful for a concussion.", Doctor replied and caressed the little girl's cheeks. " No need to worry dear. Your brother is doing quite fine.", he said.

" Doctor, please do scanning. He had underwent a brain surgery when he was a kid. So please do scanning and make sure there isn't any internal bleeding or any other complications. ", Ethan's mother said in worry. I was shocked to hear that. Ethan has undergone a surgery?

" Oh..! Surgery ??", our coach gasped.

" what surgery ? At what age ?", the doctor asked.

" CBT. At 1 and half years.", she said.

" Oh..", the Doctor uttered, his eyebrows scrunched a little. " Rare brain condition. Okay, let's do scanning. But no need to worry. This hit won't bring back tumour. He is alright now. Anyway let's do scanning for your assurance. Come let's talk in my cabin.", he said.

" Can I see my son first ?" Ethan's mother asked.

" Okay..", the doctor nodded. " Come.", he said. Ethan's mother nodded and followed him, holding her daughter's hands securely in hers. The little girl was quietly wailing now and her pouty lips were trembling.

I was again worried after listening to the conversation. All of us were worried actually. I think the doctor mentioned tumour. That means Ethan had tumour when he was a baby and he went through a brain surgery at 1 and a half years !

"He has went through a surgery !?", The coach asked looking at us, especially at Gavin.

" He never told me.", Gavin said. Grace and I also shook my head. I slumped down on my chair and fished out my phone to Google what CBT is. But then Grace snatched away my phone.

" What now ? Doctor said he is alright. ", She said.

" Let me ch..check what CBT is.", I said.

" No need of that. Doctor will say if there's any problem. He said he is fine. So he is fine. And Nate, you don't need to worry this much. After all, who is Ethan to you ?", She asked and slumped down beside me, placing my phone back in my pocket.

I was speechless. What is Ethan to me ? A friend ? We aren't actually friends now. Then what is he ?