Hospitals usually have a slightly spooky atmosphere when it gets dark. In an army uniform, Kevin stood against the cold wind on the balcony outside Leena's ward. The decision of the higher authorities had reached the military base in the daytime. Though Kevin was not downgraded, he was suspended. The massive brawl between the seniors and recruits had led to life-threatening conditions as well as damage to property. As their instructor, Kevin had to take the responsibility.

  He took a drag on his cigarette, and exhaled the smoke. Smoke blurred his face. He hardly ever smoked, but he was very upset now and needed to smoke to vent his frustration and despair.

  Leena suffered a black-out which so far had lasted for two days. For Kevin it seemed like two centuries. He was used to her being around, especially her smiling face. Now, it was just a quiet Leena that he was not accustomed to.

  Heaving a long sigh of temporary relief, Kevin crushed out the cigarette and entered the ward. He adjusted the covers for her so that she wouldn't catch a cold, bent down and kissed her softly on her cheek. Then he walked to his briefcase, took out a pen and paper and sat beside the bed. After thinking for a little while, he began to write. The handwriting belonged to a man, vigorous and forceful.

  Kevin was a handsome man. His face had well-defined angles — his forehead, cheeks and jawline. Though he looked a little fierce, it added to his temperament as a soldier with stoicism and fortitude.

  Leena felt like she had an extremely long dream. When she opened h

  sibility that she might never wake up made him shudder. Luckily, she did wake up, making him more than ecstatic.

  "Sorry, Kevin. I heard what you said, but no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't get through the dense fog. And I saw my mom. She asked me to come to her, but then your voice stopped me." Leena heaved a sigh of relief. She had made the right decision. Otherwise she would not be able to see her beloved husband again.

  "Thank you, Nana. Thank you so much for choosing me." Leena's words made him tremble with fear. He held Leena in his arms as he couldn't imagine what he would do if she had chosen to go with her mother.

  "Kevin, do you really mean what you said when I was asleep?" Leena asked with a sweet smile. Kevin's confession was so sincere and appealing that she managed to overcome all difficulties to wake up and return to him.

  "What did I say? I said nothing while you were asleep," Kevin teased. He had spent the last two days in tears, worry and frustration and now he decided to crack a joke with her.