The blue light shot straight into the patient’s body without pausing for even a moment, then disappeared. Suddenly, the previously flat EEG monitor began to fluctuate violently. In just a few seconds, the oscillations nearly exceeded the range of the screen. With a soft “pop,” the patient on the bed seemed to move slightly, and the EEG monitor abruptly went dark, falling silent.

The heart rate monitor, which had also been nearly a straight line and barely perceptible to the naked eye, suddenly began to tremble. Though slow and faint, the heartbeat had resolutely resumed...

Volume One: Where Am I

Chapter Two: Where Am I

The noisy sounds outside the ward suddenly woke Ping Brooks. When Ping Brooks looked out the window, it was already the next morning. The heavy rain had stopped, and the air, washed clean by the rain, was especially fresh. But Ping Brooks was in no mood to appreciate it. He glanced at his wife beside him and, seeing her haggard face, felt a pang in his heart.

The door made a soft sound. The two looked out and saw Nurse Foster quietly standing at the doorway, her gaze toward them somewhat complicated.

“Has Dr. Sullivan arrived?” Ping Brooks finally asked. They could stay in the hospital overnight, but the doctor would have to go home to rest.

“Dr. Sullivan is observing Ethan Brooks’s condition,” Nurse Foster replied, a note of surprise in her voice.

Ping Brooks was taken aback. “Observing?” Dr. Sullivan was already here? Judging by the light outside, it was still far from the doctors’ working hours. Wasn’t his son already brain dead? What was there left to observe? All he could do now was wait for a verdict. But Helen Carter jumped out of bed. “What did Dr. Sullivan say?”

Nurse Foster hesitated for a moment. “Dr. Sullivan said Ethan Brooks’s condition has taken a turn for the better—he’s actually made it through the critical period!” Clearly, this was an outcome none of them had anticipated. Dr. Sullivan, also known as Andrew Sullivan, was, despite being only in his thirties, already a well-known attending physician at Anping Hospital, with a good reputation throughout the province and even the country. He devoted himself wholeheartedly to treating patients and was highly regarded. She had always trusted Dr. Sullivan’s judgment and knew there was little hope for Ethan Brooks. She hadn’t expected a miracle, but now she was truly looking forward to one.

“What?” Both Ping Brooks and his wife could hardly believe their ears. The swing from deep sorrow to great joy was almost too much to bear. Helen Carter stepped forward and grabbed Nurse Foster’s arm. “Nurse Foster, say that again?”

Ping Brooks hurried over as well. “My son can be saved?” Yesterday, Dr. Sullivan’s tone had sounded like a death sentence. No wonder Ping Brooks found it hard to believe. Could it have been a misdiagnosis? But that thought flashed by in an instant, swept away by the news that his son had made it through the critical period.

“I’m not entirely sure myself,” Nurse Foster said nervously, not daring to make any promises. After all, she didn’t want to give the couple false hope. “It’s just that this morning, the nurse on duty noticed signs of activity in Ethan Brooks’s EEG and ECG, so she notified Dr. Sullivan. As soon as Dr. Sullivan heard the report, he rushed over and has been observing and diagnosing in the ICU for an hour now. From what I’ve heard, while things aren’t exactly optimistic, it’s much better than yesterday.”

“Can I go see him?” Helen Carter asked softly, as if afraid that speaking too loudly would shatter the dreamlike joy.

Nurse Foster nodded slightly. “I can only take you to look from outside the ICU, but whether you can go in depends on Dr. Sullivan’s instructions.”

Nodding vigorously, Helen Carter and Ping Brooks followed Nurse Foster to the outside of the ICU. Through the observation window, they saw Dr. Sullivan inside, fully focused on his work. The two didn’t dare make a sound, afraid to disturb him. After a while, Dr. Sullivan shook his head slightly and came out of the ICU.

“Dr. Sullivan? My son—?” Ping Brooks asked cautiously.

Dr. Sullivan took off his gloves and rubbed his eyes, looking a bit tired. He hadn’t slept well the night before; every failed surgery left him restless, and though it wasn’t necessarily his fault, each one felt like a setback. He had rushed over as soon as he got the nurse’s call that morning and had only just now caught his breath.

“Ethan Brooks can be said to have made it through the critical period. He’s currently in a deep coma, but his life is no longer in danger,” Dr. Sullivan said, a trace of doubt in his voice. “It’s really hard to believe.” He paused, as if thinking he shouldn’t say more, but his sense of responsibility as a doctor compelled him to continue. “But you should still be mentally prepared. We’ll need to do a full examination before we can draw any detailed conclusions.”

“When will he wake up?” Helen Carter asked eagerly.

Dr. Sullivan glanced at Ethan Brooks in the ward and sighed softly. “I can’t guarantee that, but judging from the EEG, it should be soon.”

Yesterday, for some unknown reason, the EEG monitor had broken down. Dr. Sullivan found this odd—could it have been caused by the thunderstorm?

Feeling a surge of intense joy, Helen Carter gripped her husband’s hand. “Ping, they said Yifei is going to be okay.”