»—— act two. new moon
☽⋅── EIGHT ──i'm not mistaken ─⋅☾

Carlisle couldn't help but analyze the situation deeply. Upon hearing about Eve's eventful day and her emotional state, his thoughts turned toward the hospital and its odd nature.

Although they had already concluded that the facility warranted suspicion, Eve's challenging day, mirroring her own mood only heightened Carlisle's curiosity. He had noticed her joking about how her emotions seemed to turn the day around, and a nagging feeling in his gut suggested that there was something more to her words.

As days passed, Eve found her resolve bolstered by Eleanor's heartfelt words. She now dedicated herself to delving into her investigation, exploring every avenue available.

As Carlisle continued his search, the absence of any real information about the hospital's history began to bother him. He considered the possibility that the reason for its minimal coverage was simply due to its small scale, but a nagging doubt lingered in his mind. Perhaps there was more to this strange hospital than met the eye. He resolved to keep digging deeper, determined to uncover the truth that lay hidden beneath the surface.

As Eve walked down the hallway, her professional gait punctuated by measured strides, she came across a new patient who stood out as an anomaly within the routine-driven hospital environment.

Knocking on the patient's door, a nurse opened the door, saying, "Oh, Dr. Eve, Mrs. King has requested to see you. She mentioned she knows who you are."

Eve raised her eyebrows, studying the chart in her hand--Freda King--a name she wasn't immediately familiar with. She acknowledged the nurse's words with a mere nod and proceeded into the room.

She looked at the elderly woman in the bed, who was gazing out the window before turning to face her.

"Hello, Mrs. King," Eve greeted, introducing herself as her doctor.

However, the elderly woman's reply left her puzzled: "It's really you, my angel," she said, her voice soft and affectionate.

"I...I'm sorry," Eve replied, surprise etched on her face, "Have we met before, Mrs. King?"

The woman waved her hand weakly, correcting her, "Please call me Freda."

The next moment, Freda stood and approached Eve, enveloping her in a hug.

Initially, confused, Eve hesitated, not sure how to respond. Yet, after a brief pause, she gently reciprocated the embrace, holding onto the frail woman's frail frame.

"I don't understand," Eve finally said, her voice tinged with puzzlement. "How do you know me?"

Freda chuckled, stepping back and surveying Eve with an amused expression on her face.

"You forgot? I see," she said, a knowing and nostalgic smile on her lips. "It's been many years." She continued to explain, her voice tinged with genuine amusement, "Besides, I definitely don't look the same as when you last saw me. I was just a young sprout, about six years of age."

As Freda finished speaking, Eve couldn't help but furrow her brow, skepticism etched in her expression. "Freda, I'm afraid that's not possible. I wasn't even born then," she said, expressing her disbelief.

The elderly woman then chuckled before crossing her arms behind her back. "Of course, I'm not mistaken," she insisted, her voice soft. "You look exactly the same."

She paused, her eyes lowering gently as she spoke again. "But I have been waiting for you, my angel," she said, her voice filled with a mixture of warmth and anticipation. "I knew you would come back because you promised."

Freda stepped towards Eve, firmly taking her hand and leading her to sit next to her on the bed.

With a gentle voice, Freda stated, "I suppose things happened, and you forgot. But I am certain I am not mistaken. You are the same doctor from my past."

As Eve seated herself beside the woman who believed they shared a connection from the past, Freda's words lingered in the air, igniting a sense of perplexity and curiosity.

Freda's gaze shifted to the window as she recalled the events of the past. "When I had a severe cold, many doctors claimed I would recover, yet I never did," she said, her voice tinged with a touch of sadness.

"My parents, desperate to help me, searched relentlessly until they finally discovered this place," she continued, a light sigh escaping her lips.

"And then, we found you," she said, a hint of warmth in her voice. "You performed a miracle, healing me."

Freda then continued, reminiscing, "You healed so many people, even earning the nickname 'Dr. Angel,' but then you vanished, and everyone forgot about you as if you never even existed."

She turned her attention to Eve, her gaze filled with warmth and determination, "But I held onto my memories, no matter how many years passed. I never forgot who you were."

As Freda thought for a moment, her face brightened with a warm smile.

"You would tell me wonderful stories, sharing tales of someone you sought," she began, her voice soft but filled with a hint of affection.

"You described him as someone golden, like a sunrise. Someone you had longed for, yet he was someone you had to wait for," she continued. "If I recall correctly, you mentioned having waited for him for three hundred years."

As Eve observed Freda's thoughtful expression, the tension in the room subtly intensified.

"Did I share more details about this man?" Eve inquired, her eyes locking with Freda's.

Freda nodded, a touch of sadness in her expression. "Yes, you did. You mentioned seeing him many years ago, back in the late 1600s," she explained.

There was a brief pause before Freda's frown deepened, a sign of contemplation.

"You have been patient for so many years," Freda remarked softly, her voice carrying a gentle quality. "I can't help but wonder, did you ever reunite with him?"

Eve then exhaled, her voice tinged with frustration. "Freda, you need to listen to me. It's been nearly 14 years since I woke up in this hospital, and I was only 12 at the time."

A perplexed expression crossed Freda's features. "I'm not mistaken," she insisted, her voice filled with determination. "I remember it all clearly."

Freda then sighed, her voice carrying a mix of uncertainty and disbelief. "I don't know how this is possible, but then again, you did have an extensive life. Anything truly is possible."

Freda lingered a moment longer before bidding farewell, her gaze still locked onto Eve's hand.

"I have something for you," she announced, a mix of anticipation and resignation in her voice. "But I'll bring it to you next time," she continued, holding onto Eve's hand for a few more seconds.

"Until then," Freda repeated, her voice laced with a wistful tone, "I hope you found your 'golden sunrise.'" With a final look, the elderly woman turned and left the room.

Eve furrowed her brows in confusion, puzzled by the encounter she just had. She took a look at Freda's patient chart once more, her mind trying to make sense of the situation.

The chart indicated that Freda's health was impeccable, free of any serious illnesses. The only note related to her medical history was a mild discomfort in her back.

It seemed that Freda King was as healthy as any other person. There were no signs of any cognitive impairments or neurological conditions.

Eve checked her watch and noticed that their shift was nearing its end. She completed the final tasks on her to-do list before making her way outside, where Carlisle was waiting.

Carlisle stood outside, extending his gloved hand to Eve with a friendly smile. "Hey, how was your day?" he inquired, curious about her day's events.

Eve hesitated for a moment before retelling the experience she had with Freda, explaining every detail as they walked towards the car together.

Carlisle listened intently to Eve's retelling of the encounter, his focus unwavering as he absorbed the details. As they walked towards the car, he paused for a moment, reflecting on what Eve had shared.

"That's quite a fascinating encounter," Carlisle remarked, his voice tinged with intrigue. "It seems like you might have stumbled upon something intriguing with Freda."

"I initially believed that Freda must have been mistaking me for someone else," Eve began, a contemplative tone in her voice.

Carlisle, understanding the complexity of the situation, offered his perspective. "But you think there might be some truth to her story," he said, to which Eve nodded in affirmation.

She questioned the possibility of how it was even possible, given her circumstances. "But how is that even possible? If Freda is correct, how is it that I woke up in the hospital back when I was just 12 years old?"

Eve watched as Carlisle moved around the vehicle to take his seat in the driver's seat. He listened intently to her question before responding, his tone thoughtful.

"Maybe the item Freda is planning to give you has the information we're looking for," Carlisle suggested.

Eve nodded, her expression filled with hope. "Yes, that could be the case," she agreed, a small smile on her lips.

"It may have been a strange way of discovering things, but at least it's something," Carlisle said, reaching out to caress her hand before gently kissing the back of it.

Eve's smile grew as she felt Carlisle's kiss on the back of her hand. "I can only hope so," she murmured, her voice filled with a blend of anticipation and hope.

She let out a sigh, the weight of the situation and uncertainty on her shoulders. "It's all so bewildering, don't you think?" She asked, her gaze briefly meeting his before returning to her own thoughts.

"It certainly is," Carlisle acknowledged, sharing Eve's sentiment.

He glanced at her, observing her thoughtful expression as she grappled with the perplexing nature of the situation. He gently grasped her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze as if to communicate unspoken reassurance.