Maria woke up early, startled by how strong she suddenly felt. The pain from her wound had dulled significantly, and her stomach no longer ached as it did before. Confused but amazed, she tried to sit up.
What on earth did they treat me with? she thought. How am I recovering this fast from a gunshot wound? Her thoughts were interrupted when Mrs. Spencer walked in with the nurse.
"Good morning, Maria. How are you feeling today?" Mrs. Spencer greeted with a gentle smile.
"Good morning, ma’am. I’m feeling stronger today," Maria replied, adjusting herself on the bed.
"That’s good to hear," the nurse said kindly. "I’d like to check the wound to see how it’s healing."
Maria nodded, lifting her hospital gown slightly. The nurse unwrapped the bandages around her stomach. To Maria’s shock, the wound was almost completely closed.
"Incredible..." Maria whispered to herself.
"You’re healing quickly," the nurse confirmed. "With a few more treatments, you’ll be about eighty percent fine. Then we’ll consider letting you go home."
Maria blinked, amazed. "Thank you... I didn’t think I’d be back on my feet so soon." "You’re strong," the nurse smiled before nodding to Mrs. Spencer and stepping back.
Mrs. Spencer approached, her expression shifting to something more serious.
"Maria, there’s something important I need to tell you before you leave."
Maria looked up, heart pounding. What could it be? What haven’t they told me yet? Her curiosity burned as Mrs. Spencer sat beside her bed, ready to reveal the truth...
Maria kept her attention fixed on Mrs. Spencer, her mind tuned to every word the woman was about to say.
"Firstly," Mrs. Spencer began with a calm, advising tone, "you need to understand that enemies are everywhere. You don’t know who your real enemies or friends are. So, with all of your consciousness, you must always be very careful."
Maria listened intently, her eyes never leaving Mrs. Spencer’s face, absorbing each word like it carried hidden weight.
"Secondly," she continued, her voice lowering a notch, "you mustn’t be too desperate about things. Don’t let the act of revenge take over your mind. There are things you don’t know—far more than the things you think you do. Always allow nature to take care of situations. Don’t force things to work your way. Every time we tamper with the balance and direction of the universe, there are consequences."
Her words were heavy but clear, spoken with such clarity and calm that Maria felt them settle into her chest like quiet thunder.
"And lastly..." Mrs. Spencer looked deep into Maria’s eyes, her gaze almost unsettling. "Let not the dark times that await you turn you into something bigger than you can control. Let the goodness in you be safe from perdition and destruction."
The final warning sent a shiver through Maria. It wasn’t clear what Mrs. Spencer meant, but the weight behind her words stirred an uneasy feeling inside her.
"Ma’am..." Maria began, her voice filled with confusion, "I’ve been listening and trying to understand everything you’ve said. But what do you mean by ’dark times’, ’perdition’, and ’destruction’? None of it is clear to me."
Mrs. Spencer’s expression didn’t change. "As I told you before, we shouldn’t tamper with the balance of the universe. Let everything happen naturally. Only then will you know if you’re strong enough to stand for good or too weak to keep evil from taking over you."
She spoke in riddles again, and Maria found herself even more lost than before. Her questions remained unanswered, but she dared not push further...