CHAPTER 3: Saving a Stranger

“Mister! Mister! Please wake up!” I started to shake his upper body as I called out to him in a loud voice.

No good. He’s completely unconscious. I can’t carry him alone; I need to wake him up somehow. The best I could do with my much smaller body was to support him as he walked.

Sorry about this, Mister! I shook his body with more force and slapped his face a little. Soon, to my relief, he started to stir and after blinking confusedly a couple of times, he seemed to have come to his senses.

“Thank god! You’re awake…I think you’re injured. Can you get up? I’ll help support you…” I said with clear relief in my voice.

“…I’ll try…” the man replied in a soft and slightly confused tone after a short while as he struggled a little to sit up.

“Here, I’ll help support you,” I said as I used my hands and arms to support his upper body by pushing it up so that he was finally in a sitting position.

“Where are we?” the man asked still clearly confused as he looked around.

Well, looking around isn’t going to help him much. There were no landmarks here. There was nothing around us except for the white snow and the thick tall trees of the forest.

“Put your arm around my shoulder, I’ll support you up,” I instructed as I knelt down next to him.

The man hesitated a little before draping his arm around my shoulder. Together we supported each other as we got up on our feet. I noticed our height difference immediately when he got to his feet. He was much taller than I was, and I barely reached his shoulders. Thank god, he could get up. I wouldn’t know how to support him to my place otherwise. Wait! Now that the thought had formed in my head, I was shocked. I guess, I have to take this stranger to my house…huh?

“Umm…can you walk? Please hang in there a little bit…my house…isn’t too far from here,” I told him reassuringly as I continued to support his body. From my observations earlier, his injuries aren’t that bad, but he must be tired from the cold. He leaned on my body as I struggled to support his larger frame.

I really have to take him home, I guess. I sighed to myself inwardly. People would have many things to say about a young and single woman taking a stranger man home with her. Thankfully, no one was around…plus he’s injured so that makes him a patient. My patient.

“Yes, I can…thank you,” the man replied after a while. Perhaps, he was too tired to speak.

“You don’t need to speak anymore. Save your energy. Let’s try to make it to my house. I’ll treat your wound for you…” I continued to reassure him in as calm a voice as I could muster. He’s a patient so I should make him feel as safe as possible.

We struggled along the narrow snow-covered path until we finally arrived at my house. This is the first time that I’ve had a guest over at my house. I’ve been living here alone ever since my father passed away. My house was more like a small cottage with nothing much to offer to a guest but at least it was clean. I hoped he didn’t mind.

I quickly unlocked the door as I continued to support some of his weight with my smaller body. The walk here was tiring for both of us, and we struggled most of the way. I was amazed that he didn’t fall over even once, he must be quite strong. After unlocking the door, I quickly led him inside the house.

The house was small and since I was living alone, I only had one small bed. Without hesitation, I led him to the bed and gestured for him to lay down. He sat down on the bed as he panted a little and tried to catch his breath. I was panting too from the exertion of our walk here.

“You should lie down…I’ll make some warm tea to warm you up. Then I’ll treat your wound. Please wait here,” I quickly explained before turning around to head to the kitchen.

Once in the kitchen, I rushed to set the water to boil adding some herbs that would help warm him up and counter exhaustion. After that, I quickly grabbed the first aid kit and returned swiftly back to the bed. To my surprise, the man was still sitting on the bed as I had left him. He had not lain down on the bed at all.

“Mister! Please lay down and rest. Your body must be very cold and tired. Let me wrap some blanket around you,” I said as I gently pushed him down onto the bed.

“Who are you?” the man asked curtly as he grabbed my hand.

I was slightly shocked at his fast reflex and his reaction. Well, perhaps he just wanted a proper introduction. I’m not used to giving my name to strangers though…

“My name is Lin. I live here in this small town and I specialize in herbs and medicine. So…if you’ll allow me, may I tend to your wounds? Your arm…is wounded,” I answered cautiously.

“I see…” the man replied flatly as he held out his arm for me to inspect.

“Sorry, I need you to remove the top part of your clothes so that I can see your arm,” I told him a little shyly.

“Sure…” The man answered without any emotions as he shrugged off his shirt to reveal his very muscular arms.

Let’s focus on the wound…and not how well built he is! The wound didn’t seem too deep which was a relief. However, the wound was long like his arm had been slashed by a sharp knife or sword of some sort.