Chapter 16 Go Home At Midnight

• Wednesday arrived.
• Erica felt more at ease after receiving information about her condition from the doctor. Overall, she had recovered well from the accident, and her wounds would heal quickly. Fortunately, Erica had no major injuries. However, she would still need to remain in the hospital for observation until she fully recuperated or until the doctor approved her discharge. This natural course of events heightened Erica's anxiety. She had to continue her treatment for complete recovery, which meant incurring more expenses. The problem was that Erica didn't have a single penny to address this distressing issue. When suggested to reach out to relatives or friends, Erica avoided the topic. She can't reveal her family situation because she doesn't want anyone to know about her unhappiness. As for friends, Erica didn't have any close, trustworthy companions. Erica had mentioned that she was an orphan, without a father or mother, and that wasn't entirely a lie since it was the truth. Additionally, nobody had informed Erica that the kind man who had brought her to the hospital had already covered all her expenses. Therefore, Erica contemplated running away from the hospital. She planned to do so at an opportune time when the hospital administration raised the issue of medical fees.
• Days continued to pass without anyone mentioning the medical expenses to Erica. This made Erica believe that everything would be fine, and she was certain of it. And indeed, it turned out to be true. Finally, after seven days of hospitalization, Erica was given permission to be discharged. On the day of her departure, Erica mustered up the courage to inquire about her treatment costs. She wanted to request a deferred payment plan and settle the bill with the hospital later. However, Erica was surprised to learn that the man who had brought her to the hospital had already paid. Erica was eager to know the identity of her benefactor so she could express her gratitude. Unfortunately, the hospital staff shook their heads in ignorance. Ansel had decided to keep his identity hidden. The only information Erica received from the nurse was that he was a handsome and generous man.