I had been dreaming something, but I couldn't recall what. A nice dream, I hoped. Before I opened my eyes, I sensed I was somewhere unfamiliar. I heard a rhythmic beeping, which I realized was in sync with my heartbeat. Also, I heard light snoring. Was that me? I didn't think so. I was laying on my side, on a soft mattress. I cracked my eyes open. I saw white sheets. I tried to move and groaned as a dull ache permeated my back. The burning pain that I was used to was muted, as if I were on painkillers.

I connected the dots together in my weary mind and determined I must be in a hospital. The last thing I remembered was Joey carrying me in his hands, so I inferred he must have brought me here. I moved again, noticing I had a tube in my arm that led to an IV drip. Considering my physical state, I must have been very dehydrated from all the fluid loss. My body was very stiff, which I figured out was due to bandages covering my back.

I opened my eyes again. To my surprise, the IV and the heart rate monitor were human-sized, as was the hospital bed. The room as a whole was still gigantic, though. My bed and the medical equipment were placed upon a table. I looked over and discovered the source of the snoring I heard. Mr. Henderson was sitting in a chair alongside the table, head tilted back against the wall, mouth open, and fast asleep. Next to him was Joey, who was also dead to the world, with his head propped on his arm and a string of drool dripping down his chin.

Seeing those two, sleeping so serenely, warmed my heart, despite my pain. I wondered what time it was. They must have been by my side all day while I was unconscious. I was grateful to have people in my life who cared about me. I tried to raise myself up and instantly regretted the motion, sinking back down into the bed instead with a grunt. Mr. Henderson stirred and rubbed his eyes, still half-asleep.

"Eren! You're awake!" the giant observed. "How are you feeling?" Joey woke up as well and wiped up the drool on his chin with his sleeve, looking a bit embarrassed.

"I feel... a little better," I admitted. And I did, at least in regards to my external injuries. Inside, I was still hurting badly.

"I'm so relieved to hear that," Joey interjected. "I was so worried about you when you passed out. The doctors said you lost too much blood. They stitched up those—those terrible cuts on your back." His voice dropped and he looked down awkwardly. I, too, avoided eye contact, opting to examine my hands instead.

"Joey," Mr. Henderson said, "would you mind informing one of the nurses that Eren is awake? And grabbing me a coffee while you're at it?" He gave Joey a significant look.

Joey understood the nonverbal cues. "S-sure," he muttered, politely excusing himself from the room and closing the door behind him. Mr. Henderson scooted his chair as close as he could to the table, and placed his hand at the foot of the hospital bed, resting his fingers over the bedframe. I realized his hand was probably larger than the entire bed, and was reminded again of how small I was.

"Now, Eren," he began sternly, "you need to tell me the truth. What happened? Who did this to you?" I bit my lip anxiously. Despite the severity of his tone, his eyes were full of compassion, and some valid anger, but not directed towards me. More of a protective instinct, to rain vengeance upon the person who harmed me.

"You want the whole story?" I asked. The giant nodded, bringing his head down closer to my level so he could hear me better. I sighed. "On Sunday... I snuck into the principal's office. To get my phone back. I wanted to call my mom." My eyes watered as I recalled the conversation. "She told me she never wanted to see me again, that she had sent me here to live among giants... with the express purpose to get rid of me. To kill me."

My face contorted as if the words I spoke were bitter on my tongue. I tried to continue the story, but choked on my sobs. Saying the words out loud made them real. I had struggled so much to hide the truth from myself, just as much as I tried to conceal the wounds on my back, but I couldn't run any longer. Mr. Henderson caressed me with his gigantic thumb to comfort me, and offered me one of his fingers to hold. I hugged it tightly. He didn't interrupt me with any words, but I could plainly see the shock and horror at this revelation expressed in his features. I didn't want to cry in front of him yet again, but it seemed that the decision was out of my hands. Once I regained some degree of composure, I swallowed my tears and continued to narrate.

"I was devastated, so I didn't get out in a timely manner. By the time I tried to leave, the principal caught me." I gripped the giant's finger tighter, shivering at the memory. "He was angry. He crushed my phone... and hurt me. Cut me up and beat me."

Mr. Henderson still didn't speak as he continued to console me with his touch. He frowned, furrowing his brow, as my words sank in. His fingers tightened around the bedframe, bending it slightly with his grip, and I was startled to see a dark rage settle over his countenance. To witness the giant man, normally so calm and gentle, suddenly boil over with such fury, even if the sentiment wasn't directed towards me, was alarming. He stared past me, thinking hard. I couldn't help but tremble at that threatening look in his eyes. When he noticed my reaction, he realized he was scaring me and softened, releasing the bed from his hand.

"Sorry," he apologized. He was still distant, thinking angrily about something else. He stood up and absently opened the door. Joey had been waiting on the other side, with a coffee in one hand and a plastic bag in the other.

"Here you go-" Joey started, but stopped when he saw the vice principal's murderous expression.

"Stay with Eren," Mr. Henderson instructed. "Don't worry about going to class today. I have to take care of something." He lumbered off with clenched fists, not bothering with the coffee Joey had picked up for him. Joey was baffled, looking down at the coffee and then at me.

"What was that all about?" he asked me, sitting in the same chair that Mr. Henderson had just vacated. He claimed the coffee for himself and took a sip from the cup. I trusted Joey, so I told him the truth, about how the principal, that deplorable wretch, was responsible for my terrible wounds. I omitted the part about my mother, because I didn't want to think about her again. Joey was horrified.

"That scummy bastard! No wonder Mr. Henderson was so mad!" he fumed. "You didn't deserve this kind of treatment." He dug around in the plastic bag he had brought with him. "While I was out, I got you a little present. Maybe it will make you feel better." He pulled out a giant sugar cookie, fresh and warm from a nearby bakery. My mouth watered at the heavenly aroma as I realized how hungry I was. He crumbled off a piece small enough for me to munch on, but still as big as my head, and placed it in my lap. I took a bite and found myself in sweet, soft, sugary heaven. Joey gleefully started chowing down on the rest of the cookie, since it would obviously be too big for me to finish.

"Oh my goodness, Joey, this tastes amazing!" I exclaimed through a mouthful of cookie. "Thank you! You are so thoughtful."

"That's not all," he replied, reaching into his bag again. "I got you this too." Blushing, he placed a delicate black rose on the table next to me. "I-I didn't know if you were into flowers, but I thought you might like it. I was going to go with a traditional red rose, but I observed that you seem to like the color black, you know, with all the black clothes and makeup you wear, so..." He was babbling a bit, as he often did, and fidgeting with his hands, but I was charmed nonetheless. I touched one of the petals on the rose, admiring its dainty softness. Its massive size made it only more impressive and magnificent.

"Aww, Joey! That is so sweet of you! I love flowers," I purred with joy. Joey smiled, a genuine smile that showed off his pearly white teeth, and his blush deepened. I gazed up at him and my heart fluttered. I suddenly had an urge to touch his face, to run my hand down his cheek and plant a little kiss on the side, but I restrained myself. With my injuries, I really didn't feel like moving more than I needed to.

Unfortunately, the moment was interrupted by a giantess nurse who came into the room. She was a stunning women, with sparkling blue eyes, full lips, and long, lustrous blonde hair. She had a voluptuous female figure, with a slim waist and buxom breasts that strained against her tight shirt. I was distracted enough by her beauty that I didn't even notice she was holding a small man in her hands until she set him down on the table next to me. I was very surprised to see another human. After being around giants all the time, a human looked positively diminutive by comparison. He was a tall, thin, dark-skinned man, clean-shaven with close-cut black hair, wearing a white coat.

"Hello Eren, I'm Dr. Rajak," he introduced himself, with the slightest hint of an accent. "And this is Nurse Rajak. As you can guess by her name, also my wife." Joey and I exchanged surprised glances. Joey cocked his eyebrow and I had to suppress a giggle at his expression.

"I'm the doctor that stitched up your back. I'm normally a surgeon, but in the rare case of a human coming to the hospital I'm usually responsible for their care," he explained. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm alright. Better than I was before. I still feel a bit woozy if I try to move too much," I told him.

"Okay. For now I want you to rest in bed. When you start to feel better, we'll have you try to stand up," the doctor ordered. He started to walk away, to the nurse's open hand.

"Wait!" I said to stop him. He turned around, looking at me patiently. "Do you live on this side of the wall? I-I didn't know there were other humans like me here..."

He laughed. "It's not very common, certainly. I originally used to work at a hospital on the human side. Occasionally we would get calls from this hospital requesting a human doctor or equipment, if they happened to get a human patient, and I would go. While I was working here I met my beautiful wife, and we fell in love." He gave the nurse a tender look, and she returned the gesture in kind.

"He's very useful here, since he's able to perform very precise and difficult operations on giants, such as splicing together blood vessels or nerves, with those small hands of his," his wife clarified. "Plus, he can fit in small places that other giant doctors cannot."

"Weren't... you scared? To come here?" I asked him.

"Of course I was, initially. However, you get used to it, and the feeling fades with time. You learn to protect yourself as necessary. Additionally, I do valuable work here, so to me it's worth it," he expressed. I wasn't sure how to process what he had told me. When I seemed finished with my questions, the doctor stepped into the nurse's hand, and she lifted him up off the table.

"Press the call button if you need anything. We'll be back later to check in on you," she said, taking the doctor with her as she left the room. Her glossy golden hair bounced lightly on her shoulders as she walked. I had to admit, I was a bit jealous of how gorgeous she was. Maybe, just maybe, I could understand why the doctor would give up living with humans to be with a giantess like her. I wondered if I could ever accept my life the way it was now, and become accustomed, perhaps even comfortable, being around giants. I looked over at Joey, who rewarded me with his characteristically charming, innocent smile. Maybe.