I try to open my eyes, but I can’t make them open, and my head is pounding. I listen, and I hear machines, but I don’t know what kind. I smell the distinct smell of a hospital. It’s a clean smell, but way too abrasive for me. I try again to open my eyes, but nothing. Then I swear I hear the sweetest voice whisper to me. “You’re not alone sweetheart. I’m staying with until your family gets here. Just rest, you’ll be fine.” Then it was gone and the black is back….
I wake again. I open one of my eyes, but the other isn’t opening and it hurts like the dickens. I hurt all over. My head isn’t pounding anymore, but there’s a dull throb. I lift my hand to my face and it feels puffy. I reach over and my eye that is not opening is swollen. What the heck?
Then flashes of memory come back. It was dark and rainy and then the bright headlights. I must have been hit. I can’t remember anything, other than the memory of a sweet voice whispering to me. Was it a dream? I try to sit up, but give up real fast. My ribs are screaming at me to be still. I move my eye around and see a man sitting in the corner in a chair.
Who is he and why is he here? I feel my nurse call thing beside my hand on the bed. I reach with my hand and start pushing everything on it. I can’t see it, but surely something on it will get a nurse in here.
The door flies open and the guy nearly jumps straight out of the chair. “Are you awake? I’ll put a call in for the doctor.” The nurse is very talkative. “Can I get you something while we wait?” The man has started texting on his phone.
I try to talk, but my throat is dry and scratchy. I motion with my hand to try to ask for water but she has her eyes on the man from what I can see. I finally fiddle with the control enough and my bed starts to come up, but I take my hand off that really quick because it freaking hurts. “Wa water.” I try again and this time I get it out.
“Of course. I’m going to have to sit you up some. This may hurt a little at first.” She starts the bed up a little. If this is her idea of a little pain, I’d hate to feel a lot. “That should do it. It has a straw.” She pours me some water. I take a drink slowly. At first it makes my throat feel on fire, but after a minute or so it’s better. I try to adjust myself to make it a little less painful, but even that hurts. I see the man approaching my bed, stepping beside the nurse. She becomes all smiles. I don’t know him, not that I remember.
“Captain and Mrs. Lillian are going to be glad you’re awake. They’ll be here soon.” He tells me, and then goes to sit back down.
My throat finally feels like I might be able to speak. “Where am I? I mean what hospital? What happened?” The nurse looks back at me.
“I can answer your questions.” I hear as the door is opened and in steps a doctor and another nurse. “I’m Dr. Gray. I’m in charge of your case, little lady.” The doctor is flashing a little flashlight in my eyes. He looks at the man in the corner. “I need you to step outside so I can speak to my patient.”
The man gets up and goes to the door and opens it, but stops before leaving and looks over his shoulder at me. “I’ll be right outside if you need me.” Okay...still don’t know why I would need him?
“Thought you might be more comfortable with your visitor gone. Now, I know you have a lot of questions, but first let me look you over a little, then I’ll answer what I can.”
The doctor starts poking on me and it does hurt. “Your vitals have been steady since last night. Your throat was irritated. We will watch it to make sure it isn’t an allergic reaction. Your left eye is swollen shut from a hit you took to the face. Your ribs are bruised, but none are broken or cracked. You have a concussion, which is why your head probably hurts so badly. All in all, you were lucky. You were knocked out from the blow and have been out for a little over twelve hours. We are going to keep you another twenty-four to forty-eight hours to be safe. Your swelling should be less by then. You’ll need someone to keep an eye on you for a few days.” He no sooner gets that out of his mouth then a tall beautiful woman walks through the door. “Are you her mother? I was just telling her she will need someone to look after her for a couple of days. I’m Dr. Gray.”