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Chapter Seventeen
Finley
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“Finley. Finley, canyou hear me?”
I blink, once then twice, having trouble keeping my eyes open.
“Finley.” I gravitate toward the sound. My sister’s voice.
“Claire,” I say, my voice broken and hoarse.
“I’m right here.” Emotion is thick in her voice but I still can’t get my eyes to focus enough to look at her.
“My head.” I groan when a sudden and stomach curdling pain rolls through me. “My head hurts.” I try to open my eyes again, my eyelids feeling like they are weighted down.
“Can you give her something for the pain?” Claire asks.
“I’m starting a drip to help manage her pain now that we’ve got her back awake,” an unfamiliar female voice responds.
“She’s giving you something now, Fin. Just hang in there.” I can tell Claire’s hovering close to me but her face is blurred and distorted.
“I can’t see.” I try to push past the disorientation I feel.
“That’s to be expected,” a man replies, and even though I don’t instantly recognize it, I also know I’ve heard it before. “Good morning, Miss Roberts, it’s Dr. Newton. Can you hear me okay?” I sense movement and then catch the faint scent of cologne before cool hands are on my neck.
“Yes.” I continue to blink, my vision finally starting to clear.
His fingers slide gently from one side of my throat to the other, though I’m not sure what he’s checking for.
“I’m going to shine a light into your eyes. Can you try to keep them open for me?”
I do as he asks, drawing back slightly when the light hits my eyes. He waves it from one eye to the other and back again before finally clicking it off.
“Can you tell me how you’re feeling?”
“I don’t know. My head hurts,” I repeat for a second time.
“The pain medication should take effect soon.” He turns his attention to a monitor next to me and observes it for a brief moment. “Your vitals look good.”
“Where am I?” I click my tongue against the roof of my mouth. My mouth is so dry it sticks there for a moment.
“You’re in the hospital. There were some complications during surgery and we had to place you into a medically induced coma,” he explains. “But don’t worry, the worst is behind you.”
“Surgery?” I look around the room, my vision still not completely clear. It’s like there’s a film over my eyes. I can see, but it’s all a little hazy. “Claire.” I choke when my gaze lands on my sister who’s standing on my left side.
“Hey, Fin.” Tears swim behind her big green eyes but her emotion only serves to confuse me more.
“I need something to drink,” I tell her.
“Here.” I look to my right to see Dr. Newton hand my sister a plastic cup. “Drink slowly. You may feel a bit nauseous from the medication,” he says, pressing a button on my bed to elevate me enough that Claire can lift the cup to my lips.
I take a tentative sip, immediately going back for more when the cool liquid hits my tongue.
“Easy.” Claire smiles, pulling the cup away once I’ve drank nearly half of it.
“Why am I here?” I ask, the water making it easier to speak. “Why did I have surgery?”
