AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Glad somebody is," I retorted and then felt ashamed at my behavior. It wasn’t her fault I was here. “I’m sorry.”
"I know you're feeling angry and confused right now but, I promise, we are going to get you all the help and support you need before you're released."
I nodded my head. But then what?
"Is there anything else I can do for you? Any other questions?"
"Yeah." I paused. "I could really use a shower." I raked my fingers through my greasy hair.
She smiled. "Sure. Let me tell Janice. She can assist you."
She left me with the beeping and the feeling of sheer loneliness.
"Hi." Janice smiled cheerfully. "I hear you'd like to get cleaned up?"
"Yeah, but is there any way you can let me do the cleaning?" I asked shyly.
"Of course, hon. I'll just help you get undressed and into the shower and leave you to relax."
She took a wheelchair from the corner of the room and helped me into it. Wheeling me into the en suite bathroom, she awkwardly helped me get undressed as the water warmed, and then she helped me to the bench. My strength wasn't completely diminished, so I pushed myself to help as much as possible. Once under the spray, she left me with the soap and shampoo.
"Just pull that cord when you're finished, and I will help you get out."
"Thanks."
She cracked the door, leaving the sounds of the hustle and bustle of a hospital—a television blaring in the room next door, beeps from my monitors, and chatter from nurses in the hallway. I tilted my head until the spray covered my face, and the only sound that filled my head was the sloshing of the water against my eardrums. The plain white ceiling stared down at me. I was completely surrounded by nothingness. I laughed aloud at the irony. Exactly like me.
I had been wiped clean like a system reboot done to computers when they were broken. Who was I? Who were my parents and where were they? Did I have any sisters or brothers? Was I funny? Nice? The questions flooded my head. I closed my eyes, trying again to remember my name, but instead a terrifying feeling of drowning suddenly overcame me. I popped my eyes open and sat up. Pain radiated down my spine from the sudden movement and I winced. My heart was pounding and my body shook.
I scrubbed quickly, washed my hair, and pulled the cord for Janice. I leaned over my legs, wrapping my arms around them and hugging my knees close to my chest, waiting for Janice to return. Less than a minute later, the door opened.
"That was quick."
She grabbed a towel and put it around my shoulders. We both worked together to get me into the wheelchair.
"I brought you a fresh robe and underwear.”
"Thanks," I replied softly.
"Do you need help?"
"No, I think I can do it myself."
"Okay, hon. Push the button on your bed when you're ready to get back into it."
I looked back at the tub, listening to the sounds of the drain slurping down the water. There was something familiar about the sound. Something unnerving. Something forgotten.
"YOU READY TO get out of bed?"
I was flipping through the channels on the television when Nurse Cheerful popped in the next day. I think she was better suited for the children’s ward.
"It's your first day of physical therapy."
She pushed the curtain back, not only revealing a wide smile but also an incredibly handsome guy standing behind her manning the wheelchair. I was mortified because I hadn't even bothered brushing my hair after the bath yesterday. I had just pulled it into a loose braid, and now I imagined it was a complete mess, having slept on it. I smoothed my hands over it and tucked a few strays behind my ears.
"This is Grady. He volunteers at the hospital quite a bit, and he's going to be escorting you to physical therapy and back."
"Hi." My cheeks blazed with embarrassment.
