Dear Ophelia

Chapter Seven

"You are my light in the darkness. One day I hope to be the same to you."

'-waking up...!'

'-200ml! Now!'

Through heavy eyelids, Ophelia could see the bright light of the theatre and the surgeons. She could smell copper blood in the air. She could hear their shouts and her slow heartbeat. She could feel their hands in her chest.

She felt the rising panic bubble up her throat.

Then black.

...

Ophelia woke up in cold sweat. Her eyelids had flung open and she could see the bright white lights and the smell of disinfectant was strong.

Slowly, she moved her head and observed her surroundings.

Obviously a hospital room, Ophelia's been in too many, that the blank walls were almost familiar.

What happened?

The argument with Ivo. Then the hospital. Then black. Then shining lights and shouting. Then black again.

Ophelia tried to sit up but she felt a dull throbbing pain from her chest. She ran her hand down from her neck down to her belly button. Something new was there.

She tried to think back, what did she miss?

Bright lights... and hands...inside her...taking out her heart--her lungs and---

Her heart rate monitor started to jump, causing a loud beeping noise to emit.

Ophelia could hear every small thing, the slight creak of the door was magnified and the squeaks of tennis shoes on linoleum was deafening. Why can't I breathe? Hot salty tears ran down her cheeks. The bright green of the heart rate machine mixed in with the clear white of the walls. The room spun round and round like horrifying carousel at top speed. What's happening?

And then silence, she was alone.

The overwhelming feeling of death consumed her. It was so loud yet she heard nothing. It was just her and the end. Am I going to die?

She couldn't hear the nurses frantically trying to help her.

She could only hear death and she begged for it to stop. Please... no more! I don't want to die!

"What's wrong with her?"

"Is it the heart?"

"I think it's a panic attack! Quickly cover her mouth, we need to stop her from hyperventilating!" The head nurse shouted.

As soon as one nurse reached toward her, Ophelia screamed and tried to jump out of the bed.

It suddenly switched back to shrieking noises, but the feeling of the end was still present. Even more overbearing it that were possible.

Ophelia could feel every drop of cold sweat that ran down her back and every salty teardrop on her lips.

"We need sedatives! Now!" He ordered.

A couple nurses dashed out and came back in record time with a small tray with a bottle and needle..

"Miss, we need you to calm down. You need to slow your breathing. Let us help you." The nurse carefully filled the syringe and tested it out.

Ophelia clutched the bed sheets as if her life depended on her, and it felt like it did.

She forced herself to shakily breathe out, trying her best to keep those terrifying thoughts at bay. It got stronger. The noise rised into a crescendo. Will it ever stop being so loud?