Beneath the Surface

Dangerous Currents

When I woke, I wondered if I'd gone back in time to when I was in the hospital two years ago. Familiar white walls greeted my vision, and the familiar sound of mechanical beeping met my ears. The same slightly medicinal smell was in the air, as well as the familiar cooler temperatures, making me grateful for the blanket under which I lay. 

But there were some differences which alerted me to the fact that this was actually the present day; I had a mask over my face, and when I ran my right foot over my left leg, I felt nothing. 

I grimaced. Obviously my left foot had been too far gone to save, and though I was saddened at losing it, I counted it a small loss in light of the fact that somehow, I was still alive. 

But I had no recollection of what had happened after I passed out, and though I didn't really want to know, I figured getting some answers would be a good thing. I just hoped that, this time around, the nurses would actually be willing to talk to me. With that thought, I let my eyes drift closed, letting a much more peaceful rest claim me. 

I woke up a few hours later to a disturbance out in the hall, and I strained my ears, suddenly fearful. Sure enough, I heard Uncle Ben's voice raised in tones of unmistakable anger, and I quickly shut my eyes, hoping he wouldn't come to my bedside. The last thing I needed was another lecture. 

"Sir, that's enough," another male voice interjected. "Your niece needs her rest. She hasn't woken up yet, and I don't intend for her recovery to be set back by further abuse."

"My niece does not deserve rest," Uncle Ben said harshly. "She needs to face discipline for what she said at my daughter's party."

"Your daughter attacked her without provocation," the other man replied. "There are plenty of witnesses who can attest to that. I suggest you leave now, unless you wish to join your daughter behind bars for being a public nuisance."

"My daughter had every right to deliver justice for what my niece said about her," Uncle Ben insisted. "What my niece got was no more than what she deserved."

I winced. I knew I'd probably gone too far in what I'd said, but in all honesty, I'd been about fed up with being forced to hide Sarah's abuse. And to hear that Uncle Ben still didn't want to believe she was the instigator... It was almost too much, and though I longed to call him out, I knew it was best not to. There was no telling what he'd do in his current state. But I did take comfort from the fact that Sarah was behind bars. I only wished Uncle Ben was right there with her. 

"Sir, you need to leave," the other man said sternly. "You were not permitted to come to the hospital in the first place, and I'm going to have words with whoever let you in. And unless you wish to leave in handcuffs, I suggest you take the path of least resistance."

"No," Uncle Ben said coldly. "I'm not leaving until my niece is released."

"Charlie will not be released for some time," the other man - presumably a doctor - replied. "Her condition remains critical, and I will not permit you to interfere in her care."

"Critical means nothing," Uncle Ben said. "You need to tell me what is wrong. Or what you think is wrong."

"Her medical files remain confidential," the doctor said. "I will not be discussing them with you."

"You will, or I will make sure you never work again," Uncle Ben warned.

I tensed as footsteps approached my bed, and I had to force myself to relax. I didn't want Uncle Ben knowing I actually had woken up, and I made myself as calm as possible, fully aware of his eyes on me. Rather than focusing on him, I instead focused on Jesse, and the way he'd held me after I'd come to. I knew I ought not to be thinking about him, but he was, right at this time, the only memory I had that could keep me calm.