The St Patrick Series Book #1: The St Patrick Bride

Chapter Eight: Distance

Christopher's POV
On most occasions when I wake up from sleep, I feel rested. I wake up at my own pace too... except in the army when I tend to be screamed at to get up. I lack the discipline to be a morning person. I don't wake up with the birds or at an exact time each day like my brother. I can sleep till noon and still carry on till evening. Regardless of all the above, on most occasions, when I wake up from sleep, I feel rested. Except for this one because I woke up in a sudden panic.

I startled my mother who immediately ran out.

I said something.

I touched the bandage wrapped around my head. What did I say when I woke up?

I looked around the hospital room. I don't remember coming to hospital.

She returned with the doctor pointing at me like she has seen a miracle. "He's awake! He's awake!" She squeezed my knee. "Oh Chrissy!"

Chrissy! I hate it when she calls me that. The reason behind that name is that they thought I was a girl until I was born and they had to find another name that was not Christie and it was Christopher. When she tells that story, I always wish the ground would just open up and swallow me whole. Her mom friends love that story!

I feel a little confused. "What am I doing here?" She stopped smiling and looked at the doctor who is trying to examine me.

"Do you know your name?" He asked me.

"Are you a doctor?"

"Yes."

"Then my name is still Chris unless someone renamed me." I looked at my mother. She has half a smile on her pretty face. "What am I doing in a hospital? How did I get here?"

"Chris, don't you remember?" My mother frowned at me.

"No I don't."

"Where were you last?" The doctor asked me. "What do you remember before this hospital?"

I touched the wrap around my head. I must have hit my head.  Did I fall? 

"Uh..."

"You screamed 'court' when you woke up. Are you being court marshalled? Did you do something?"

"Court marshalled?" The Major's voice boomed as he made his entrance. "Who is being court marshalled?"

"Not me!" Tommy smiled at me. "Hey! Hey! Look who joined the land of the living! Welcome back!"

We exchanged a fist bump. I retracted my hand after feeling some pain on my side.

"Mr St Patrick."

"Yes." All three of us answered the doctor. This happens all the time whenever the three of us are in the same room.

"I mean the patient."

"Then specify!" The Major went off on him. "Are you alright son? What is this about being court marshalled? What did you do? Is it something I have to clean up?"

"Major, if you please, I would like a moment to examine your son."

"Which one?" He raised his eyebrow at the doctor.

"The patient."

"Doesn't the patient have a name?"

"Christopher. I want a moment to examine Christopher."

"He seems fine to me. Wait your turn I'm interrogating the insubordinate. Get out.

The doctor left promptly. "I'm not being court... Court..." I sighed. My mother says I screamed that name when I woke up. "Courtney." I whispered.