Dancing in the Oaks

Stained

I had woken up with a white sheet covering my entire body; even covering my head. I just lied there, supine. Not moving, I just listened with real intent despite the fact that I could barely hear. Tears flooded my face as I realized what was happening. I was disillusioned, hurt, mangled, and broken. I slowly removed my half numb arms from beside my sides and attempted to remove the cloth. I noticed the bottom of the white sheet was soaked in blood. Little did I know it was coming from my foot. "H-help m-me!" I cried as loud as I could. There was smoldering  debris everywhere, but it was hard to see the entirety. I could make out shadows, which I presumed to be people.

"Heeeelp!" I screamed, well, as loud as I could. I began to cry out even louder,"Help me! Please! I'm in a lot of pain!" I had realized that the sheriff was talking to Nick. I could barely hear that they had caught someone on the game cameras. "Ahhh help me!" My voice was hoarse from when I yelled in the barn. I tried to get Nicholas' attention so I could have someone to help comfort my pain. I knew it was him because of his perfect silhouette. I removed the white sheet from over my body and tried to get up, but with what energy I had, it was very much impossible. My body just collapsed to the ground without any effort to get back up soon.

Finally, after much effort of calling out for help a taller man walked over. I realized it was Nicholas. "What? Norah! You were pronounced dead! How did you come to life again?" He took his hat off and put it in his truck that I was laying beside. There were tears in his eyes as he wiped the sweat off his forehead. I was still barely breathing and unable to talk. He kneeled down by me so he could hold my hand. It became increasingly hard to breathe again. "Hey, hey are you okay?"

"N-Nicholas listen to me!" My voice shook with inconsistencies. I could barely talk. "Hey. I-I just wanna say thank you." I took a breath, which took more energy than before. "N-Nicholas I was dead? I guess I'm a miracle? Why am I still here?" The pain went away for a minute. It was as if my body went from extreme pain to complete numbness.

Nick gave me a look of concern as he pushed his hair back. "You're back and I'm happy about it. You should be too. God wants you here. You're gonna have to tell what happened in the police report. I'll have officer Cooley come and you can recount the story. At least as much as you can." He stood up and let go of my hand. I could see his very visible worry in his eyes.

I opened my mouth, but nothing left it at first. "Nicholas! Please don't leave." Panic began to set in as I just lied there in pain. "Please." My eyes glossed over with water.

He looked at me with tears in his eyes. "I'll be right back in two minutes." He left to go get Officer Cooley so I could recount my story.

"She's alive!" Nick exclaimed. He kneeled down by my side and held onto my hand.

"Norah, this is the first time in my 32 years that I've seen something like this happen. You came back: welcome back. I'm officer Cooley. I need you to recall everything that happened. We need to get you to the hospital fast. Just try to explain." Officer Cooley seemed a little baffled at the whole situation.

"A-so I was in the barn saying good night to my animals." I struggled to take a breath. "I was taking care of my horse. I stood on t-the second bar on the g-gate." Yet again I struggled to take a breath. Nick bent over to try to listen to my heartbeat. He put his head on my heart, which meant his face was very close to mine. I did not care and I was not uncomfortable.

"Her heart is really slow." Nick said. "Go ahead Norah." He took my pulse on my neck with his two fingers.

"S-so I smelled burning. I walked over to the door to attempt..." It took all my energy just to breathe. "The doors were blocked. I couldn't leave. I just stood back on the gate and petted my horse. I a-attempted to step back. My foot was caught and it snapped after that. I don't know more."