Dreams Can Come True

87. Hospital

Slowly, I opened my eyes, blinded by the bright light filling the room. I felt dizzy and disoriented, as if waking from a deep sleep and having to rediscover my surroundings. My eyelids fluttered a few times to restore my vision, while voices around me began to sound, like echoes slowly penetrating my consciousness.
"She's awake!" I heard someone shout, and soon after, a woman in a white coat appeared above me, her face friendly but professional. Her eyes were bright, but they radiated a serious concern that immediately made me feel something serious was going on.
"Can you tell me who you are?" she asked, shining a small light into my eyes. Her voice sounded clear and reassuring, but I felt a pang of fear as I realized I didn't know where I was. My memory felt like a foggy expanse in which I was lost.
With doubt in my voice, I answered, "Elise." It felt strange to say my own name, as if I were becoming aware of my identity for the first time. As I slowly began to explore my surroundings, I saw that I was in a hospital room. The white walls, the soft hum of medical equipment—it was all so familiar and yet so unreal.
An IV was attached to my arm, and I felt the cool metal needle prick deeply into my skin. My throat felt dry, raw like a desert plain longing for a drop of water. Beside the doctor, I saw Bas, his face concerned and drawn. His presence brought a wave of reassurance over me, knowing I wasn't alone in this strange and confusing situation.
"When were you born?" the doctor continued, her voice professional but kind. Her words slowly penetrated my mind, and I automatically replied, "June 25, 1992." It felt like a vague memory, a piece of myself I struggled to retrieve amid the chaos flooding my thoughts.
"Can you tell me what happened?" she then asked, her voice gentle but determined. Suddenly, all the memories came rushing back, like a menacing tide dragging me towards the dark events of the past night. My heart started to race, fear and confusion battling for dominance in my mind.
"Was I raped?" I asked her directly, my voice trembling with fear and desperation. The doctor looked me straight in the eyes, her gaze reassuring but piercing. "No, there are no signs of sexual assault," she quickly replied. A wave of relief washed over me at that news. David had not taken his frustration out on my body; I felt the tension in my body slowly subside.
"However, we found large amounts of drugs in your system," the doctor continued, her voice now more serious and concerned. A wave of panic surged through me at that news, my mind struggling to grasp the frightening reality of what had happened.
The doctor continued, her words like a threatening echo in my head. I had been found on the street by passersby, my body soaked in a vague mist of sedation and despair. The police had been involved, investigations conducted, and the conclusions were disturbing. "They tracked down your friend, who claimed you had a night out," said the doctor, her voice softer now, as if afraid of upsetting me further. The news hit me like a hammer blow, my heart pounding in my throat as I tried to comprehend what had happened. My thoughts drifted to Bas, and I felt a wave of guilt and fear wash over me.
The doctor lowered her gaze, as if hesitating to bring me more bad news. I held my breath, my heart pounding in my throat as I waited for her next words.
"Elise," she finally began, her voice softer now, filled with compassion. "Due to your drug history and the surveillance footage from the nightclub and David's apartment, it appears you went along willingly."
I felt a cold shiver run down my spine at those words, a mix of anger, sadness, and bewilderment washing over me. "What?" I whispered, my voice a murmur of shock. My mind spun, my thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and fear as I tried to understand what had happened. I hadn't gone with David willingly; he had drugged me. He had done all this to get his Elise back.
The doctor looked me straight in the eyes, her gaze determined yet empathetic. "Look, I'm not a police officer," she said softly. "But I don't believe you were ever a drug addict, judging by your current blood analysis," she said. "But the documents in your medical file don't lie. I don't believe you went with him voluntarily, but the facts on video and paper speak for themselves."
Her words brought a wave of relief over me, but the truth slowly sank in. David had used me, manipulated me, and turned my life into a nightmare. And the drug history of the other Elise wasn't helping my case either.
"I'm keeping you here for a few more days for observation," the doctor continued, her voice resolute but kind. I nodded weakly, my thoughts a chaos of emotions as I tried to comprehend what had happened.
The doctor turned and walked to the door, but before she left, she turned to me once more. "I will personally ensure that he cannot visit you here, Elise," she said firmly. I nodded gratefully, my eyes filling with tears of helplessness and frustration.
As the doctor left the room, I felt lost in a sea of emotions. Bas came towards me and gently placed a hand on my arm. His concerned gaze met mine, and for the first time, I didn't feel completely alone in this nightmare.
The hospital sounds around us faded to a soft background noise as my thoughts became a whirlwind of confusion and fear. How could I escape David's grip, the man who had pulled my life into a vortex of chaos?
As time passed and the sun slowly set outside the hospital window, I felt a cold unease in my heart. What would the future bring? How could I ever lead a normal life again after these terrible events?