Remember My Dreams

7. Another time?

The nurse pushed my wheelchair further through the hospital. We moved through long corridors and passed various departments. It felt like we were getting further away from the hectic parts of the building. Gradually, I began to feel a bit more relaxed. I looked up and saw the nurse walking around with a big smile on her face.
"You look happy," I said.
"Oh, sorry," she said, realizing I was looking at her.
"You don't have to apologize," I reassured her.
She looked down shyly and began to speak. "It's just, well, I'm so thrilled that I saw Bill Kaulitz. I've been a fan of Tokio Hotel for so long. And Bill is just so handsome," she said, beaming.
I didn't know how to respond to this. I had no idea why I knew Bill from Tokio Hotel. I had no idea why he was so upset now. "He does look very different from what I imagined," I said to the nurse.
"How so?" she asked, surprised. "I think he looks great with his dreadlocks," she continued.
"I thought he looked very handsome with his blonde hair," I said to her.
"Blonde?" the nurse responded, puzzled. "Bill has never had blonde hair," she added.
"But yes," I tried to defend myself. "Bill has had blonde hair for a few years now."
The nurse decided to drop the subject and changed the topic. "By the way, I just bought my tickets for the Humanoid Tour."
"What?" I asked, shocked. "The Humanoid Tour?" I asked her again, surprised. This couldn't be right. That tour was years ago. Or were they doing a Humanoid 2.0 tour? I wondered.
"Oh yes," said the nurse. "They're going on tour soon now that their new album 'Humanoid' is out."
I swallowed hard; this couldn't be real. I looked at the nurse anxiously and asked, "Can you tell me today's date?"
"November 15," she replied.
"Of what year?" I asked softly.
"2009," she stated.
And then the panic set in. I wasn't in 2023. The world around me began to spin, and my breathing quickened. How could this be? Was this a nightmare? How could I be in 2009? This had to be a mistake, some sort of joke. But the nurse's face was serious, and there was no indication that she meant anything other than what she had said.
"Is something wrong?" the nurse asked, concerned as she saw my shock.
"I... I don't know," I stammered. "This all feels so strange."
She leaned closer to me. "Are you sure you're okay? Should I get someone?"
I shook my head, not knowing what to say or do. "No, it's okay. It's just... a lot to process."
The nurse nodded understandingly. "I understand. It must be confusing."
We continued down the hallway, and I tried to organize my thoughts. How could I be in 2009? What had happened? And why did I remember things that hadn't happened yet? My head felt heavy with questions, but I had to stay calm. Maybe there would be an explanation, maybe I would find answers.

"Here we are," the nurse said, stopping in front of another room. "We'll use this space for your tests."
She helped me out of the wheelchair and led me into a small room where Dr. van Dijk was waiting with a friendly smile.
"Alright, Elise, we're going to start with a series of memory and concentration tests," he explained. "It may take a while, but it's important to get a clear picture of your current state."
I nodded, but my thoughts were still on the shocking realization that I was in a different year. As I underwent the tests, I tried to understand what was happening. Was it possible that I had some kind of memory loss and my brain was playing tricks on me? Or was there something else going on, something I couldn't yet comprehend?
The tests were exhausting and required all my concentration. Dr. van Dijk asked me various questions and had me perform tasks that tested my memory and cognitive abilities. Midway through the session, I felt my energy waning, but I wanted to keep going. It was crucial to know what was happening.
After what felt like an eternity, the nurse came back in. "We're done for today," she said with a reassuring smile. "You did well."
I stood up, and the nurse helped me back into the wheelchair. As we wheeled back to my room, I felt a strange mix of relief and exhaustion. There were still so many unanswered questions, but I felt one step closer to the truth.
Upon returning to my room, I saw Sophie standing there again. She had an encouraging smile on her face. "How did it go?" she asked.
"It was tough," I admitted. "But I'm ready for whatever it takes to get answers."
Sophie nodded approvingly. "That's the right attitude, Elise. We'll get through this together."
I nodded, but my mind was still racing with questions. What had happened to me? And how could I get back to my own time? As I closed my eyes, I tried to reassure myself. Maybe the answers would come if I rested. Maybe there was a way to understand all this.
But one thing I knew for sure: my life had changed forever, and I had to find a way to deal with it.