Kate Fleur's Love Soup

1. The Unfamiliar Life

I tried to open my eyes, but the light was too harsh. It pierced through my skull like a thousand knives. I groaned trying to lift my hand to shield my face, but a sharp pain shot through my head. I fell back onto the pillow gasping.

The world around me was a blurry haze. Everything was fuzzy, like a painting smeared by a wet brush. I blinked, trying to clear my vision, but it only seemed to make things worse.

A wave of panic washed over me as I realized I had no idea where I was. The smell of antiseptic and stale air filled my nostrils, making my stomach turn. Hospital. I was in a hospital.

Why?

"Kate?" a voice said, gentle but firm. "Kate, can you hear me?"

I turned my head, trying to locate the source of the voice. A blurry figure came into focus - a man with a kind face and a white coat.

I tried to speak, but my voice was barely a whisper. My mouth felt dry, my tongue thick. I tried again, but all that came out was a faint croak

"It's okay, Kate," he said, his voice soothing. "You're in the hospital. You've been in an accident."

I tried to respond, but my words got tangled in my throat. I felt like I was trying to speak a language I'd forgotten.

"A-accident?" I stammered, my voice shaking.

The doctor nodded, his eyes filled with compassion. "Yes, Kate. I'm your doctor, Mr Patel and you've been with us for a while. But you're safe now."

I tried to speak again, but my voice was lost in the fog of my mind. I felt like I was drowning in confusion.

"What happened?" I asked, my voice shaking.

Dr. Patel's expression turned serious. "You were in a car accident, Kate. Your car was hit by a truck. You've been in a coma for four months."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. "My parents...my friends...whoever was driving...are they okay?"

The doctor's face softened. "You were the only one in the car, Kate."

I shook my head, confusion swirling. "What? No, I can't drive a car. I don't even have a license."

Dr. Patel's eyes locked onto mine. "Can you tell me how old you are, Kate?"

I hesitated, unsure. "I'm...20 years old."

The doctor remained silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he spoke. "See, Ms. Kate, your CT scan showed an intracranial hemorrhage. Your brain was injured severely in the accident. You'll experience confusion, erratic mood swings, and...memory loss."

"Memory loss?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.

Dr. Patel nodded. "Yes, Kate. And you're 26 years old."

I couldn't speak, couldn't process the information. I was 20, not 26. I couldn't drive, didn't have a license. And memory loss? What did that even mean? I felt like my world had been turned upside down.

I sat there, frozen, as the doctor's words hung in the air like a challenge. I couldn't remember anything, couldn't recall my life before this moment. Panic set in, my heart racing like a wild animal.

"I know it's a lot to take in, Kate," Dr. Patel said gently. "But we'll help you through it."

I nodded, feeling a sense of desperation. "Is my family here? Friends? Anyone?"

Dr. Patel glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's early morning, Kate. 3 am. No one is here right now."

I felt a pang of loneliness. "But...was anyone here?"

Dr. Patel hesitated before speaking. "Your boyfriend was here just a few minutes before you regained consciousness. But we made him go home. He was exhausted."

Boyfriend? I repeated the word in my mind, trying to remember. But there was nothing.

Dr. Patel smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Kate. We'll inform your family and friends soon. For now, just rest. Rest is very important for you."

I nodded, feeling a wave of fatigue wash over me. But my mind was racing. Boyfriend? I have a boyfriend? Who is he? What the hell is going on?

I lay back in bed but everything feels like as if I'm living in a stranger's life.

I closed my eyes, trying to calm my racing thoughts. "This is just a dream," I told myself. "A strange, weird dream. Everything will be normal when I wake up."

I repeated the words like a mantra, trying to convince myself. But the words felt hollow, unconvincing.