Across the ocean

THREE

Slowly, I began to pull myself from the depths of unconsciousness, feeling the warm embrace of awareness wash over me. My senses stirred, one by one, as I became attuned to the gentle murmur of my mom's soothing voice, a melody that wrapped around me like a comforting blanket. It contrasted starkly with the sterile, clinical atmosphere of the hospital room, where the bleached white walls seemed to close in, stark and uninviting.

As I continued to regain my bearings, I noticed the rhythmic shuffling sounds nearby—my two brothers fidgeting nervously in the uncomfortable plastic chairs that creaked softly beneath them. Their presence was a mix of familiarity and concern, and I could picture their expressions—anxious yet hopeful—as they tried to maintain a semblance of composure in the midst of this unnerving situation. The faint beeping of machines in the background punctuated the stillness, creating an unsettling soundtrack to my slow awakening.

As I blinked against the harsh glare of the overhead lights, my vision swam in and out of focus, creating a disorienting kaleidoscope of shadows and brightness. With a determined effort, I strained to turn my head and catch a glimpse of my mom, but a sharp, piercing pain suddenly coursed through the left side of my neck. It felt as if a fierce wildfire had ignited beneath my skin; the heat radiated outward, leaving me gasping, desperately trying to draw in a breath that felt just out of reach. The intensity of the pain forced a low groan to rise in my throat, but I stifled it, hoping my family remained oblivious to my silent struggle.

My mom erupted from her chair, her eyes wide and glistening with an unsettling mixture of panic and relief. "No, no, no! Don't move, honey!" she urged, her voice a soothing balm laced with urgency. She leaned in closer, her trembling fingers brushing gently against my forehead as she tenderly swept my hair away from my face. The warmth of her touch offered a fleeting sense of comfort, but her anxious expression, that tightness around her eyes, betrayed a heart heavy with concern.

"I'm so glad you're awake, baby," she continued, her voice quavering with raw emotion. "Can you tell me if you remember what happened?"

I fought through the thick fog of confusion that enveloped my thoughts, desperately trying to piece together the disjointed fragments of my memory. "I was at work..." I began, my voice emerging as little more than a fragile whisper, cracking under the weight of uncertainty. "...and now I'm here. What happened?"

I watched as her eyes widened in shock, fresh tears cascading down her cheeks like a sudden summer rainstorm, each droplet a testament to her unspoken fears. She fumbled for a tissue in the snug pocket of her cardigan, hastily dabbing at her eyes, determined to stem the flood of concern that threatened to engulf her. The room around us felt sterile and unfamiliar, the stark whiteness of the walls amplifying my anxiety as I searched her face for answers I was desperately trying to comprehend.

As she settled back into her seat, her gaze heavy with worry, she began to recount everything that had transpired. I listened intently, absorbing each detail like a sponge soaking up water, my mind racing to process the weight of her words. It felt as if time had frozen, my reality coupled with the surreal sensation of lying there, suspended in this moment of vulnerability.

"The doctors have said you can go home tomorrow night, but you'll need to wear a neck brace for a few days to support your recovery," she explained, her voice wavering slightly as she wiped away the tears that continued to trace paths down her cheeks. I turned my head just enough to catch a glimpse of the window; the light was beginning to filter in, a soft glow of early morning sunshine attempting to pierce through the lingering gray clouds, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the storm.

"What time is it?" I managed to ask, my voice shaking as confusion swirled in my mind like a tempest, rendering me disoriented and adrift in a sea of uncertainty. Her hesitation was palpable, the weight of that moment hanging thickly in the air, as if she were sifting through the scattered shards of her thoughts for the right words.