I was walking in a dark place. It wasn’t just a black nowhere, it was a place I knew but covered in shadows. I couldn’t make out where I was, but I remember it from somewhere. I saw Leo, and I ran after him calling his name, “Leo!....LEO!....LEO!” but he kept walking farther and farther away from me. I started running and running but he only got farther away. Then I tripped and I fell, down…down. Then I felt a tug on my shoulders, I looked up to see two white figures pulling me up. “Are you….angels?” I asked them. But all I heard was beeping. Beep…beep…beep.
My eyes slowly opened, it was blurry around me, and then my vision cleared up. I was in a big white room surrounded by beeping. I covered my ears and squeezed my eyes shut. I felt straps around my cheeks and looked down to find a clear mask on my mouth and tubes going into my nose. I was in the hospital. I looked around and noticed there was no one in the room. I started pressing buttons trying to get the thing to stop beeping. Beep beep beep beep! They got faster and more intense. A nurse dressed in white came racing in.
“Oh thank god! DON’T touch these, please dear.”
“My name is Ami.”
“Please Ami…” she corrected herself.
She walked out and then my mom came walking in. I could hear her heels halfway down the hall.
“Hi mom.” I smiled. I was glad to see her; I didn’t know how long I had been unconscious.
“YOU ARE SO LUCKY YOUR BROTHER DIDN’T GET HURT, I WOULD HAVE KILLED YOU!” she screamed.
My smile faded, “Mom…it was an accident…”
“YOU ARE SO LUCKY THAT PEOPLE WERE THERE TO GET YOUR BROTHER OUT OF THE HOUSE!”
“Uhh…what people Mom?”
She paused. “The neighbors called the fire department. They were there in minutes.” She stated.
“I’m sorry Mom…”
“Don’t let it happen again.” She walked out and down the hall.
After I couldn’t hear her heels I whispered, “I’m fine Mom, thanks for your concern, I love you too.” I turned over and let a tear run down my cheek. I heard a knock from outside my door, a nurse came in and told me I didn’t need the mask and tubes anymore and peeled them off my face. “I’m going to have to keep you here for the night though, the burns on your hands were pretty bad and I don’t want you passing out again, so you need someone to keep an eye on you. You’re on pain killers, if your hands start to hurt, press this red button and I’ll be here to replenish you.” She walked out.
I hadn’t noticed the burns on my hands. I looked down to see my arms wrapped thickly with gauze. My finger tips were sticking out I looked at them. They were swollen, but I couldn’t see any burns, how did I burn my hands? I don’t remember taking out the pizza… my thoughts were interrupted by another knock at the door. I looked up to see Leo.
“Leo!” I beamed.
“Hi Ami.” He came and sat at the end of my bed.
“Is Marco okay, my mom is really mad.” I frowned.
“Yeah he’s fine, it wasn’t your fault, calm down.”
“She didn’t even ask about me, she just yelled at me.” Tears rose to my eyes.
Leo reached over and gave me an awkward hug, trying to avoid my arms and hands.
“I love you Leo, you’re the only one who cares.”
“I love you too Ami, can you just try to be careful, I worry about you.”
“I know, I don’t try to Leo.” I apologized.
“I know love, I know.”
We talked for a little while until the nurse came in a told him it was time for him to leave. She changed my gauze and put new ointment on the burns. My hands and arms were right red and blistered all over. The dead skin was charred black and the flesh was sensitive. The hairs on my arms were singed and the smell of burnt skin lingered. My hands were practically twice the size they were normally. And let me tell you, it hurt like a bitch.
Sleep that night didn’t come easily, but soon enough it came and I started dreaming this exotic dream…
