30 Ways To Fall In Love

Part 3

As my eyes peeled open the endless black that shrouded my memory met a stark contrast. When the room came into focus I was hit by a wall of white that seemed to buzz with the life of a bee hive. My body felt like a dead weight which was pinning me down and though I tried my hardest my limbs didn't want to respond. With great effort I turned my head to the left which sent a shock down my spine that immediately made me halt in my tracks. Even though I didn't dare try to move any more, I had a much better view of my surroundings. Next to where I was laying there was a large, complicated looking machine that had a variety of different coloured wires snaking out of different panels. My eyes traced the wires down until I saw where they stopped. With shock I observed that they were all attached around my hands and chest.

Immediately panic set in as the fog shrouding my memories vanished and I remembered the events that occurred before my mind turned to black. I struggled and writhed, ridding my muscles of the heavy brick-like feeling and accidentally ripping off wires.

During my struggles I was aware of a persistent beeping that seemed to pick up its pace and volume, working its way into my brain and driving me crazy. Within seconds women donned in all blue uniforms rushed in and began working to calm me down, resting their hands on my flexing biceps and pressing me down into the bed. Eventually as I relaxed the beeping subsided and it was then I realised it was a heart monitor.

"Maya," I muttered drowsily, worn out from all of the exertion. But I didn't care, there was only one thing on my mind.

"That's it calm down hun," a nurse cooed to me as she stroked her hand through my hair. She had a warm face, rosy cheeks with soft, sympathetic, honey coloured eyes. I already liked her, and from the fact that all of the other nurses where rushing around, not paying attention to me when she was doing the opposite made me think that the reason for her being there was just that. She was there to provide comfort.

"Maya, where's..." I breathed, hardly able to get out my words.

The nice lady nodded slowly, a kind smile reassuring me. "She's ok Alex, Maya's doing just fine."

"Good," I muttered, letting my eyes fall shut. I was hardly aware of the nurses rushing around me or even the soft touch of the kind stranger. Maya's ok. Her words echoed around my head. I haven't lost her. Thank god Maya's ok.

***

The next day
Her name was Rosie, which I later found out once I'd recovered from the strain of the day before. Apparently before I woke up I'd been asleep for 5 days. Many of the nurses and the doctors thought I would be asleep for a week. I'd like to believe they wouldn't be so mean to bet on how long it would take for me to wake up but hearing the several comments Rosie had to say about the different members of staff, for some it honestly wouldn't surprise me.

Also she informed me that Maya had been asleep in a coma for those past days and still was, however she was in no danger and only had a few broken bones. Three in her legs and two in her upper left arm. Sounds terrible I know, but it was much better than the alternative. At least Maya would only have to travel around in a wheelchair for a couple months instead of the rest of her life. Rosie always made it clear that we're lucky to be alive and to have such minor injuries. I had a break in my shoulder blade on my right arm and if the break was anymore serious it could have reached my spinal cord and paralysed me. The van had crashed into Maya's side of the car and she was extremely lucky that it hadn't done more damage to her head. The doctors did say that she may have trouble remembering the week before the crash but that's ok. It would save her the embarrassment of remembering what she told me in the car.

***

1 week later
"Just remember not to put too much strain on your right arm but do try to move it to an extent to build up the muscle again. If you're feeling any serious pain take two of these pills. Other than that you should be good to go. I'll get a nurse to come down and give you an extra sling but then you can leave when you're ready."  The doctor informed me, giving me a curt nod before swivelling on the balls of his feet and leaving.