The Above || Completed

21 Forgotten

"Right, Maddison, mind telling me how this happened?" the doctor asked casually, skimming through my medical files.
I decided I'd be totally honest. "I got cut by a thorn bush last night, got tossed off a hammock this morning and started bleeding ridiculously."
"Ridiculous is correct. You would've been fine if this were normal," he said, putting my files down on a desk and moving towards me.

He looked at me for permission to take a look and I nodded as he lifted the hem of my bloody shirt. The wound was still bleeding and puss rounded the severed skin. I wrinkled my nose in pain and disgust. It looked like a chunky splat of red and yellow paint over a white canvas.
"Well, now that I see the wound, I can tell you that it is infected so the severity of this is no longer questionable. Also, as a defensive mechanism, the thorns must've contained some type of acid, which explains this all further," the doctor explained.
"That just makes my story sound like an understatement," I commented.
He smiled thinly. "Yes. We're going to have to get you some clothes in a minute, but right now, I need to get the venom out of your system and put a bandage over that cut."

"Thanks. Could I ask what your name is, Doctor?" I said.
He had just moved over to retrieve a syringe from a small, grey cabinet.
He turned around to say. "Pardon me for not having introduced myself earlier. I'm Doctor Griffin."
That name sounded familiar. I didn't think much of it though. I'd probably just overheard it somewhere. Doctor Griffin then proceeded to disinfect an area on my forearm where my veins were most prominent.
"All I need is a little bit of blood and the venom should be out of your system," he said gently.
He plunged the needle into my skin and I felt pain prickling my arm as he extracted the blood. When he was finished, he placed a band aid knitted from wisps of cloud to cover the area. He did the same to my other arm and disposed of all the waste.
"Just hold on while I send for my nurses to get you some clothes," Doctor Griffin said as he stepped through the door.

I waited for a few minutes and soon, he returned with a lady who had a round figure and her purple hair tied back. She had kind, blue eyes. She'd brought me a pair of jeans and a green T-shirt that I had brought with me. I thanked her and got dressed into my jeans, leaving the shirt for after Doctor Griffin bandaged my graze. The nurse took my blood-soaked clothes and left with the shy bow of her head. Doctor Griffin moved on to painfully disinfect and dress my wound. After which, I put on my shirt and sat on the side of the bed.
"You'll be healed in no time, Maddison." He smiled.
"Thanks again. Will I be allowed to leave?" I asked.
"Yes, as soon as I fill out some paperwork," he answered and went to sit at his desk.

I stood up slowly, trying not to strain my muscles or move too quickly, and stood next to Doctor Griffin. He continued to write as though I wasn't there, so I let my eyes wander. They landed on a black and white photograph of three people. A man, a woman who looked to be his wife and their daughter. I narrowed my eyes at the little girl, who looked shockingly familiar. It didn't take long or me to realise that this little girl was me. And the people next to her had to be my parents. My mother was brunette and had a wide smile that reminded me of my own and my father had the same bleach blonde hair as me and an endearing set of standard blue eyes. Had we really been this happy? My mouth had gone dry. I didn't want to remember my parents. They weren't around anymore and I couldn't cause myself unnecessary pain. This was too much.

Doctor Griffin must've heard how heavy my breathing had become because he turned to looked at me worriedly.
"Maddison, are you all right?" he asked.
I nodded profusely, unable to speak.
He frowned and looked at the photograph. A look of realisation broke through his furrowed brow and he opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. How did he know my parents? And why was he so familiar to me? I was too overwhelmed to ask for answers. Too pained at what I had forgotten and what I'd lost. Before Doctor Griffin could say anything, I was running out the door. I heard him shouting at me to come back. But I couldn't turn back. I wanted to run as far as I could from this place.

^^^

!!Author's Note!!

I enjoyed writing this chapter. I got past 200 reads this week! Yay!!👻☺️
Thanks!

As some of you may know, I've decided to enter this story in #Wattys2016 in the trailblazers category. Wish me luck! I'm a hopeful little newcomer...😁🙌🏼

Thanks again, everyone. Feel free to vote and comment as usual!!💙💛