My Sweetest Downfall

Chapter 10

The scent of isopropyl alcohol lurked around every corner of the room. The lights were so bright that my eyes started to tear up. The air conditioner made my fingers numb from the cold, but the weirdest thing was I couldn't even feel my legs or arms. I felt a pinch of pain all over my body that seemed to be internal, something I could never stop by curling up. My vision was so blurry that all I could see were the shapes and shadows of everything my eyesight came across. I couldn't move a single muscle in my body, not even my lips.

"I-It's amazing. It's like she just literally woke up from a long nap," a deep voice said.

I tried to focus my vision on the direction from where the voice came; he took what seemed to be like a small board from a girl beside him, flipping pages hurriedly from astonishment.

"She's already passed the first stage of improvement. It's... It's amazing."

"So, you mean... she can hear us clearly right now?"

"I think so. I mean, she seems to be completely aware of her environment already. I mean, I guess we'll still have to work on her responses with sight, sound and movement. But I don't think that's gonna be a huge problem, in her case."

"Maybe we can work on her recognition this week. And who knows, she might even be able to attend her prom."

"Oh no, she never really participates in that activity. She just goes there to take quick snaps for her blog and go straight back home."

"Well, she might still be able to attend her graduation, then."

A few hours passed and my eyesight was starting to come back to me; my awareness of everything around me was able to return gradually from the nonstop beeping sound I heard beside me that indicated my hearbeat.

I would let my eyes roam around the room, observing where I really was, completely confused and unaware of what had just happened. I thought I was back at the park. What happened?

Did I get into an accident, again?

My left arm was casted, and I was wearing a neck brace. I felt a pinch of pain in my hips and realized that my breathing was so loud, but I concluded it was because of a tube inserted in my mouth, helping me breathe.

"How are you feeling, honey?" My mom tucked my hair behind my ear.

I still couldn't move my lips. All I could do was groan, trying my best to say something back.

All I could give her were fainted smiles.

"I'll go get the others. Hold on, okay?" My mom wiped off her tears and went outside the room.

I looked at the doctor and nurse by my side who were both smiling at me, "I'm glad you're awake, Ms. Gonzales. This is a huge miracle."

I blinked my eyes as a response, what did he mean by that? I mean, I know I've been caught into an accident again, but it's not a like I've risen back from the dead.

My soul has been dead for years, after all.

My mom came in and was followed by Laura and Ivan.

"Scarlet? Oh God."

The two came dashing towards me, giving me a gentle, warm hug. I could see their tears rolling down. I wanted to hug them back so bad, but all I could do was stare.

...

The days passed and I was able to regain some of my strength. I was able to talk, and to move my arms around. My normal eyesight was finally back and the intense pain has stopped. Although, they would still haunt me every once in a while, but the doctor said it was just a normal side effect from the incident.