The Mute Girl

chapter 1

Beep... beep... beep... the sound of heart rate monitor measuring my hearts steady pace. I opened my eyes, only to shut them again straight away. The white blinding me, I braced myself for the blinding bright white, and attempted to reopen my eyes.  Slowly my eyes adjusted, I tried to sit up, but I was weak. And my arms quaked from my body weight. I collapsed against the stiff uncomfortable mattress, and tried to call out for help. But my voice no matter how hard I tried didn't come up. I raised my shaking hand. Thankfully, not long after a nurse walked past and saw my raised arm. She flashed a massive smile, showing pearly teeth, and rushed to my side instantly. she pressed a large button on the bedside table.

Moments later a doctor in a white coat came rushing in. "Ahhh so she's finally awake. So Tarleigh how are we feeling"?. Again I tried to speak, this time pushing harder. Again no luck, instead I settled for nodding my head. "Ahhhh yes about you voice Tarleigh. “Umm 12 years ago when you were three you were in a car crash, and a large piece of glass cut across your voice box. So unfortunately, the chances of you speaking are highly unlikely." Tears pricked my eyes as this piece of information was crashed down upon me. "It was the same accident that killed your parents". I looked around for a pencil and pad.

The nurse, realising what I was doing, flipped over to a blank page and handed me her clipboard. How long have I been in coma for? I scribbled down. “Twelve years. When the crash happened you were only three and you’re now fifteen. I don’t expect you to remember the crash. It would be completely natural. I nodded m head, taking in what he was saying. The problem was I remembered the crash like it was just yesterday. The loud music, my parents talking and laughing, their last happy moments on earth. Them telling me how much they loved me, the truck heading towards us and the sound of the impact. The cold skin of my parents when they died. If I remembered every little detail does that mean I’m abnormal? No I shook my head trying to get rid of those crazy thoughts. It just means I have a good memory. Beside how can you forget something so devastating? It was bound to be etched into any ones memory forever.

“Right. So how are you feeling”? The doctor asked again. Tired and just a bit weak. I scribbled down. He nodded. “Well then you get some rest and we will try to contact any of you remaining relatives. I nodded and he walked out of the room. The nurse smiled and followed, and I was left alone. I looked down at my arms and noticed how skinny they were, being in coma had certainly made me lose quiet a few pounds. I tried to sit up again, but the effort took a lot of energy out of me, and I felt the sudden urge to lie back down and fall asleep. Despite how hard the mattress was, and how frumpy and lumpy the pillows were, it all felt soft, something that I could sleep on easily, in my weakened state. I settled down. And I was lulled back in to a deep, coma like sleep.