Recovery

Revival

KAIA

'OUCH! Why do my lungs burn like that. Ugh, salty water does not taste good coming back up. Why am I puking salty water? And my head! Bloody hell! What happened?' My mind was swimming, trying to catch up with what was happening.

Think Kaia. Think.

The last thing I remember was getting dropped in on while I was surfing.

Oh.

I must've been knocked off my board.

So how did I get here? Where's Jack?!

Just then, Jack launched at me from my left, his arms squeezing me tight as he cried,

"MUM!" I reached my left arm around him to hug him close.

Then I heard another voice to my left say,

"It's ok now Jack. Mum's back with us again."

The early morning sun was shining right on my face and it was difficult to see who these people were. I felt a hand on my right wrist and turned my head gingerly to see who it was.

"Hello love. Glad to see those eyes open. I think we've given Jack a fright. You bumped your head in the surf and passed out for a while, but you're okay now."

Ok. That explains why my head hurts so much.

"I'm Niall and this is Louis. We're with Bondi Rescue. You're okay now, just lie back and breathe for a minute. Louis' already called the ambulance, so they'll be along in a sec. We'll just do a few checks, okay?"

I was planning on answering, but the sight of my rescuer made my brain-to-vocal-cords coordination screech to a halt and my voice caught in my throat.

I took a moment for closer inspection as he leaned over me; blocking the sun & suddenly bringing his face into full view. The sun behind his head formed a halo and streaky blonde hair stuck up haphazardly with some matted to his forehead. Dancing, aquamarine eyes reminded me of the waves I'd just been pulled from and seemed to be warm and somehow smiling at me. A cheeky grin greeted me as my journey of examination arrived at his mouth. Since I couldn't seem to form words, I just nodded.

Ouch. I shouldn't do that, my head hurt like hell. Reaching up to touch the sore spot, Niall gently stopped my wrist and explained,

"You've got a gash there love. Here, take this and hold it against it to stop the bleeding" as he handed me some gauze. Still mute, I nodded.

'Damn it woman! He's going to think you're an idiot! Say something!' I silently chided myself.

"Thanks." I choked out.

"Ah, she speaks!" I heard Louis laugh from my left.

My cheeks warmed at the joke at my expense and I quickly found my words again.

"You won't be able to shut me up once I get going."

This made Louis laugh harder and he then leaned across and nudged Niall, who was on my right, "The two of you would be a right pair! There'd be no quiet!"

Taking the opportunity to steal another glance at my rescuer, I noticed a pink blush rise on his cheeks. 'It must be the sun' I thought to myself. Just then, the peal of the Ambulance siren washed across the sand and the paramedics made their way down to us by the shoreline.

After a quick assessment, the decision was made that I needed to be seen at the local Emergency Department and I was carried up the beach and loaded in to the waiting ambulance.

I didn't even get a chance to say thank you.