16th Birthdays

2 - Redhead

I hear a beeping machine and people walking around, busily.

Then, a woman's voice ."Hey what happened? Wait. Jennifer, slow down. "

A different voice, "What?" 

"Come see this." 

Foot steps get closer. "Wait, wasn't one of this patient's lungs crushed. She shouldn't be breathing like that." 

"Isn't this good, she's breathing normally?"

"It's, unbelievable, go get the doctor."

"On, it!" steps leave.

"What happened?" I hear whispered. Then darkness.

When I regain consciousness, I can finally open my eyes. It's so bright. I blink and look around. I'm in a white room, on a bed, under a baby blue blanket. I'm... in a hospital. Wait, I was just got shot. I move my arm, wanting to touch my head. I gasp in pain. A woman, in a nurses uniform walks in.

"Oh, you're awake?" she pauses, then walks out of the room. 

A minute or so later she returns with a middle aged man in a doctor's uniform. He looks at the paper in his hand. "Ammy Reed?"

I look at him, confused.

"Hello, my name is doctor Mendal. Now, can you speak?" He sits in the chair next to the bed I'm on.

I wondered if I could speak too. I open my mouth, "Yes." I say quietly. My voice sounds weird, different than usual.

"Good. Good. Can you tell me what today is?"

" Friday?" 

"I meant the date." He chuckles.

"Um, September 28th?"

"Yes, very good, by the way happy birthday." he smiles.

"Thank you." 

"Shame that something like this has to happen on your birthday." He states.

" Yes, it is. Um why does my arm hurt so much?" I look at it.

"You broke your right arm, in the crash. Your right lung was originally thought to be crushed, but I assume it was a miscalculation, on our end. The only thing broken is your arm."

"Wait, the crash?"

"Yes, the car crash that you and you mom were in. She's fine by the way, only a few cuts and bruises."

"What car crash? I was shot, in the head." I said, still confused.

" What are you talking about, there's nothing wrong with your head?" he seemed confused.

I took my left hand and felt my head. "What? I swear he shot me."

"No, nothing like that happened, must have been a dream. I'll go get your parents."

He left the room. A few minutes later he and two middle aged people poured into the room. 

"Ammy!" The woman yelled and ran to hug me, " I'm so happy that you're ok."

The man hugged me, "Oh, honey, we were so worried."

They both stepped back and looked at my confused face  with matching confusion. 

"Who are you?" I said quietly. I looked over to the doctor, "Where are my parents?"

He looked confused. The woman started crying. The man held her and said to me, " We're right here, Ammy."