Know You Again

(9)

Chapter 9:

     The first time Mindy had a hangover, she felt like she wasn't going to get through the morning anymore. The pain was terrible, the taste in her mouth was sour and gross, and her body wouldn't allow her to move because just a little shift and it would resonate in her brain, clanging like a bell. Drink up, they said. It will be fun, they said.

But this pain was different. No, it was much worse than that first experience. This pain was excruciating, hammering in her brain and burning her throat raw. Her mouth tasted of blood and she wanted to barf, but when she moved forward and open her mouth, her throat screamed in pain (metaphorically speaking; she merely let out a choked cry of agony) and her hands flew up to her neck to only find something hard and plastic around it.

She couldn't breathe—God it was impossible to breath. But she choked and clawed at whatever was around her neck but it wasn't helping.

A crash, panicked cries, and someone pushes something to her lips. Mindy closed her lips instinctively, her sight still terrible through the tears that flooded them. But she felt the cool water dribble down her chin and immediately her mouth opens widely, very much inviting the refreshing drink.

She could not swallow though—the pain in her throat pierced when she contracts her muscles to do so. It was as though a choker made of needles would wrap itself around her neck. So she pushes the glass of water away, spitting out the water in her mouth onto her lap.

"Mindy!" Someone called. A soft, woman's voice that was strangely comforting and very familiar. Mindy's eyes adjusted to the bright lights and blinks at her mother. She opens her mouth, asking why was she there, where was she, what the hell was happening, when her mom smiles at her with tears streaming down her face.

The sight was far worse than the pain she was feeling; there is something so terrifying when we see our mothers cry. So used to their stern faces and strong words that we forget that they are also humans, and they also fear and cry and hurt. Mindy panics, and she opens her mouth once more to ask when the pain comes back stabbing and burning and she could not speak.

Green eyes swept the room and are surprised to see people crowding around her bed. There was Chloe, Hadley, Sebastian, and even Alfie.

"I'm so happy you're awake!" Her mother blubbers into her sheets; she could not reach her on the bed because she was on the wheelchair. Mindy wanted to move closer, to comfort her and at the same time to find comfort in her, but she had no strength to.

What happened, she longed to ask, but her voice was gone and when she tried to it felt like shattered glass grinding against each other.

"Do you remember anything?"

It was Sebastian who asked her. His hair was rumpled, sticking out on every side. His brows were furrowed with worry, like almost everyone who was in the room. He was wearing a plain brown suit.

Mindy shook her head before she stopped, grimacing at the pain her movement caused. She then looks back at him, but he was no longer looking at her. He was sending looks to Alfie, who Mindy could not read. His body language suggested anger and hostility, but his eyes were cold and his face passive.

"You should get some rest," Her mother starts to pull away, but Mindy caught her hand. Brown eyes met questioning green ones. Mindy could hope her eyes were enough to communicate with her.

"No, you should rest," She insisted. Mindy held on to her wrist tightly, earning a gasp of pain.

Tell me, she wanted to scream.

It was Hadley who stepped forward. "You were hurt, Mindy. Real bad," The pain in those gray eyes were palpable, but even if Mindy was blind she could still feel the tension rolling off the girl, who was wearing a coat over her costume.