A New Journey

Ch.8 Lilacs

I don't need to open my eyes to know where I am or even what building I am in. The air is cold but stale and smells of disinfectant with a hint of lemon, I'm in a hospital. I open my eyes and seeing the dimly lit room only confirms my suspicions. I smile when I see that I am thankfully not hooked up to any type of machine or even to see an I.V drip attached to me. I look to my side and see a sleeping Willow curled up on a reclining seat.

When I sit up all I feel is soreness all over my body, almost as if I have just been in a car crash. I swing my legs over the bed and with a push I am standing up even though I have slight sway to my stance. Slowly I make my way to the bathroom where I wince each time my foot lands on the freezing floor. I turn to look in the mirror and I almost gasp in horror at my own reflection. I look terrible, my usual brown skin has a dry grey haze to it, and my skin even feels dry to the touch. My full pink lips appear almost white and chapped beyond repair. My hooded eyes are accompanied with larger eye bags than usual and my dark brown irises also seem duller. My eyes follow down my body and I suck in air at the sight of my veins pumping with an impossible blue glow.

"You're awake," the sound of Willow's voice makes me jump a bit and I have to grab onto the counter to prevent myself from falling over. Willow hurries over to me and helps me make my way back to the hospital bed.

The first words out of my mouth are, "Have you called my family?" Honestly, besides myself, they were the first things to come to mind when I regained consciousness.

"Yes, and it took a personal phone call and a Skype call between your parents and the doctor to convince them not to book a flight here."

I laugh when I think about how my parents must have reacted. Dad is a general practitioner so it was probably him who spoke with the doctor and more than likely offered his input. Knowing mom, it was definitely her who needed the Skype call because even though she trusted dad's opinion there is nothing better than a mother's eye. My sister Seth probably just trusted in Willow's word but spoke with mom and dad for an extra dose of reassurance.

"You look like shit," Willow pats my thighs and I laugh some more.

"Well I feel even worse, how long have I been out?"

"12 hours, I was concerned but Dr. Mann said it's completely normal for people in shock."

"Shock, huh?" I take a good stretch to the point where my body shakes just a little bit. I notice Willow fumbling with her nails; I can feel that she is hiding something. I can also feel the presence of someone else; I take my attention to the room door and in walks Serena with a bouquet of lilacs. Serena lowers her sunglasses and smiles at me, "Ya awake finally!" she exclaims and drops the flowers into my lap.

"Serena left not too long ago for flowers," says Willow as Serena takes a seat at the edge of my bed.

"How ya feeling?" asks Serena and I wonder if she is just asking to be nice.

"Pretty much the way I look, like a pile of shit." Serena laughs way too hard for my not-even-funny remark. "What happened?" I ask, Serena immediately stops laughing and the smile on Willow's face drops.

"What do you remember?" Serena leans closer toward me and I feel as if I am backed into a corner.

"Serena give her some air why don't you?"

"Oops, my bad." Serena backs up but her eyes are still wide and glued to me.

"Ugh, really nothing after touching that damn crystal and feeling as if the ceiling fell on top of me." Willow and Serena smile at each other before looking back at me.

"Okay good, so when the police question you just tell them everything but leave out the whole crystal thing," Serena speaks to me but is nodding along with Willow.