Waking Up

Chapter 3

         The next day, clad in something better than the hospital gown, Carol made her way over to the lady that drove her over. She hated every step towards that room. Her dislike to bother others was nearly strong enough to keep her confined to her own room. It took her all morning to muster up the courage to go to her. But now standing in front of the door, straightening her clothes, she turned on her heels and was almost about to take a step towards her room.
         No! She scolded herself and turned around again. Before she could think it over again, she knocked. A clear and friendly voice answered:
         "Come in, please."
         Upon opening the door it simultaneously opened itself to a different world.
         Private patient rooms are so much nicer. Carol thought when she took a step through the door frame and scanned the room. Light yellow walls covered in various stylistic paintings, a big flat screen, expensive looking cupboards, tables and chairs and of course a single ginormous bed in the middle of the room that would fit three grown men. It stood right under an open window which billowing curtains let fresh air and bright sunlight in. From outside, the sounds of splashing waters from the fountain below in the courtyard added gently to the peaceful atmosphere.
         Close to the window an elderly woman sat on the bedside eyes focused on the back of a tall, dark-haired and broad-shouldered man. She tenderly talked to him, but his gaze was constantly directed at something outside of the window. Her features were fair. Light skin with a slight tan and neatly cut white hair that reached a little below her jawline.
         When Carol didn't move closer her attention shifted from the man to her. Her whole demeanor plainly demanded respect. Carol forgot to breathe. As the elderly woman examined her from the bottom to the top and their eyes finally met, Carol remembered those royally blue eyes. When she woke up a few days ago, she couldn't remember anything that had happened after she tried to cross that street. A shiver ran down her spine. She clutched both her arms and rubbed the coldness away. While Karen mustered her, Carol's social awkwardness kicked in and kept her rooted to the spot, gaze lowered to the floor. How she wished, she would have turned around and got back to her room. 
         "Oh please, come closer, my dear." the elderly woman said, patting a spot beside her on the bed. Though it wasn't a command, Carol felt she had no other choice than to oblige. She sat down beside her, not too close, not too far away.
         "I assume your lively friend informed you about my inquiry?" she asked without truly expecting an answer. The older lady was about to continue the conversation when Carol answered.
         "Yes, she did, Misses...?" Carol asked while she folded her hands in her lap. The woman abruptly chuckled and shook her head as if she'd made a silly joke.
         "Oh dear, excuse my bad manners. Please, call me Karen..." she touched her chest when naming herself, "... and this is my son Dean," she gestured to the tall man standing beside her. Though her hand only grazed his' slightly, he immediately withdrew from the touch. While Dean remained unfazed, Karen's face displayed brief irritation.
         "I'm Carol..."
         "Norris, yes, yes, I know, my dear." Karen gave her a silky smile and patted Carol's clenched hands. Carol looked up at her with wide eyes. Something about that smile is off, but she couldn't tell what.
         "Why am I here?" Carol asked, rubbing her hands after Karen had touched them.
         "Oh-ho. Straight to business. I like that." She gave a rehearsed laugh and continued to smile brightly. Her eyes shone.
         "Well, I did my research on you." Karen peered over to her laptop and a few handwritten notes beside it.
         Who is this woman? Surprised, Carol raised her eyebrows but didn't dare to ask.
         "Only to find out how to compensate you for all the trouble I've caused you," Karen added quickly to allay her motives. Her brows drew together and she appeared honestly troubled.
         "At first I thought I could offer you money, then I thought I could exercise my influence on this hospital to give you your job back..." Carol gasped.
         Could she really do that? Butterflies fluttered around in her stomach. Excitement and hope welled up. Something she hadn't felt for quite a while.
         Karen observed her like a cat about to catch a mouse.
         "But I found a different proposal for you. One that will benefit us both." she continued with a victorious smile as she was about to spring a trap.
         "What would that be?" and Carol willingly sat her foot into it.
         "I'm in need of someone taking full-time care of Dean," she stated matter of fact.
         "I'm quite the busy woman and as much as I'd like to personally take care of him, I'm not able to provide for what he needs right now," Karen added while following Dean's movement away from the window towards a set of table and chairs in the middle of the room.
         "What happened to him?" Carol's eyes followed Dean's movement, too, wondering what he saw. Karen furrowed her brows. Honest worry replaced the bright smile.
         "He... well... he was badly wounded on the battlefield and was brought back to us three months ago," she explained, eyes never leaving him.
         "Oh... I'm sorry to hear that." Carol swallowed hard and felt a lump rising in her throat.
         "He was unconscious for nearly two months. When he woke up he didn't speak or responded to anyone or anything." Karen sighed.
         "His squad was under attack and he was the only one who made it back alive. They don't know what had happened exactly. They said it was a miracle that he was able to walk back to the next camp in his condition." Karen explained further, tears threatened to fall from her eyes. Carol needed to swallow many times before she could speak up.
         "You must know about my brother..." she trailed off and Karen nodded.
         "Why would you ask me then?" Carol embraced herself, she didn't want to hear it. Everything in her mind and body told her to get out. Run away as fast as possible. Karen sighed. She studied Carol, her gaze full of pity.
         "You were able to bring your brother back into the world of the living. Within the medical reports, it was stated that he made significant progress under your care. That he didn't want to stay here..." She touched Carol's shoulder and gave it an affectionate squeeze, "... was not your fault."
         Carol couldn't bear to look up. She knew once their eyes met the tears would fall. Of course, she knew it wasn't her fault. It was Aaron's decision to end his life.
         "I hope you'll think about it. Once you've brought him back to me, I'll make sure you'll never have to worry about anything in your life ever again." her hand never left Carol's shoulder, but the touch felt cold. Everything in this room felt cold and empty. Something wasn't right and her gut never proved her wrong.
         She sends so many mixed emotions... Nonsense! It's simply a mother worrying for her son. She thought and fought off the terrifying images rising up in the back of her mind.
         "I-I... " Carol stammered, "need to think about it." She jumped up to her feet and turned her back towards Karen.
         "Of course, my dear. Please consider my offer. We'd appreciate your help more than you can imagine." Karen added while she gracefully stood up herself. When Carol turned around and attempted to ask her what she meant by that, she stumbled over the blanket she'd pushed down while standing up in a hurry. 
         Shit. Her legs entangled within the blanket she couldn't take a step forward to balance herself. The only choice left was to brace herself before hitting the floor. Arms stretched out, eyes closed, expecting to feel the cool, hard floor at any second.
         Seconds passed until she realized she was to some extent standing, or rather hanging. Her hands were clutched around well-worn dark leather, her face buried into the fabric of a cream-colored cotton shirt and strong hands had a firm grip around her shoulders. A soft, clean smell rose up her nose. Despite being a soothing scent, her heart began to beat faster and harder when she slowly raised her head. Eyes widening, breath stuck in her lungs, nose nearly touching Dean's chin she gazed at his lips. Perfectly shaped and only an already fading wound on the right side of his mouth disturbed the canvas. Understanding the position she was in a blush crept itself on Carol's cheeks and expanded fast over her face and ears. Letting her eyes wander over his prominent nose up to those clouded blue eyes, still staring into nothingness.
         A distant voice ripped her out of her daze. Without even searching for the source she swiftly regains her footing, brushing his hands off and made a run for the door. Her feet took her without pause back into her own room. Slamming the door shut and falling against it. Finally, she allowed herself to take some quick breaths.
         "What did just happen?" She asked herself while covering her mouth with one hand and sliding down the door.
         And... what should I do? Hands brushed through her hair, clawed around some strands and tears she'd held back for days were now allowed to quietly drop into her lap.