The Last Summer Apart

Chapter Twelve (Audrey's Perspective)

My eyes opened. All I could see was a bright white light. My ears were ringing. I could faintly hear someone calling my name. I smelled bleach. The forest doesn't smell like bleach I thought. I tried to get up. I heard a machine start to go crazy. I was pushed back down. I saw several dark shapes in the light. I tried to make out what they were. People. Again, I heard someone call my name. I tried to respond, but no words came out. I heard lots more voices. One was asking me if I remembered what my name was. Audrey I thought. I tried to tell them, but again, no words came out. My brain was working so hard to process information, but none of it was making sense. I'm tired I thought. Maybe I'll just, take another nap... My eyelids began to close. It was dark. 

I woke up slowly. Disoriented. I saw a ceiling with yellow flood lights in it. I listened. A machine was making a soft beep, beep, beep. It was quiet. I heard lots of noise far away, not in the same room as me. Wait, I'm in a room. I turned my head. It was difficult. My neck was tender. I reached up to tought it, and my right wrist was in a brace. How did that get there? I thought. I saw an IV in my arm. An IV? Am I in a hospital?  

"Audrey?" I heard a voice say. 

I turned my head. Someone was sitting in an armchair. I focused. "Lucas?" I said, my voice dry and weak. 

"Oh thank God you're awake!" He rushed over and held my hand. I felt moisture. He was crying. "I thought I would never hear your voice again, my love. You scared me to death and back again."

"What happened?" I asked, still somewhat disoriented. 

"You fell in the forest. Do you remember?" Lucas asked. 

I tried to remember. "I remember falling, and you guys looking for me. Then I remember a bright white light and voices. That's it."

Lucas breathed deeply. "You fell in the forest. When we found you, you were unconscious but still breathing. We had to get you to the road so the ambulance could carry you to the hospital. You broke your wrist and ankle, cracked four ribs and you have a huge laceration on your cheek." He pointed out. "The doctor was scared you had spinal damage or internal bleeding from being stopped by the tree, but thankfully, you only have some minor whiplash. Try not to move around too much okay?"

I nodded. I grabbed his hand. "Where are we? Where is the rest of the group?"

"The Claresholm General Hospital. They are back at the cabin, packing up and cleaning. I said I'd call once you woke u- shit, I have to make a quick call, one second sweetie." He kissed my forehead and frantically started typing numbers into his phone while stepping out into the hallway.

The doctor stepped in. He checked my monitors, asked me too many questions, and gave my a tray with soup and jello. I felt much better once Lucas came back. He helped me eat, seeing as my right hand was incapacitated. The soup was cold and watery, but the jello was delicious. 

"Audrey, I have a joke for you!" Lucas said. 

"Uh oh..." I joked. 

"Did you hear about the guy who lost his whole left side?" He said. 

I rolled my eyes, "No I didn't..."

"He's all right now!" He said, waiting for my reaction. 

"You're such a goof!" I said, cracking my first smile through this whole ordeal. 

"But, I'm your goof." He said, giving me a kiss. 

I laughed, then winced, remembering my bruised and battered torso. I looked beside my bed. There was a beautiful bouquet of lilacs and white roses sitting in a vase, a small teddy bear and a cheesy get well soon card. 

"Awe Lucas! Did you get those for me?" I said, extending my arm out for the teddy bear. He nodded and passed it to me. "I love it. I love you, Lucas. You're so thoughtful." Just then, my eyes started to get heavy. I yawned. It hurt. 

"You should sleep sweetie." Lucas said, stroking my hair as my eyes closed. 

I fell asleep to the sound of his breathing and the heart monitor beeping beside me.