Off To Wonderland

Hospital Wake Up

 Everything was silent all around her. And then a steady beeping began to play. Dull at first but soon grew a bit louder. Her mouth felt dry. She licked her lips and her tongue ran along cracked ridges. She opened her eyes, and was blinded by whiteness. Gradually her eyes adjusted. Above her was a white tile ceiling. With some pain and effort she turned her head to her right and saw an I.V. its tube trailed down. She followed it with her eyes until she saw it vanish into her arm. She reached at it with her left and pulled it out. Another thing was clapped to her finger she pulled that off too, and the beeping noise turned into a flat and constant beep. She pushed herself up from the hospital bed and moved her legs to the side. Amber tried to stand but her legs wouldn’t support her weight and she fell. The sound of footsteps filled her ears, and she heard a woman’s gasp.

“Quickly,” someone said, “get her back into the bed.” She felt hands on her arms lifting her. She weakly tried to struggle free but couldn’t. They placed her back into bed.

“Let me go,” she was surprised by how horse and cracked her voice sounded. As if she hadn’t talked for days. “Why am I here?” the nurses placed her back onto the bed and left the room. Amber looked to the door and saw a man in a white coat, which she assumed was the doctor.

“Why am I here?” she asked narrowing her eyes at him.

“Your brother brought you. He said you had been asleep for a week and a half, and weren’t responding.” Amber looked at him confused.

“You must be mistaken. I don’t have a brother.” The doctor flipped through a sheet that he held on a clip board.

“It says here you were checked in by a boy by the name of Jake?” Amber felt as if she had just been punched. She swallowed.

“Where is he? And where is my step dad Jimmy?” She asked.

“We are calling your brother right now, as for your father I have no idea where he is,” and with that the doctor left the room. Amber sat in silence.

A couple minutes went by and a nurse came in with a tray of food. When Amber saw the food her stomach hurt as though it hadn’t seen food in weeks. Of course it hasn’t. She thought, they say I’ve been out for a week or so.

“Don’t eat too fast,” the nurse said before leaving, “or you’ll get sick.” Amber picked at her food chewing each bit for a while savoring the flavor, even though it was shitty hospital food.

“Amber!” Amber turned at the sound of her name being called, and saw Sparrow standing in the doorway. He was smiling and tears were spilling down his cheeks. He ran over to her and pulled her into his arms. “God, I thought I lost you.”

“Get the fuck off me!” Amber spat, pushing him away. He looked at her surprised. “Why didn’t you tell me Jake?” She asked. Sparrow’s face fell.

“I’m sorry Amber. I know I should have told you.” He said while moving to touch her face. She smacked his hand away. Tears threatened to pore out of her eyes.

“Don’t. You. Ever. Touch me.” She said dead calm.

“Amber I, I’m…”

“Sorry?” she finished for him. “You’re sorry? Sorry doesn’t do shit! You left me Jake! You left me with that man! Do you know what he did to me? Do you know what YOU let him do to me? You left me. All. By. Myself.” Jake sat there quietly. She knew that what she said hurt him. But he had hurt her so bad that she didn’t care. They sat in silence for a while.

“Amber,” Came a panicked  voice. Amber and Sparrow turned to see a distraught Kimmber. Her mascara was smeared and ran down her face with her tears. Rocky stood behind her, with a nervous look on his face. Kimmber ran over to Amber’s bedside, and buried her face in Amber’s lap. “Amber when I heard what happened, I was so scared.”

“Ssshhhh,” Amber lulled stroking her friend’s hair. “It’s fine. I’m fine.” She said.

“When Sparrow found you he thought you were just sleeping, but then you would wake up. He even splashed water on you and you still wouldn’t wake up. He picked you up and took you to the hospital. Amber…” She paused and lifted her head looking into Amber’s eyes. She reached out her hand and stroked her face. “I was worried you were dead,” Kimmber whispered. The tears fell from her eyes spilling down her cheeks.

“Kimmber,” Amber sobbed, “I am so sorry I made you worry,” the two hugged and cried a bit, until Rocky cleared his thoat.

“Hey Sparrow,” he said. Sparrow looked over at Rocky who shook his phone.

“Kay.” He said in a tired voice. He stood up and followed Rocky out the door.

“I hate him,” Amber said.

“Who? Sparrow?” she looked at Amber, “Amber, he save your li-“

“NO! HE FUCKING RUINED IT!” She shouted. Kimmber looked at her friend in shock.

“What do you mean? He carried you all the-“

“Kimmber,” Amber shook her head, “he’s my brother.” Kimmber’s eyes widened with realization.

“Sparrow…..is your brother?” Amber nodded, “The brother who left you by yourself?” Amber nodded again. Anger danced all over Kimmber’s face. “That Mother Fucker,” she cursed.

“Yeah,” Amber sighed.

“What the fuck is he doing here now?”

“I don’t know, Kimmy,” Amber breathed, “I don’t know….”