The Experiment

Seven

I sat in the wheelchair unmoving, the space blanket around me. All I could do was shiver.

The nurse came rushing in. "Izzy," she sighs.

I flinched away.

"Shh, I'm not mad at you sweetheart. Let me help you," she said helping me to the bed covering me with the blankets.

"I... I... Im so cold," I whispered.

"I know sweetie," she said rubbing my arms with the blanket. She grabbed a thermometer placing it in my ear.

"92.3," she sighs. "You're warming up. I'll get you some tea," she said and rushed out. I looked around the room still confused on what was going on.

"What's happening?" I asked when she placed a foam cup inbetween my hands. "Why am I so cold?" I asked.

"You just had an ice bath. You were being punished for harming me," she sighs. "I know you're confused. Its because of the hypothermia," she said holding me against her.

"Am I going to die?" I asked.

"No," she said rubbung my arms gently. "Drink the tea. I need you to get warm liquids in you," she said.

I nodded sipping on it.

"What happened?" I asked confused.

"You were in an ice bath. You have hypothermia. You're confused, but you will be okay Izzy," she reassured me.

"I'm so cold," I shivered.

"I know. You'll warm up soon. Let me see your hands," she said after I finished the cup of tea. She touched them gently. "Can you feel my fingers?" She asked.

"Yes," I told her.

She nodded

She moved down "Im going to Check your toes and feet," she said grabbing onto my feet. "What about that can you feel that. Can you move your toes?" She asked.

I tried to move my toes. "Are they moving?" I asked.

"Yes sweetie," she sighs relieved. "Why cant I feel them?"

"Because you're cold," she said and left the room. She came back with a pair of fuzzy socks. She placed them on my feet. "There that should help," she said.

"Im gonna check your temperature again," she said placing the thermometer in my ear. "93.4," she sighs. "You're warming up," she said.

"Im so cold. I'm tired," I told her.

"I know I need you to stay awake just until you warm up more," she said holding onto me.

She sighs touching my hair seeing it was wet. "Lets get your hair dried off," she said leaving the room once more to get a towel. She wrapped my hair up in the towel. "That should help," she said.

"Im scared," I told her tears in my eyes.

"I know Izzy, you're strong though," she said holding me to her side.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

"For what honey?" She asked.

"Trying to hurt you. I-I can't remember what I did. I'm sorry I did it," I told her tears in my eyes.

"I'm not mad Izzy. You were scared," she sighs holding onto me. "Your memory will come back as you warm up," she said.

I nodded tears falling. "I'm scared," I told her.

"I know," she sighs rubbing my arm. "Do you want more tea?" She asked.

I nodded.

She stood up heading out of the room for a few minutes. I sat on the bed covered in blankets and towels. Ashley came back with another cup of tea. She handed it over. "Its hot," she said.

I grabbed it from her holding it.

She put the thermometer in my ear once again "94.1," she said. "Go up 1 more degree your officially not in hypothermia," she said sitting back down.

"I'm sorry I sedated you. You were just tryin to help," I whispered the memory coming back faintly.

"Izzy, Im not mad. People have done much worse to me," she said touching my back. She touched the towel that was on my head taking it off seeing how it was soaking wet. She wrapped another towel around my hair. "There you go," she said.

"Can I get warmer clothes?" I asked.

She hesitates "yes I'll be right back," she said and left for a several minutes coming back with a hoodie and sweatpants. "Do you want help changing?" She asked.

I nodded shyly.

She helped me stand with one hand she held me upright the other she helped put on my clothes.

"Thank you Ashley," I whispered yawning. "Can I go to sleep now?" I asked.

She sighs and put the thermometer in my ear one last time. "96.7," she said. "Lay down. Ill cover you," she said.

Slowly I layed back, my head hitting the pillow. It felt like the fluffiest thing on earth at the moment. Ashley covered me with two blankets. "There we go," she said. "I'll be back to check on you in a little bit okay?" She said.

"Okay," I yawned and closed my eyes. I curled up on my side drifting into a deep sleep.