Take A Deep Breath

Chapter 3

"Oh my god, she's awake!"

The woman's voice is barely noticeable as I adjust my sensitive eyes to this bright light. The darkness was much more beautiful than this, and I now want to go back to floating.

I feel arms wrap around me and I want to shake them off, but they feel familiar and warm, so I let her hug me. A memory, a short flashback, tries to squirm it's way into my head, and I attempt to clear a pathway for it, but it disappears before I can comprehend.

"Oh, Amber, I've missed you so much!"

Amber? She continues to keep her arms around me, shoulders shaking. Is she...is she laughing? I shake my head and peel her arms off, not being able to resist the urge any more.

"Amber, honey, what's wrong?"

There it is again, with this Amber. Her voice is full of concern and is anxious. I struggle to find my own voice, struggle to answer her. In fact, I struggle to think of anything, an answer. What IS wrong?

Then, a tall man with a white coat and too big glasses smiles and walks over to me, my bed. He nods at the woman and she stands up out of her chair, dabbing her cheeks with some tissues. He sits down and tilts his head at me.

"Now, Amber, how are you feeling?"

I peer down at his clipboard and notice a pen in his hand, ready to write down my answers. Answers. I need them.

"Am I Amber?" I finally find my voice, but it comes out croaky and scratched.

His smile disappears and concern spills over his expression. He places down his clipboard and pen, then stands up and presses his thumb down on a button beside me.

"Get Dr.Smith in, please, Martha"

He speaks into small microphone, them takes his thumb off and pauses before turning to the woman. Who is she anyway? How do these people have the right to take me out of my darkness? Why are they doing...what are they doing? What am I doing?

I feel myself frown and I shove my face into my palms, suddenly too confused to stare at this bright light anymore.

"Mrs.Clover, I'm sorry but I have to ask you to leave. Amber here is not ready, but if this is what I suspect then you will need to come in soon. Please, have some lunch at the restaurant and I will get the nurse to come and collect you when it is time"

I remove my palms and peek up at Mrs.Clover and the doctor. Mrs.Clover is still crying, why I am still not sure of, and the doctor looks...sympathetic? like he feels sorry for her? I place my face back in my hands. Itstoomuchlitstoomuchitstoomuch.

"What do you suspect?" I hear Mrs.Clover ask, her voice filled with emotion.

The doctor doesn't answer straight away, but after a moment I hear him cough.

"I cannot tell you that before I am fully cofident, but I assure you that the examination will not take long"

"But I've been waiting 2 ye-"

"Mrs.Clover, if you want the best for Amber then you need to let me look after her. Please go wait in the waiting room."

I don't look up. I suddenly feel guilty, as if I've caused her pain.

I hear footsteps and a door closing. I lift my head to look at the doctor.

"What's happening?" I find myself asking, too exhausted to ask specific questions.

He smiles again and I notice that he is missing a tooth.

"All will be explained, soon."

He says that he will be right back, then quickly leaves the room. I sit for a few moments before sighing. I don't recognise my own voice. I recognise the concept of things, like a table or a chair, but who are these people? Why am I in hospital? Is it because of the darkness? How could something to beautiful cause harm?

And then, something even more beautiful happens.

A memory.

It floods my head like a thunderstorm's rain and I find myself squeezing my eyes shut, desperate to get rid of my headache.

And before I can go over this memory, the doctor and his doctor friend comes in.

"What's happening?" I instantly repeat y question, once again desperate for answers.

They both smile and the doctor's friend sits down in a chair.

"Amber...you have been in this hospital for over two years because of a severe head injury"

I can't help but gasp.

"You had been placed in an induced coma because of it, and now, you have waken up"

I want my darkness back.

"Am I brain damaged?" the next question blurts out before I can stop myself.

He frowns. "You seem fine apart from your memory loss, which we will work on soon. We are going to conduct some tests and ask from questions, then go from there"