The Royal Commoner

... And Found

"What's happening?"

"Is she gonna be alright?"

"Looks like some kind of cyanide poisoning."

"But we all- Sarah? Sarah!"

She groaned loudly, all the voices ringing in her ears. Her head was pounding heavily and she felt a terrible ache all over her body. Struggling, she tried to open her eyes but failed miserably. They seemed to be sewn shut. Sarah fell into a deep slumber as the exhaustion took her under.

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"Sarah, please wake up. Everyone is so worried. I promise I'll never irritate you ever again and I'll even live a life of a nun if that's what you want. Just please wake up."

Sarah tried to make out the speaker of the voice. Her head felt heavy and it was hard to remember things. Still, she knew the voice was important to her. She concentrated-

Katie! Sarah tried to open her mouth, to reassure her best friend that she was okay, but her strength failed her. Frustrated, she fell asleep.

♛❃♛❀♛❃♛

The lights of the room were dimmed. Sarah knew this because the usual glow behind her eyelids was absent. She felt a soft pressure on her hand and heard soft breathing beside her.

With a herculean effort, she cracked open one eye. As she had guessed, the room was shrouded in darkness, save for the light of the moon shining through the window.

She took in her surroundings, noticing the white walls and linens of a hospital room. Machines beeped in tandem on either side of her. Turning her head to the side, she saw a mass of brown hair resting on her bead side. The pressure she felt on her hand was the one Noah was holding.

She felt a sudden rush of affection and her heartbeat jumped, indicated by the monitor attached to her bedside.

With some effort, she pulled her hand from his, meaning to stroke his curls, when his head jerked up and he stared down at her with wide, fathoming grey eyes.

Slowly recognition began to creep in and his eyes widened even further. Suddenly he shot up from the chair and ran over to the corner of the room where a telephone was attached. Pressing a few numbers, he spoke in low tones with someone. Hanging up, he turned to her.

Sarah would have frowned if the movement hadn't made her head a burning mesh. Instead, she opened her mouth to ask him what was going on, but only a croak came out.

Noah looked frantic, as he walked over to her and from the bedside table, picked up a glass of water, a straw in place.

She lifted her head gently, not meaning to increase her headache and took grateful sips from the straw. The water hurt her sour throat, but she couldn't stop slurping it down. By the time she finished the glass, the door to the hospital room opened.

A nurse rushed in, holding a clipboard. Noah looked up at her, placing the glass down.

"Oh thank God you're here. She just woke up," he explained, looking worried.

"Don't worry," the nurse reassured him, turning on the lights in the room.

Sarah suddenly closed her eyes as the illumination send spikes of pain through her head. She groaned.

"I think the light is hurting her," Noah said. Suddenly the room went dark again. Sarah slowly opened her eyes, blinking to obliterate the white spots dancing in front of her eyes.