Trying to remember

Chapter three - Astonishing

With one arm broken, and one leg - she was quite unbalanced. She could not support herself with crutches. So a wheelchair was her friend, as became the nurse who pushed her around the hospital grounds. Trying to build her confidence, it was clear to see and to a certain degree it worked. The nurse whose name was Leah was great company. She was happy all the time, but not in the sense that it made her patient feel patronised. She was a genuine happy bee. Light on her feet, petite at around 5ft 3. Long dark hair in a ponytail flowing down her back. Her skin glowed like that of skin warmed by the Spanish sun. Infact, she could have conclueded that Nurse Leah had Spanish origins. She even had imagined Leah dancing the Flamenco upon entering her hospital room. Well, there happened to be a lot of time for her imagination to get the best of her. Leah kept her laughing and encouraged her to talk to others around the hospital.

It had taken her a few days, with the aid of a mirror that she had been given, to decide her name. Upon first seeing those blue eyes staring  back at her,  she felt a jolt of fear. Seeing her own reflection, was the first step to knowing who she was, but it came at a big price. The cold invation of those blue eyes into her soul, wanted to take root. Was there any words to describe the feeling of looking into a mirror and watching unknown eyes staring back at you? As if you  had caught someone else's gaze through a mirror in the middle of the night, not knowing who else was with you in the room. This was very much the same. She was sharing her body, but her neighbour would not reveal themselves. She had spent several hours looking at herself - in  between visiting nurses and doctors that is. Dr Steel only seemed to visit with Dr Bennet, since their discussion of 'a good name'. She felt as though he was deliberately avoiding her. She may not know who she is, but she knew when someone was ignoring her.

Ironically her Irises were infact close to the colour of the flower iris, as Dr Steel had suggested. She had even asked for a book on flowers to read, which the nurses had jumped at the chance to help. So Iris indeed sounded logical for her. When Leah first started helping her with moving in and out of the chair around the hospital was when she had first mentioned the name to her. 

"Ah, a play on words. And of course your colour. I like it." she had exclaimed with her husky smooth voice. They were sat at the coffee shop in the hospital entrance. Leah had told her all about a limited edition black forest gateu hot chocolate that she must try. Leah had pushed her wheelchair up against the table before ordering the two hot drinks. It seemed Leah was there to help her with more than just mobility. It wasn't uncommon for hospital treatment to include someone to help with mental health. Most likely more so for someone who couldn't remember who they were. "When I  saw you had asked for that gardening book, I didn't realise you were looking for a name."

"I wasn't really, well not initially. I was looking for something to jog my memory. But with the help of the mirror and the book, I came to the conclusion. It seems a good fit. I don't know if it is my real name, but it'll do for now." She patted her stomach and smoothed invisible creases on her lap, just for somewhere to avert her eyes. 

"Well, it's certainly a more unusual flower for a name. Unlike Daisy, or Rose. Yes I quite like it. Would you like me to tell the other nurses to call you that from now, or will you tell them yourself?" Her slow voice held all of the warmth of sincere affection. She fulfilled her job role well.  "So Iris, what do you want to do next? The weather looks cool enough today, we could sit outside in the sun?"

Iris felt a jolt in her stomach. In the open, even the hospital grounds did not fill her with the sensation that the protection of the hospital walls gave her. Leah indeed helped her and had pushed her, on a few occasions to sit outside. No doubt the vitimin D was good for her, however it did not outweigh the anxiety that came with the gentle summer wind that blew through her hair, whispering unknown secrets against her ears. It made the hairs stand on end, and goosebumps appear, despite the warmth of the sun. No! She had a different idea to pass that afternoon. "Well Leah, I thought I might like to read through some more books. Reading is something that I enjoy. I was thinking that perrhaps I might find my particular line of employment through reading through something. Could there be something of a directory of employment statuses?"