Dream Coma

Part 1

"Oh no!" I hollered as I approached a cliff. I was being chased by a mysterious, shadowy figure. I slowly backed up to the 90 degree drop as my heart pounded in my chest. It was going to kill me. I began to cry as I hugged my knees. Small rocks crumbled off the cliff and it plummeted to the ground as I heard a scream.

~*~

A heart monitor beeped as it tracked Jordan's life force. Her mother, Betty, sat in a chair next to her hospital bed. Jordan had been sick prior to her first day of her junior year of high school.

Betty had received the call when she was at work as a chef. She was so shocked that she broke a bottle of wine at her feet. She ran to her car without a word and headed to the hospital.

Betty stroked her daughter's long, black hair. She hoped Jordan would wake up so she could see her beautiful green eyes once again. She would embrace her more tightly than she ever had and this whole nightmare would be over.

"Mrs. Williams?"

"Yes," Betty answered shooting out of her seat.

The doctor had a large envelope in his right hand that Betty could not help but to stare at. "I'm Dr. Michaels." She said extending her hand. Betty stretched her thin, trembling hand and shook the doctor's hand.

Dr. Michaels was average height, with completely straight red hair down to her shoulders, and brown eyes. She was wearing a white, lab coat and flat, dress shoes, She pulled Jordan's brain scan out of the envelope and held it up to the light. "That's odd."

Betty's heart jumped into her throat as every worst-case scenario ran through her head at lightning speed. "What, what is it?" She asked with her eyes stretched to the size of an owl.

"Your daughter's scans indicate that she's...dreaming."

"What does that mean?"

"Your daughter appears to be in a coma, physically speaking. However, if she were in a coma, brain activity should be minimal. She shouldn't be dreaming."

"What...what um what are we going to do?"

"Well," Dr. Michaels began, hugging the envelope, "I've already had her admitted." Betty was staring at the floor fidgeting with her hands. The doctor was going to suggest Betty go home and sleep, but thoughts of her own child made their way to the forefront of her mind. She would leave Dillon's side for anything. "I can bring a cot in for you, if you like."

A small smile flashed across Betty's face. "Yes, please."

Dr. Michaels nodded and left the room. "Make sure she eats." She told the nurse, Janet.

"Yes, Doctor." Janet replied before stepping in room 22B to speak to Betty. "Miss, can I get you anything?"

Betty looked at Janet who had her brown hair in a bun. She had light blue scrubs with penguins waddling on them. This nurse gave Betty a feeling of comfort. "Coffee, please?"

Janet nodded and smiled. "How do you take it?"

"Black."

"Me too." Janet replied before she left.

"Hey Betty," Betty turned to see Eric at the door. They had known each other since college; he had been a beloved friend to her since then. He was like a brother to Betty and the godfather of her only child, Jordan. He entered the room, took off his jacket, and invited himself to stand by Betty, "Where's John?"

"Oh, I called him the moment the school called me; he's flying back from Boston," The family lived in Colorado and John was an accountant so he traveled somewhat often. Despite his traveling, John was a family man, who would refuse to travel on holidays.

"How long have you been here?" Eric wondered.

Betty hadn't even noticed time passing she was frozen in that moment at 8 a.m. when she received that call. She glanced at her watch. 11:02 a.m. She gripped it with her right hand and twirled her silver watch around. "Three hours." She whispered. Three hours. It echoed in every facet of her mind. My daughter has been in this state for three hours.