The Abnormality Of The Normality

'Who are you?'

Where am I? I think to myself as I look around me. How did I get here? I am sat in a large white waiting room. There are a few people sat around me, all in pure white clothes. Each person staring far into the distance. I try to get up but I can't. It's as though I have been super-glued to the bench. Looking down I see I am in similar attire to everyone else. I look around in more of a panic to try and figure out where I am.

I turn to a young boy of around 10 who's sat two seats over from me. "Excuse me". The boy continues to stare, it's as if he can't here me. "I said, excuse me." I am beginning to panic more and more as time edged slowly forwards. "Can anyone explain to me where I am?" I raise my voice in hope that someone, anyone could hear me. There is no answer.

I sit and wait out my time for what feels like days. I jump at the sound of a loudspeaker, broadcasting across the waiting room.

"I'm sorry, there's nothing more we can do. All we can do now is wait."

The voice is of an older man. Who was he talking to? What does he mean there's nothing more they can do? Do for who?

"Please doctor. It's been 3 weeks already. There must be something... anything."

I recognise that voice but I can't remember where from. A past memory pushed to the back of my mind is trying to resurface. I push it back into the depths of my mind and desperately listen to see if I can hear anymore.

"Miss Johnson, I am sorry but Alex is in a coma. There's nothing we can do except wait" The doctor speaks.

"How long are we supposed to wait for... what if she never wakes up" The woman who I assume is Miss Johnson speaks.

I feel a tightening on my hand as if someone is holding it and jump yet again, pulling my hand sharply away.

"Doctor! Doctor!" the woman calls over the loudspeaker.

"What is it?" The doctor replies

"She flinched. When I held her hand just now. I swear she did. I held her hand and she.... " the woman's voice is cut off by the now rather agitated doctor.

"That's more or less impossible. She's in a coma. She can't see or hear you. Alex probably doesn't even know we're here. I'm sorry Miss but there are other patients I need to see."

I feel the same tightness on my hand. I close my eyes and try to imagine myself anywhere but here.

"Alex, I mean Al. If you can hear me, please give me a sign. It's Hayley. Anything. Please."

I open my eyes and yell at the top of my lungs to try and get her to hear me. "I'm here Hayley. I can hear you. Don't give up on me."

Hayley continues speaking over the announcement.

I know I messed up. I haven't stopped thinking about our kiss. You looked beautiful that day. I had your painting framed. My father doesn't understand it but I don't care what he or anyone else thinks. I know you probably hate me but I avoided you for a reason. I thought that somehow by leaving you be, these feelings would go away. I thought it would be easier if we just went back to being friends. You don't understand how difficult it was to stay away." She takes a moment to sigh deeply. "When Arthur returned and told my father you'd gone off with some man... Oh god. Al I'm so sorry. I knew it was Jack and just had to get you out. I came to the house everyday after seeing him leave. I yelled for you but you didn't hear me. The doctor said they found traces of Temazepam in your system, so you were probably out cold every time... I should have known. If I hadn't of stayed away, none of this would've ever happened."

Hayley's voice has cracked and I can hear her sobbing. The next seven words catch me off guard.

"Please wake up Al... I love you."

As I sit there I hear a loud beep and then nothing. Hayley has gone. I'm stuck alone once again in this bizarre waiting room. I hold my face with my hands and cry. I cry because I can't remember. I cry because I don't know where I am. I cry for Hayley and I cry for myself. I don't know how long I am sat crying for. It feels like weeks.

I am startled by a tap on my shoulder. To my surprise when I jump up I can jump to my feet. The glue must've worn off. I look at the woman who had come to me. She was around 25. Her long, brown hair flowed down past her shoulders. She wore a white gown with gold swirls embroidered onto the bottom. Her eyes a deep brown chestnut. She reached out to me and took my hand in hers. I allowed her to walk me through the room to a small door on the other side. Neither of us says a word until we reach the door. "Who are you?" I ask breaking the silence. The woman smiles at me and opens the door revealing a dark room. I can't see a thing. She nudges me with her hand to get me to walk into this weird room and turn back just in time to hear her whisper her name under her breath, before the door closes behind me leaving me in the pitch black room. The name rolls around inside my mind. I knew that name. Somewhere in the back of my mind. Irene Johnson.