Broken Barriers

Chapter 1 ~ Soft Oblivion

The doctor stepped forward and gently shook my arm, snapping my attention back to him.

'Are you okay', he questioned with a warm smile on my face. I stared back into his face and for a minute, I thought about lying but I shook my head slowly, no longer was I going to lie. I wanted to question him and ask him where mother was but I couldn't get myself to voice out my concerns. I didn't care, I convinced myself that I shouldn't care but the truth of it all was that I did, 'why?' You ask.

Because.... because.... my mind went blank, I didn't know why but a part of me knew that for the rest of my life I would care.

The nurse gently leaned forward and gestured to my head. I shook my head in confusion and she told me that she needed to change the bandage. I reached up to feel it once again and noticed that blood was sleeping through.

I moved my hand so she could tend to one of my many injuries. She wrapped the gauze around my head injury being careful as to not hurt my in anyway, I wouldn't have felt it anyway.

The doctor moved to the front of the hospital bed that I had been laying on. He pulled out a clipboard out from the front of the bed and began asking me questions.

'How old are you ?'

'21' I responded.

'What is your name?'

'Adalyn'

'What day is it today?'

I.. I didn't know what day it was, I wasn't even aware of how long I had been here.

The doctor who I now knew as Dr. Linton, must have noticed the expression on my face and set the clipboard down. He explained that my head injury had been serious and they were afraid that it may have caused internal damage to my brain. He continued talking but I had already been deep in thought.

A head injury.

Surely Mother wouldn't....

She wouldn't, would she ?

"Do you have anywhere to go ?" he asked, a curious expression etched on his face.

I hesitated and turned my head to the side. I couldn't answer him and knew that I wouldn't be able to answer him for a while. He looked at me in understanding and told the nurse to finish up before he left, closing the door behind him.

The nurse finished with the bandage, 'Would you like me to get you something to eat' she asked. My gaze went to her and I shook my head no. I couldn't eat, the thought of food made me nauseous and she nodded.

She pointed towards a red button on the side of the bed and told me if I needed any assistance or anything in general, I should press the button and a nurse would come.

I whispered 'okay' before she gave me a gentle smile and closed the door behind her.

Staring at the white door, I wondered where everything went wrong.

~~~

Adalyn' shouted Mother. I came running down, I couldn't afford to delay her one second further. I was still wearing the apron from work earlier today. 'Where's my money?' Mother had questioned with a dark look in her eyes.

Carefully reaching inside the pocket of my apron, I gave her my earnings. It wasn't a lot for her but for me, it was everything.