Andromeda

Chapter 1

     Andromeda's dark eyes fluttered open, her brain thick with fog. A constant beeping sound registered as she gazed dully around her. Stark white walls. Too-bright lights. A dozen questions filled her head. What had happened? Where was she? What was wrong? Something had to be wrong. The steady beep of her monitor was incessant, the small sounds from the hallway outside her door roared in her ears, the lights were blinding. 

     "I need to get out. What happened? I can't remember anything. I need to get away," panicking, she pulled off her monitor and ripped out her IV. Blood spurted and she clutched her arm as she jumped out of bed. The room swayed as she stumbled to the door.

     "Gotta get out." she mumbled as she sagged against the door. Her vision darkened. She opened the door as her legs gave out. Urgent voices seemed to come nearer, she felt someone moving her hand to look at her arm, and she fell into a dreamless sleep.

     The next time she woke up she couldn't move her arms. Looking down, she saw restraints on her wrists. She swallowed her panic and lay quietly waiting. A while later a nurse walked in. There was no doubt the matronly lady was a veteran nurse. She carried herself with an air of authority that was hard to miss.

     "I see you're awake again Miss Lawrence," she began, "You gave the nurses quite a scare with that stunt you pulled earlier. I'm nurse Ames and I'll be doing hourly rounds until this evening. I'll go and report you're awake now." confusion washed over the young patient.

     "I'm sorry ma'am, did you say Miss Lawrence?"

"That's the name we found on your ID card."

     "I'm sorry, I just don't remember that being my name," she paused and thought for a moment. "I don't remember anything at all."

      The days that followed were long and confusing. Her name was Paige Lawrence. Twenty-six years old, no living relatives. No social media or missing person alert. Her ID said she lived in Virginia but the address listed was a hostel. No one remembered her. Paige Lawrence was a blank slate.

She stayed in the hospital for observation but quickly began to chafe at the close atmosphere. Paige didn't like to be still and staying in one place for long felt wrong to her. She filled her time by walking around her floor and researching her past. Learning about McKinley. Wondering how she'd gotten so far from home and why she'd wanted to commit suicide. She kept a journal of her findings and how her days went. It was just a notebook a kind nurse had given her but she loved it dearly. It was one of the few things she truly owned.

A week after Paige had woken up she was sitting in her room writing in her journal. The curtains were drawn back to let in the afternoon sun. She doodled thoughtfully, trying to think of what to write.

"Excuse me, ma'am?" Paige jumped and saw a man in the doorway. He wore a deputy's uniform but what captured her were his eyes. Deep hazel and filled with concern. His hair was a dirty blond.

"C'mon Paige," she thought to herself, "get it together. He's just a deputy. He probably just wants to ask a few questions." Paige watched as he entered the room uncertainly. "Can I help you?" she asked quietly.

"I was the deputy who responded to the call and found you. My next shift is starting soon but I wanted to see how you were recovering. The nurse said you have amnesia and I'm sorry to hear that. They treating you okay here? I heard you got a little freaked out when you woke up." Paige noticed he had been fidgeting with his campaign hat as he spoke and suppressed a smile. "I guess what I'm trying to say," he continued, "Is if you ever need anything you can call me. I left my contact information with your nurse to give you and I'll be there to help if you ever need it." he finished speaking and looked down at his hat.

"That's very kind of you. Thank you for finding me and saving me, they said it was a miracle you found me. I was going to visit the sheriff department to find out who saved me to say thank you but the nurses won't let me leave yet."

"I was just doing my job. Any deputy would've done the same."

"Well, thanks anyways, and I might take you up on that offer sometime. I don't really know anyone here except my nurses. I'm still trying to remember things." a silence filled the room and neither knew what to say.

"Well I have to head out now. I'm glad you're doing better. Have a good day ma'am." he straightened his figure from where he'd been leaning against the wall and began to head out.

"Wait!" Paige called after him. "What's your name?"

"Justice, ma'am. Deputy Justice Grant."

                                                                                    

                                                                                         ~Paige~

                                                                                        ~Justice~