Amber Wood

Wakening

                               ~Ashley's POV~

Waking up in the hospital was not what I had expected. My last memories were filled of the beautiful dress that twinkled ever so slightly in the gloomy lightning. The faint pink on the almost white dress, the dark pink butterflies printed on it, and the beautiful neckline was like watching my dream dress as a child come to life. It was always a pleasure to pass by it on my way to work. Only my brother never understood the fascination I had with it. Always stopping at the display window taking in its beauty.

What I don't understand is how my memories go from something so beautiful to a cold and gruesome hospital. Cords which I assume are IV fluids and something else clung to me. Searching for the nurse request button I pressed it and waited it patiently. In a few short moments the curtain of the make shift room slid and a petite woman made her way closer.

"How's everything honey? Can you tell me your name and what's bothering you?"

Checking my vitals and the machines I had no clue what to call she waited patiently for my answer.

"Ashley... Ashley Castroph... I'm okay but how did I get here?"

"Honey you don't remember?" Shaking my head no she dipped out the room without a word. Well, that's just weird. Is no one going to give me answers? A wrenching pain ripped through my head spreading all down my body. My muscles stiffened and it felt as if my veins were on fire. Flashes of me falling to the ground my vision only seeing red. The faint voices of my brother and a stranger. The burning in my veins became unbearable. My arm with the the IV needle in was as if you had thrown me into an open fire. Ripping the cords out seeing blood drip down my arm the nurse rushed back to my side in slow motion then everything went dark.

____________________

You'd think being unconscious you'd have a peaceful like sleep. But I guess I was completely wrong. Red and drops of my blood flashed before my eyes as this burning sensation rushed through my body. Wanting to scream but my mouth didn't even move. It was as if my veins were freezing over and the idea of any blood pumping through them was gone. My skin turning so cold it was burning. Numbness to another extent that I've never felt. I couldn't hear anything except what I thought was my blood rushing and turning still.

How'd I know it was like this? I didn't but it sure felt like it. The most accurate description to the pain I felt. It was an endless feeling of needles, burning, and numbness for what felt like eternity. Then it stopped.

My eyes could open and light poured into them.  The sound of equipment moving and rushed voices around me. Adjusting my eyes to the room the nurse from earlier appears in front of me. Waving her hand slightly and then ushering a man to my side.

"Ashley... Ashley can u hear us?"

Giving them a polite nod I go to speak but my mouth is dry. So dry the burning feeling irrupts throughout my throat and through my entire body once again. The nurse and a mans face appear in front of my slightly blurred vision. The nurse forces a cup into my hand and guides it to my mouth. Swallowing every drop of could water feeling the burning go down. My vision clears and I can see the man is my doctor checking my pulse as I drink.

"Ashley.. are you in any pain? Can you hear us?"

Nodding I decide to try and speak again. "I'm in some pain but I can hear and feel regularly." The nurse nods and the doctor notes it on whatever papers are on his clipboard. The nurse checks my blood pressure as the doctor decides to ask me more questions.

"Do you remember how you got here or what occurred that brought you in to the hospital?"

"I only remember looking at a dress in a boutiques window and then nothing after that... how did I get here? Where is my brother he was with me...."