Chapter 3
Maddie:
I wake up in a very cold room. I try to move and something crinkles under me. Paper? Trying to open my eyes hurts so badly. It's like they're glued together, while someone is hammering at my head. The light blinds me once I manage to pry my eyes open. Where am I?
A face looms over me. The face looks familiar, but I can't place it, and it bothers me. "Oh, she's awake!" A high-pitched voice that sounds sad, yet relieved, comes from what seems a great distance away. Several faces come. I study them, trying to remember why I recognize them.
A young woman with blonde curls and bluish-green eyes, her mascara streaked, dark cicrcles under her eyes. She reaches over and places a cool hand on my forehead. The hand is soft and comforting. A beautiful ring glitters from her hand as she takes it away.
The ring. I know the ring. I always remarked to my mother how pretty it was. My mother. The young woman must be my mother.
Another person comes forward, this time a young girl. She has straight brown hair, glittering brown eyes. Tears spill out of her huge eyes as she whispers to me. "Oh, Maddie, Maddie, I'm so sorry." Maddie. That's my name, I think. What happened? Where am I? Why does it hurt to move a muscle?
"Kenzie, come here." Someone says.
The girl moves away, out of my sight. Mackenzie, my little sister. Everything comes rushing back, too fast. Dance class. Ms. Abby putting me second on the pyramid. Later, going outside with Kenzie, getting on our bikes, heading home. But I can't remember anything after that.
"What happened to me?" I try to say, but my throat is too dry-no words come out. Someone holds a glass to my lips. I drink. It tastes like water and something slightly sweet. My headache seems to be a little better. "What happened?" I repeat.
A man with thick glasses and graying hair slicked back comes to where I can see him. He is smiling, although he doesn't really seem happy. My vision blurs and then clears. I read his white plastic nametag-Dr. Kyle Norris, Ped. ER. Why am I in the emergency room? Am I sick? Am I injured?
Dr. Kyle talks in a voice that soothes me. "Can you remember what happened after you left the ALDC this afternoon?"
I try to nod, but it hurts with a sharp pain. "Yes, I got on my bike with my sister and we headed home. But I don't remember anything after a few minutes of riding..." my voice trails off. Behind Dr. Kyle, Kenzie looks griefstricken, which makes me panic. Just what is wrong with me?
"You were hit by a speeding driver in a Mercedes minivan while crossing Main Street. There is most likely a concussion. although probably not too serious, which explains why you can't remember too clearly. It'll pass in a few days, though." The doctor keeps talking but I can't hear anything. I am suddenly remembering things.
We started crossing Main Street. We have to cross it to get to our neighborhood. In the middle of the street, I slowed down a moment to make sure my phone was in my dance bag. And then something hit me with so much force, I felt myself being thrown to the side.
Car accident. I mean, we hear about this stuff all the time. But it doesn't happen to people we know. It can't happen to me. I'm a professional dancer. And then, I remember my video filming with Sia tomorrow. Ruined. My life is ruined. I start to cry.