My eyes flickered like florescent lights, then I realized I was looking at a florescent light. Annoyingly bright really. My whole body was weak. I couldn't move. Why was I here again? I can't remember...
"How are you, my dear?" A kind voice referred to me.
I at first forgot how to speak, "I-I'm better, I t-think." I almost regretted my response, my body ached, and my muscles strained with every movement.
The nurse, clad in white, smiled down at me in the long hospital bed. "I'll bring you some blankets."
I wasn't cold or anything, but a comforting blanket sure sounded nice. Wait- Why am I in a hospital? Did something happen? A car crash? I don't understand...Suddenly a door opened, and the same nurse came in with three blankets. Ugh. They looked itchy. My sheets would have been just fine.
"You have a visitor, Miss Thatch."
Oh..?
"A friend of mine?"
"He claims to be a close friend. Shall I permit him?"
"Yes."
I really didn't know who to expect at this point. I had no friends, really. Just Jake. But he'd been in on vacation in the Caribbean for the whole week. I doubt it's him.
After the nurse leaves, a tallish guy in a deep blue button-up shirt with the long sleeves rolled up partly. His jeans were dark yet faded...Jake?
"Makenna? Are you alright? I flew in from Haiti to see if you were alright."
"Y-you did?"
"Uh-huh." he nods and reaches to hug me.
"Please don't, I'm terribly achy."
"Oh…sorry. I bet you are."
"I don't meant to sound stupid or anything, but what happened to me?"
"You don't remember?"
"No." I shook my head slowly, straining to remember.
Honestly, I had no clue. It must have been really serious for Jake to come home just to see if I was OK.
"You were jumped by 4 upper-class guys at the University, but then you all had heart attacks. Crazy, right? The doctors had no explanation. You'd been unconscious for a long time, but you pulled through. Wish I could say the same for the other guys, what they did was wrong, but they didn't deserve to die. You seriously don't remember?"
Woa...
"No, I don't..
Jake stopped and looked at me with a content smile. "I'm glad I came home. I was beginning to miss seeing you every day."
I smiled. Jake was a good friend.
I got a good look around the hospital environment while the awkward silence continued. The window in my room had white metal shades, blocking the natural light. White walls. White floors. Nurses dressed in white. White. White. White. Not to make myself sound like a gothic freak- but the place would look a lot better if it were all black, and covered in fake blood stains. You know, the Hollywood horror hospital type scene. This place reeked of personal invasion. Like how they make you wear hospital gowns, and...well...I just think that it's a little too personal. Speaking of, I was wearing one of those horrid hospital gown. Creepers. Undressing a 19 year old girl and then re-dressing her into hardly anything at all. Disgusting. If it were some other chick, I'd be glad it wasn't me. But it was me.
Jake cleared his throat, "The doctor said you could go home when you woke up. And since you're awake…" He was suggesting I go home today.
"Going home sounds nice" I smiled again.
"Well, you can stay in bed if you still feel sickish, but I'll start to pack up your stuff. Ok?"
Stuff? I'm guessing Aunt Marissa dropped off some things for me.
I followed Jake's gestures with my eyes, as he came up to a small dresser and book shelf. A few photos scattered, a cross necklace, and a book or two. I suspect the dresser had a few of my clothes in it. Aunt Marissa must have thought I would have to stay long after I became conscious.
After the same nurse made another visit, dropping off some medication that I could take home, I dressed in the small (and very sanitary) bathroom, and collected the few items that sat on the bedside table. A get well card from my Aunt, and…a notebook?
There was nothing on its solid black cover. I immediately picked it up, and for some reason, my heart jumped. Fear rushed through my mind- considering how I ended up here, the last thing I was is for my heart to jump. Perhaps it's just an after-shock. I opened the top cover of the hard-back notebook. Inside, there was a title that read: How To Use.
What is this thing? How to use a notebook?
"Makenna? Whatcha got there?" Jake stopped after zipping up a duffel bag.
"Dunno. It's just a notebook."
"Weird. Well, finder's keepers! Let's go. My dad's got the car out waiting for us in the parking lot."
Yes! I loved Mr. Corey's car. A 1970's Chevelle; romantically red and just about as low as a car could be to the pavement. He treats it like his second child. I reached for the pink duffel bag- preparing to sling it over my shoulder, but Jake scooped it up before I could.
A puzzled look crossed my face.
"Don't worry, Makenna, I got it." He smiled sweetly, and pushed open the door, leading me into a busy hall. More robotically identical nurses passed us from both directions. Gosh, I have to admit, hospitals really do smell bad. Like old people and bitter medicine.
Jake had me follow him to the ground floor. Apparently, I was on the 3rd floor. Jake told me to wait in the lobby while he checked me out so I could go home.
I sat down for a moment on a stiff armchair. And, I got a weird feeling... Like I was being watched. from behind or above me – or both. I dared not look; afraid to appear crazy.
"Makenna, we can go now. My dad's waiting just out front."
I got up, and walked beside him out the automated door that led outside. Sure enough, a hot jalapeño-red Chevelle, was sitting on the curb. Smiling to myself, I was glad to be going home.
