All of a sudden, she was awake. She could now hear the taps and squeaks of rubber soles on linoleum floors and soft, gentle voices chattering in the hallways, getting louder and then quieter as they passed. She could hear soft, continuous beeping and the clicking of fingers on computer keys. Suddenly, she could feel the weight of her body on the firm, plastic mattress. She could feel the rubbery texture of the tube in her nostrils and on her upper lip. She could hear the rustling from the paper covering her pillow and could feel the knitted weave of the blanket wrapped around her legs. There was a certain familiarity to these senses. She had awoken to them many times as a child. She knew where she was. She was, as any right minded person in her situation should be, confused, however she was far too tired to care.
"Sara?" The sound of this strangers voice boomed inside her mind like a bell. "Sara. Can you hear me?"
She opened her eyes and suddenly light filled her body, exerting more pressure on her already aching brain. She squinted her eyes. It took a few moments for her to make out the shadows and be able to focus her eyes. When she did, she was met with the face of a young, beautiful nurse.
"Welcome back." The nurse said in a soft voice, almost a whisper. "You had us scared there for a second."
"What happened?" Sara croaked through a dry, burning throat.
"Just rest." The nurse responded with a warm smile. "Your doctor is on her way and she will explain everything but for now you need to relax."
Sara looked around the room. The T.V. in the corner of the ceiling was obviously showing the news but she couldn't focus her eyes enough to make out any of the words or people. She noticed flowers on the table beside the bed. "I'm at Desert Palm?" She asked. The question left behind a stinging burn in her throat.
"Mmhmm." The nurse nodded, flipping through notes on her clipboard. She was standing beside the bed where Sara was resting, trying to remember to breathe.
Sara sunk back into her bed and a slightly older, maybe late-30s, but equally beautiful woman came into the room. The nurse nodded her head and said an acknowledging 'Doctor'. The Doctor looked over at Sara and smiled.
"Hi, Sara. I'm Dr. Edwards. It's nice to meet you."
"Can you tell me why I'm here?" Sara said, starting to feel desperate.
The doctor pulled a chair from the corner of the room to Sara's bedside. She sat down and looked at Sara apologetically. "I have a few questions for you first if that's ok."
Sara let out a slow, exhausted breath, and reluctantly nodded. She closed her eyes to block out the piercing light.
"Can you tell me your full name?" Dr. Edwards asked.
"Sara Joanna Sidle." Her throat felt as if it was made of gravel.
"How old are you?"
"35."
There was a long pause. Sara heard Dr. Edwards flipping back and forth through sheets of paper. "Sara," It was the doctors voice again, slow and concerned. "What year is it?"
"2003."
She heard a deep exhale. She heard files being stacked together and then she heard Dr. Edwards rising out of her chair. Sara opened her eyes.
"I'm going to let you rest now. Press the button if you need anything." Dr. Edwards said before she gracefully exited the room, gesturing the nurse to follow her.
By the time the two women had closed the door behind them, Sara was asleep.
