Chapter Seven
Lost and Alone
Luke
A high, mournful sound surrounded me, urging me out of the blackness. It was sad like it was looking for something lost. I couldn't figure out what it was or where it was coming from. I didn't want to open my eyes but it wouldn't stop. I slowly forced them open. I couldn't get my mind to focus on a clear thought. I wanted nothing more than to retreat back into unconsciousness. It was dark, wet and cold. I was wet and cold. That much I knew. As awareness slowly returned so did a dull pain in my head. I closed my eyes again, trying to escape the pain that was slowly spreading through my body. Everything hurt. I wanted to drift back to numbing sleep but my instincts told me I better open my eyes and figure out what was happening.
I slowly opened my eyes again, trying to ignore the pain it caused my head. I listened to that mournful cry finally realizing it was the wind. It didn't make a lot of sense to me. I was on my back, lying on the ground. Why wasn't I in my bed? I could see the sky through the leafless branches of the trees. I was definitely outside. Dark clouds moved swiftly across the sky revealing a few stars now and then.
I tried to get up but quickly found out that was a bad idea. My chest hurt something fierce from the effort. I couldn't move my right arm because of the excruciating pain it caused my shoulder. My ankle hurt badly when I tried to move my leg. I collapsed back down and took a deep breath. Another bad idea. It made my chest hurt even worse. I started to cough which took the pain up another level.
I tried to stay calm but breathing was difficult. It wasn't gonna do me no good to panic. I had to think rationally. I tried hard to calm my breathing which alleviated the pain some. But I was getting scared. I didn't know where I was or what had happened to me.
I had to stay calm. The first thing I figured I needed to do was take inventory of my injuries. I didn't know how I got them but I knew I was hurt bad. I gingerly felt my right side. It hurt. Some ribs were probably broken. I hoped I hadn't punctured my lung but it was possible considering how much it hurt to breathe. Judging by the pain in my shoulder, it was dislocated. I wasn't able to move my arm without causing severe pain. I wasn't sure if my ankle was sprained or broken but it didn't matter which because, either way, I wasn't going to be able to put any weight on it. I felt a gash on my forehead accounting for the pain I felt there. It was still bleeding some. My body ached everywhere. This wasn't good.
It was dark. I was cold and wet. I was flat on my back and hurting. Those were the only things I was certain of. I didn't know much else. I didn't know where I was or how I got there. For a moment I was confused enough to think I might be in Vietnam but it was never this cold in the jungle. I must be home but I couldn't figure out exactly where.
I decided the best thing to do was close my eyes and rest. I couldn't manage much else. The image of Bo came to my mind causing a new reason to panic. Had I been in an accident? Was Bo with me? Was he hurt too?
I opened my eyes and looked around again for any sign of Bo or the General. I couldn't see much in the darkness. I tried to yell out Bo's name but it came out more like a whisper. It hurt but it didn't stop me from trying again. I called out a little louder, "Bo, are you there?"
I listened carefully but all I could hear was the wind's mournful moan—like it was looking for something lost. I was lost. I was alone. I prayed that someone was looking for me. I prayed that whatever happened to me, happened to me alone.
