My bones ache as if my body is a crumpled piece of paper. A sharp sting in my eyes and birdsong in my ears tells me I am outside, and the sloshing under my head tells me I am in a boat. When my eyes flutter open, I press into the wood to sit myself up. Glancing down at my mud-caked jeans and tennis shoes, I also notice the sweater I am wearing is no longer white. In the distance stands a town of old buildings, and near the glistening pond, there is a white church building. Children yell and chase one another as a woman with chestnut hair shakes a cowbell, calling them in. The woman is wearing a skirt.
A violent wave of panic overwhelms my stomach, causing me to stand. The woman in the skirt stops to notice my struggle with balancing inside a boat. I frantically search in vain for any oars, but all I find is the necklace that must have dropped out of my pocket. The clasp broke, so I wanted to keep it safe until I could get home. The woman is gone, but I notice a red coat before I trip on the seat and land with a splash. A splintered burn blooms across my right temple as I hit a rock at the bottom of the pond. The water is crisp and frigid, leaving me frozen when I resurface. Hair pasted to my face and neck, blood trickling from my hairline, I swim towards the edge, and I crawl out to face a pair of brown boots. Clothes drooping, I stand there staring at the man. I have seen him before, and the panic in my heart intensifies. There are no cameras around, and I don't like how real he looks.
"C-constable Grant?" My words lack all the confidence in the world, but I am more than confused right now, so the world will have to deal with it.
"Yes, have we met before?" He quirks an eyebrow. I stare at him with my mouth agape. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, thank you." Learning how to swallow an orange in my throat while nervous is one feat I think I may never conquer. I am talking with Nathan! The guy who plays Nathan! "To answer your question, I have never met you before now."
"How long have you lived in Hope Valley?" He asks.
"Five minutes," I answer as a matter of fact.
"Isn't it odd that a young woman that is new to the area falls from a boat and then speaks to me by name?"
"I agree, but it's all I can offer right now." I begin to walk away, hoping that this guy will follow me, and he does. I notice the noise of guttural sputtering from an old car, and I analyze my surroundings. It isn't every day you wake up on a movie set, let alone in a fictional world. The throb pulsing in my temples tells me I am not dreaming, but I must be having a dream. I am terrified of what it could mean if this is not an illusion. The grass beneath my feet smells too wonderful. A fresh breeze carries down from the mountains. Legions of trees guard the town like a treasure.
"Ma'am, I think you should see a doctor. You are starting to bleed a lot more." Nathan pleads as I trample over wildflowers. I wave him away as my vision becomes speckled with black smoke.
"I said I'm fine." I wheeze and cough, "Carson doesn't need to be bothered." I don't know why I am accepting the impossible so soon, but I might as well play along if it brings me some amusement. My knees quake as I stomp beyond the water tower. The tongue in my mouth becomes more of a shriveled tumor than a member meant for
speech as I babble nonsense to myself.
"Will you at least tell me your name?" Nathan strides beside me, and his figure tilts and swims at odd angles. His colors resemble a blob-fish, and I barely make sense of his features, which hold shadows of concern. Sweat mingles with the water in my clothes, and I ignore the fact I have blood draining down into the front of my shirt.
"Nyrah," I answer. My sense of direction is compromised. Angel-white light spreads over my body. "Nyrah Sutton." Nathan begins to speak, but I cannot distinguish what language it is. Arms wrap around me as gravity pulls down on my corpse. I don't feel the ground, and it is as if I am floating with the clouds, warm and kissed by the sun in a tender embrace. Jumbled motion and scrambled static slashes reality upon my mind. Five silent and serene moments pass before my eyes blink open. The ceiling is baby-blue, and so are his blessed eyes. Carson is tenderly checking the bandage wrapped around my head with a smile. I return it.
"I understand this is not a dream after all." My statement causes a chain reaction of amusement from the doctor and his nurse. Past the privacy screen, bottles of medicine arranged in their designated cabinets twinkle as they reflect daylight. Sunshine through the windowpane reminds me of the massive headache I should be having right now.
"No, but you did lose a lot of blood." And now the headache commences.
"I remember hitting the side of my head when I fell from the boat."
"That would certainly do it." Faith Carter, his nurse, chuckles before Carson speaks next.
"Thankfully, there wasn't any damage to your skull, but you need to stay here for a few days so I can monitor you." My elevated legs are as stiff as fossils, and he wants me to remain here for a few days. My brows furrow, but Carson eases my lifting shoulders. "Doctor's order."
An exasperated and indignant sigh earns me another giggle from Faith. I suppose I am tired enough to sleep for another sixteen hours, but I am sure they will try and force liquids down my throat too.
"I assure you, Miss, you are in capable hands. I will try and make sure you aren't too bored." Faith is sweet, that is true, but I am itching to explore the entire valley now that I know I am here. I want to meet all the characters. I want to get in on all the gossip. I must meet Lucas Bouchard before Elizabeth gets too attached.
"Before we let you get more rest, can you answer some questions for me?" I nod in response to the doctor's request and sit up just a bit. "Repeat after me," he says. I nod again, shifting in the hospital gown they cinched around my waist. The revelation makes me wonder where they have placed my previous outer garments. "Ball. Fireplace. Mirror." Carson shines a light near my eyes.
"Ball. Fireplace. Mirror."
"Alright, now can you remember your name?"
"Yes, my name is Nyrah Sutton."
"Any family? Parents?"
"My parents...died in a fire many years ago." Images of flame and charred flesh sear into my consciousness. Faith has an expression of pity on her face, and it makes me uncomfortable. "I'd rather not talk about it."
"I'm so sorry for your loss." The gentle tone in the doctor's voice stills the weed of fear choking my throat, and I forgive him.
"It's fine," My lap seems more interesting as I tie my knuckles into knots. "Any more questions?"
"Just one," Carson presses his stethoscope to my chest while he listens to my lungs and heart, "What are the three words I said a little bit ago?"
"Ball, fireplace, and mirror." My lids droop.
"Great, you can lay back and rest again for now." I wake up six hours after my glad compliance to my doctor and nurse kissing each other. The sight is not what I expected to encounter, but I don't even try to alert them of my conscious state. At least I own an idea of when in the series I am. Somewhere in season six, I think. It shouldn't be too bad. The worst is over. Jack's death hit me hard, and it is over now. One of my worst fears is that the suffering will increase now that I know this is my new reality. These people are likely to become my friends, and I don't know if I can manage it if I lose them. Why am I in When Calls the Heart? Why not the Avengers or Harry Potter? Life is going to be boring here! As if on cue, Elizabeth Thornton and Rosemary Coulter come in, and the lovebirds finally separate. The female visitors grin, and now I know that Carson and Faith are no longer keeping their relationship a secret.
"It is so wonderful to see you two finally sharing this wonderful thing with the world." Rosemary clasps her hands together in front of her chest, gilded curls bouncing with her excitement. "Anyway, Elizabeth and I came over to bring a special lunch for the girl in that bed over there." A grin makes its way to my face as Rosemary's loving life lights up the room even more than the sun already does.
"Yes, well, it seems she is awake now," Carson states. "Are you hungry, Miss Sutton?"
"Not entirely, but I am willing to eat a little anyway." Elizabeth steps forward with a basket that makes a delightful *crunch* when she places it on the bedside table. With the folding back of a large, navy-hued napkin, scents of strawberry and chicken waft up into our nostrils.
"We are happy to hear you are recovering well, Miss Sutton." Elizabeth sits down at the chair beside the bed as I gnaw on the ruby fruit. The two women introduce themselves, and I don't let on I already know their staining juice in my mouth is sweet, nothing compared with the shipped produce in stores back home. I am beginning to appreciate Hope Valley—for the strawberries at least.
"Please, call me Nyrah," I answer.
"Maybe it's a bit early to bring this up, but what brings you to Hope Valley?" I envy her perfect teeth. Elizabeth's perfect, ivory teeth; she has a way of staring down into your soul, goading you into wanting to trust her in an instant. I know I can, of course, but I don't want to. I have never had many trustworthy people in my life and starting now would be too much. I offer a fake smile.
"To be honest, I'm not sure." My mind occupies itself with the display of anatomy charts on the wall by the cabinets and ruffled desk. Carson must not be big on organization. I am ill confident as to what more information I can give the schoolteacher. What do I say? "I woke up in a boat, and by the way, you are all television characters?" I think not.
"Can we ask what you mean by that?" Rosemary asks.
"I don't know. I suppose the destination drew me in." The chicken is tender and evenly spiced. I detect a hint of cilantro. I gaze back up towards the four faces expecting for me to continue. "As to why I was in the middle of a pond, ready to hit my head as I did, I really couldn't tell you."
"That's alright; I have every confidence that might come back to you soon." Carson fiddles with his clipboard, "Right now, from what I gather, you have no long-lasting damage to your capacity for memory."
"That is a comfort to know." My belly rumbles with a storm of hunger for the first time in a while. I relish the rest of my meal. "Thank you both so very much."
"You are welcome, Nyrah." Elizabeth retrieves her basket, and Rosemary approaches me with a regal strut. At the least, that is the best way to describe it.
"Yes, you are most welcome." The actress points at me. "Do you have a place to stay after your recovery?"
"No, I don't have anything." No clothes, food, a job, or any mode of transportation. I also don't have any money. Money is necessary.
"Well, say no more. You may stay with Mr. Coulter and me. I don't want any arguments because this would be until you can get settled here if that is your plan."
"That is the immediate plan, yes."
"Good," she explodes with glee, "I can't wait to have you!"