Chapter Eleven


I sank into a puddle of darkness, drowned by the night. I began to flood into my own river, just floating away into my own dark. Muscles releasing, I began to breathe in slowly, just like I was sleeping. I heard the dripping of water. I turned my head and saw a small waterfall at my left. I turned back and suddenly lost my balance. The water became very choppy. My arms were thrashing in the air. Water was flowing in my mouth, my lungs. I was swallowing more water then air. My feet were kicking desperately, trying to keep me above the crest of the water. I slipped under deeper and deeper. My eyes began to ache, my lungs burned; they desperately needed air. I fought to reach the top, my arms and legs searching for something to grab onto. My lungs felt like they had collapsed, my eyes wanted to close.
I struggled to keep my eyes open. I barely had any strength left. My heart was pounding so loudly that it thudded in my throat. Light began to pour into the water, enveloping me with a white salvation. A wide beam of light carried me to the surface and I started to breathe again. I took in large gulps of air, choking on it. I was choking and thanking God for letting me live.
A voice came out of the sky. I tried to see who it was, tried to hear the words, but it was all mumbles. I looked back into the water and saw my lifeless body dangling there. I thought to myself, I'm not alive, this is my soul. I started fighting for life. I tried to change direction and head back to my body, but the light held me in place. It wouldn't let me move. It was like ten thousand hands grabbing on me at one time. I screamed. I screamed until my throat was sore. The closer I got to the light, the louder my scream became. The voice returned when I started shaking violently. I heard.
"Sara, Sara wake up!"
My eyes fluttered open wide. The light. The light was so bright. Turn it off. Please, turn it off.
The nurse was standing above me with a sponge in her hand filled with water. She placed it on my head and squeezed. Water traced down my face. It went into my eyes, my nose, and my mouth. I swallowed it and smiled.
I took one deep breath and just fell back to sleep.
I woke up hours later to the voices of Shawn, Richard and Claudia arguing. I put my hand to my head and tried to find my voice. "Please quit yelling."
Claudia quickly ran to me in this small hospital room and grabbed my hand.
"How long have I been in here?"
"About two days. How are you feeling?"
"How do I look?"
"Like shit," she smiled.
"Well wanna guess how I feel?" She laughed at me.
My chest was hurting. It was hard to breathe.
"What happened to me?"
"Chandra's man hit you, then Chandra added a few hits in. You've got a concussion, and you were unconscious. Nothing better, right?"
"Is Julie dead?"
Her face lost all it's smile and elegance. Tears started creeping in at the sides. "She's gone, Sara. She went quickly. I promise."
My heart sank and the only thing I wanted to do was get out of here. I didn't want to cry because I needed to be strong. Macho or whatever. Claudia was here in tears. I needed to make her feel better.
I grabbed Claud's hand tighter and smiled. "It's gonna be alright. We are going to get Chandra. That is an ultimate promise."
Richard walked in back of Claudia and she moved out of the way. His face came close to mine, but not that close. He was smiling which made me smile. "You look better awake then sleeping. Well, sleeping in a coma."
"Thanks," I shrugged and asked, "when can I get out of here?"
"Not any time soon."
"That's bullshit. Claud, I'm leaving today."
I tried to force myself to sit up, but failed. Richard ended up catching me. I rested on his shoulder as he told me to stay in the hospital. Either it was the fact I had a cute guy holding me, or a concussion, I decided to stay one day longer. Might as well get healed before I get hurt again. Nice way to go out, huh?