Chapter 22: August. 31, 2000, 4PM, Hospital Room (John Carter's Point of
View):
Everything is dark, but I am okay with that. I wonder if this is death. No, wait, my eyes are just closed. I try to open them, but it takes some effort. Finally I can see through little slits. A hospital room. Now I know I am in hell. No, hell would mean I am working the room. I can see figures and as they come into focus I can see they are Kerry, Mark, and Peter. What's going on? Then it hits me. I try to talk, but am choked by the ventilator tube.
I hear Kerry say something and assume that she says, "Okay, on three; one, two, three, blow," and I obey.
I hear my voice cough and then, in a raspy tone, I say, "Where's Lucy?"
Everyone stops and it almost feels like time has ceased. Finally I hear my voice croak out, "She's dead, isn't she?"
The only response I get is Kerry's weak voice saying, "Oh, John," and then time stops again. I have to know what's going on.
"I can't believe this happened to her and not to me," I continue. Hot tears are dripping down my face as I ask, "Where is she? I want to see her body." I start to sit up, but Mark puts his hand on my shoulder and I lay back down.
He says, "Carter, it's been more than half a year since Lucy died-"
"I've been out that long?" I'm confused now.
"No," Mark sighs, "You don't have any idea why you are here today?" I slowly shake my head. Mark continues, "Peter brought you in from your grandmother's house. You were upset about something and you-"
It all comes back to me. I stop him, "I know. I remember now." I sigh. "You all must have thought I was crazy talking about Lucy."
"No, not crazy," Kerry says, "Just confused, out of place."
"Well," I say, thinking of a way out of the hospital, "thank you for all of your help, but I think I am much better now." I start to pull out my IV but Peter grabs my hand.
"Hey, man, what are you thinking? You can't leave."
"Like hell I can't," and I try to get out of his grip but suddenly Mark and Kerry are holding me down too.
I hear Mark shout over his shoulder, "We need some restraints in here!"
"No! Stop!" I shout. I feel like I am in the twilight zone. All I want is to go home. "Let me go home!"
"We can't do that, John," Mark replies and then I feel the pinch of a needle and everything goes dark.
Everything is dark, but I am okay with that. I wonder if this is death. No, wait, my eyes are just closed. I try to open them, but it takes some effort. Finally I can see through little slits. A hospital room. Now I know I am in hell. No, hell would mean I am working the room. I can see figures and as they come into focus I can see they are Kerry, Mark, and Peter. What's going on? Then it hits me. I try to talk, but am choked by the ventilator tube.
I hear Kerry say something and assume that she says, "Okay, on three; one, two, three, blow," and I obey.
I hear my voice cough and then, in a raspy tone, I say, "Where's Lucy?"
Everyone stops and it almost feels like time has ceased. Finally I hear my voice croak out, "She's dead, isn't she?"
The only response I get is Kerry's weak voice saying, "Oh, John," and then time stops again. I have to know what's going on.
"I can't believe this happened to her and not to me," I continue. Hot tears are dripping down my face as I ask, "Where is she? I want to see her body." I start to sit up, but Mark puts his hand on my shoulder and I lay back down.
He says, "Carter, it's been more than half a year since Lucy died-"
"I've been out that long?" I'm confused now.
"No," Mark sighs, "You don't have any idea why you are here today?" I slowly shake my head. Mark continues, "Peter brought you in from your grandmother's house. You were upset about something and you-"
It all comes back to me. I stop him, "I know. I remember now." I sigh. "You all must have thought I was crazy talking about Lucy."
"No, not crazy," Kerry says, "Just confused, out of place."
"Well," I say, thinking of a way out of the hospital, "thank you for all of your help, but I think I am much better now." I start to pull out my IV but Peter grabs my hand.
"Hey, man, what are you thinking? You can't leave."
"Like hell I can't," and I try to get out of his grip but suddenly Mark and Kerry are holding me down too.
I hear Mark shout over his shoulder, "We need some restraints in here!"
"No! Stop!" I shout. I feel like I am in the twilight zone. All I want is to go home. "Let me go home!"
"We can't do that, John," Mark replies and then I feel the pinch of a needle and everything goes dark.