When I woke the next morning it was to light streaming into my window. I could feel it warming my skin. It took me a few minutes to realize where I was, my room looked different in the daylight. There were pictures on the wall, hand drawn in color. I couldn't have told you what any of them were of, the only one I could identify was a sketch of me in bed. It was a very good likeness of what I saw in the mirror last night. I had this sudden fear in the pit of my stomach that I had been dreaming. I wiggled my toe. It took me a few minutes to realize I was seeing more than a blur. I laughed softly at the silliness of my panic attack and continued to look around the room. It was small and besides a chair and my bed and the meal tray there was not much here. I could hear kids laughing. It was a calming sound.

I lifted my hands and looked at them in the light. They were just as flawless as they had been last night. I closed my fists and then wiggled my fingers. Life without the burden of physical pain was a new experience. You cannot imagine what it is like to be in constant lifelong pain then suddenly have it gone. I have never found a comparison, but for me to feel actual physical pain these days takes a great deal of effort on someone's part.

I was staring at my hands when I heard a knock on my door. It was another woman, she looked wrinkly. She was as old as my mom. She had a name tag. I couldn't read it at the time, I had never seen words or letters before. Now I can tell you it said Dr Samatha Bunch. She smiled at me.

"May I come in?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Oh, you're very polite, maybe you can teach this unruly lot a thing or two. I'm Dr. Bunch, I'm a pediatrician. I just need to check on you, make sure everything is working, then we can maybe get you some breakfast. And see about a wheelchair. Sitting in a room all day staring at a wall has never done anyone any good. Can you sit up please and take a deep breath?"

She put her stethoscope on my back and my chest and listened. She looked in my mouth, my ears, and my eyes. I had gone through this before but I had never seen it. She then poked my feet and legs here and there asking if I could feel it. She then tested my reflexes which worked perfectly. That had never happened before either. When she finished she sat down in the chair Kat had left beside my bed.

"Well, you're physically fine. I'm surprised how much muscle you still have. You're lucky. I'd usually expect months of physical therapy before we could even consider rehabilitation but based on what I'm seeing you can start as soon as you feel comfortable. Heart's good, your lungs are clear. You have all your feeling in all your limbs and your vision is good. You're extremely healthy for someone who just woke up from a six month coma and who was buried under a building for a few days. Nurse Kat told me that you can't remember your name or who you are."

I didn't like my chances of being a convincing liar, so I just nodded in response.

"We should consider some tests and see if we can see an abnormalities with your brain. We don't know if you had any oxygen deprivation that may have caused some damage to your memory."

I nodded. I understood most of what she said, I had listened to a lot of medical dramas, and audio books. At least my amnesia was believable. She smiled at me and leaned on the railing on my hospital style bed.

"We'll have to give you a name, we can't just go around calling you hey you."

"Do you have any ideas?"

"I do not, but it seems like April named you Amber in her picture."

The doctor pointed the sketch of me on the wall.

"Amber sounds good to me."

"I'm sure April will be excited to hear that. You're the only two girls your age here. She's very eager to meet you. As are all the kids. You're quite popular. Most of the little girls think you're sleeping beauty or Rapunzel because of your hair. You have fan club."

I smiled and nodded. I'm sure I was blushing too.

"Dr Bunch, how…umm old am I?"

"We are guessing, twelve or thirteen. Hopefully you'll remember soon, hmm?"

"I hope so."

"Well, let's just look at the bright side, you're awake, you're healthy and you're somewhere safe."

I just nodded in response.

"I'll let the nurses know you can have breakfast. When you feel up to it I encourage you to go socialize. It'll help you feel better."

I nodded again. A male orderly brought breakfast. I didn't recognize any of the food but once I started eating I could name it all. It wasn't great food, it wasn't my mothers. I could hear the children laughing and playing. By the time I had finished my breakfast my wheelchair had arrived. It wasn't like my old one. It wasn't motorized, I could make it work, now since my hands weren't twisted stubby things, a fact that still amazed me at that point. It took some effort but I was able to get into the chair myself. It seemed my upper body strength wasn't suffering from my long coma. I practiced moving the wheels with my hands and eventually managed to make my way to my window. I looked through it. The corners were frosted. The sun was hidden by clouds by now and I could see snow falling. I could see cars moving below. I was several floors up. I saw a tree covered in lights, they sparkled even during the day. I heard a knock at the door and looked up it, it was the male orderly who had brought my chair and breakfast. I got a better look at him this time, he was also young, dark hair, and dusky skin. He smiled when he saw me looking at him.

"I came to help you into your chair and here you are, already in it and looking out the window. You want me to take you to the playroom? No lessons today, its Saturday."

"Yes please."

"My name is Richard."

"I guess we decided my name would be Amber."

"It's a good name."

"I suppose it is better than the one I had, which was hey you."

Richard took the handles of my chair and began to push me through the halls. The place looked like what I'd describe as a cross between a hospital, a school and a house.

"I don't know about that, Hey you has a nice ring to it. Imagine your teacher having to call you Hey you, and the whole class and turns to look because they think she's talking to them."

I laughed at that; It was a funny picture. I still found it hard to be happy. I had lost everything, no, I had destroyed everything I loved. He noticed my mood and made tisking sounds.

"No frowns in here missy. We are all smiles."

He leaned close and spoke more quietly.

"There are a lot of other really sick kids here, and a smile from you will really help. I know you're having a hard time, but maybe if you make them feel better you'll feel better."

I wiped away the forming tears and nodded, and tried my best to smile. He finally wheeled me into the so-called playroom. There were a lot of kids and they were playing with various toys and chasing each other around. There were a few adults as well keeping the peace but for the most part the kids were just let to run free. A few of the younger girls noticed her. They rushed over. Richard held up his hands.

"Careful girls she's just getting used to be out of her room."

"Sleeping beauty, you're awake! Did Richard kiss you? Is he a prince?"

She was a little blonde girl, but when I looked closer, I realized she was wearing a wig. I smiled at her. I glanced back up at Richard who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but right there. I looked back at her and smiled again.

"No, I'm afraid there was no prince. I wish there was. But could you imagine him seeing me like this?"

The girl giggled.

"What's your name?"

"Sam!"

One of her companions shook her head and crossed her arms.

"No, it's not, it's Samantha."

"I want to be Sam!"

"Sam's a boys name, why do you want to be named after a boy?"

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Well as someone who doesn't have a name, I think Sam is a perfectly good one."

"You don't have a name?"

"No, I don't, I can't remember it."

They three girls cried out in unison, very adorably.

"Oh no!"

"But I picked a new one now, its Amber."

"That's what April said your name was!"

"Well I saw her picture of me and decided it was a good name."

One of the girls ran off and started trying to push another wheelchair bound girl towards me. The girl in the chair did look my age. Her hair was dark. She had a sketch pad in her lap. She was dressed in black and I could tell she didn't want to be here. She tried to stop the girl from pushing her chair and then she saw me. She then started pushing herself towards me. She had make up on and had made herself up to look very pale. When she stopped in front of my chair she smiled.

"Oh my god you're awake."

I smiled to her as well.

"Hi."

"I'm April, I hope you don't mind, I used to read to you, they said it would help."

"I'm sure it did."

"So uh, how are you?"

"I'm good, can't remember who I am, but otherwise doing great."

"Oh, wow."

"I decided to call myself Amber."

"Hi Amber."

She paused for a moment and I guess she realized what I had said. She smiled broadly.

"I said you looked like an Amber."

"I saw your picture of me. Why did you pick Amber?"

"It's from a book series. The main character's sister was named Amber, she was tall and had long blonde hair."

"I suppose that is as good a reason as any."

She moved her wheelchair closer and adjusted her sketch pad. The younger girls had gotten bored and ran off.

"I'm so glad you're awake. I'm the oldest one here and I was starting to go a bit crazy."

"We do seem a bit older than the rest."

"There were a few that were older but…well they are gone."

"So this isn't an orphanage."

"Oh no, this is a hospice and long-term care place for kids."

"So, they are really sick?"

I felt my heart sink.

"Most of them have cancer, they get the chemo and radiation therapy here, we're all wards of the state."

"I don't mean to pry but…are you?"

"No, no, I'm just here while I recover. Not many foster homes are equipped for physio and rehab. We're the lucky ones."

"How long have you been here?"

"Seven months, I wasn't really wanting to try at the start. I didn't see the point. I guess it will be a while before you get to go to rehab."

I shook my head.

"Dr. Bunch said I could start when I felt ready."

"Already? You were in a coma for so long. When are you going to start?"

"Tomorrow if I can. I feel like I've never walked before so I should get to it."

Her eyes went a bit wide.

"Tomorrow?"

"If I can, how long have you been going?"

"I…uh, I really haven't wanted to."

"Why not?"

April shrugged.

"I donno."

"Well I'm sure we can do it together and laugh at each other as we zombie shuffle. Zombies do shuffle right?"

April laughed, it sounded like music to my ears. I caught a nurse looking at me out of the corner of my eye. She was smiling. I looked back at April who was still smiling, she finally was able to talk.

"Yes, zombies shuffle. I wonder if they'll let us dress up."

"I'd be happy for anything but this whatever this is, it's not very warm, or comfortable."

"I'm sure they'll find you something. I'd lend you some of mine, but you're like a giant compared to little old me."

"I will be alright. So…what books did you read me?"

"It was my favorite series, The Godling Chronicles."

"That's the one about the vampires isn't it?"

"Yes, it is, do you remember me reading them."

At that point I swore in my mind, Eric had read the first book to me.

"I must, I don't know why I know that."

"Well I'll let you borrow them, they're kind of worn, I've read them like a million times. I wish I was Enid, thousands of years old and not caring what anyone thinks, and oh ya being able to heal from bullets like it's a funny bone injury."

"Sounds like a good life, but I mean vampires can't go in the sun so, I mean, that's a drawback right?"

"Oh, no, well yes, but Enid she has this amulet that she has molded around her heart…ah, never mind you'll find out when you read the books."

"I…don't know how to read, I don't think."

I could read, just not with vision. I had learned braille from a young age. It was hard with my twisted hands as they were, but I desperately wanted to read my own books instead of having to listen to them.

"Really?"

"I see letters and words I guess but I couldn't tell you what they say."

"Well, I can help, but we really should tell the instructors tomorrow. I'm sure you know how, its just a bit messed up in your head."

"I guess. So, what do people in wheel chairs do for fun around here?"

"We race in the halls while the nurses try to chase us down."

"Hmm, I'm not so good at steering yet, that sounds dangerous."

"Pfft, It sounds fun."

We heard someone speak behind us, I recognized it as Kat's voice

"That is a one-way trip to wheelchairs being taken away."

April smiled; I couldn't help but smile too. Kat had been my welcome into a new world.

"Hi Kat!"

"Hello April, I see you're trying to corrupt our newest arrival."

"Hey, she's been here almost as long as me."

"She was in a coma, so it doesn't count."

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm doing good, I decided my name should be Amber."

"Good name, I'm sure it has nothing to do with April naming you that."

I smiled as I responded.

"No, has nothing to do with that."

"Well April, I'm going to steal Amber for a few minutes, I brought her some clothes we're going to get her changed before lunch."

April waved to me as Kat rolled me out and towards my room.

"I'm glad to see you out and about so soon Amber."

"I heard the kids laughing, I wanted to get involved, I was lonely."

"They're going to be decorating for Christmas this afternoon. Maybe you can supervise."

"It's Christmas?"

"Yes, its November 27, Thanksgiving was on Thursday so it's officially Christmas time."

"Wow, that is exciting, I love Christmas."

She finished pushing me into my room and looked me up and down.

"Are you starting to remember things?"

"No, not really, just I got super excited when you said it was officially Christmas time, so I must love Christmas right?"

"Sounds logical. Now I'm sorry the clothes aren't much, and I think the shirts are boys shirts, but its all I could find on short notice from the donations that would fit you. I washed them up and they should fit. Do you want some help getting into them?"

"Yes please."

With some difficulty the pair us managed to get me dressed, another new experience I'd never put my own shirt on before. I pulled the shirt over my head and looked down at it. It was black with a silver stylized silver S on it. I honestly had no idea what it represented at the time. I had no idea who Superman was. It was a bit big on me, which is why I still own it today. I had no idea how appropriate it was. It was old, and a bit faded, as were the jeans which I could tell were girls jeans by the feel of them. She looked me up and down once I was dressed.

"Looking good, after lunch and before Christmas decorating, we'll get you washed up and do something with your hair. It looks like you've been sleeping in it for months."

I couldn't help but smile at her when she said that.

"Thanks for the clothes Kat, it feels good to not be in that nightgown."

"Of course, it does. Sorry the shirt is so old, but honestly everything was for smaller kids."

"I don't mind, I like it, the symbol is neat."

"Its Superman's symbol."

"Who is that?"

"You really have lost your memory, haven't you?"

"He was a Superhero in the seventies and eighties. He died. Lord knows how old that shirt is."

"What happened?"

"There was a big fight here in Metropolis in and he died defending us. It was before I was born but I've been to his memorial lots of times."

"No, I don't remember."

I really didn't, I'd never heard of Superman. I had heard about superheroes and villains. Metahumans. It sounded to fantastical to be true. But I guess I'm proof it is true.

"Well it's not important, we haven't seen another like him, I doubt we will. I mean there are those metahumans but who knows if they are even real right?"

"I am not sure what you're talking about."

"That's okay, lets get you to lunch then we'll get you a bath and then Christmas decorating okay?"

I nodded and she wheeled me out to lunch.