Miley opened her eyes. The first thing she saw…her father?! No…Just another man. What was he doing? Why was he here?
The man took a tool and checked her pulse and heart rate. She was confused. What happened? Where were mom and dad? Miley opened her mouth to speak
"……………..…"
Nothing came out. She tried again, clearing her throat to get a better start. Nothing came. No sound. At that moment a woman near her noticed she had wakened. "Oh My! She's awake!" People everywhere started buzzing around. Miley was so confused. She didn't understand. Why was she here?
She didn't remember what had happened a week before.
She didn't know that when she past out on her fathers boat she got a concussion and when they found her she had fallen into a coma for close to two weeks straight.
And she didn't know that all they found was her…neither of her parents were anywhere to be found. As far as she knew…nothing was different…everything was normal...
She closed her eyes. She couldn't take anything anymore. She wanted to know where she was. She wanted to know why she couldn't speak. She closed her eyes fighting back tears.
Darkness once again closed in, but this time not for long…
The next day dozens of doctors came into the room. She found out that she was in a hospital. She'd always been happy to be in a hospital. That was when she visited sick people to sing to them. She was afraid now.
They never told her why she was there. She couldn't ask because she still couldn't talk. They tried to ask her what she remembered and how she got on 'the boat'. What boat? She had no idea what they were talking about. Everyday people would try to hoax her into talking, but no matter how much she tried, she just couldn't.
She finally got some time alone. She flipped in the TV and started changing the channels to find a good show. She came across a news cast and decided to listen in. She regretted it….
The headline read "Girl left on boat wakes from coma. Parents still missing."
It sounded interesting so she listened to the full story the woman was giving.
"Early morning of last Monday, after recovering from the storm that passed over, Mr. and Mrs. Glasson of Newport, found a young girl floating on an abandoned boat that was apparently left in the storm. Searchers have been looking for the parents or guardian. They are currently trying to find out whether she was out there alone or with someone."
The news switched to a video of a wrecked boat on the side of the lake. It showed a bunch of men pulling it in. She caught a glimpse of the interior and the side of the boat that read "Destiny". That's weird…that's the name of daddy's boat too. She passed off the thought and listened as the news caster continued.
"Many people have tried to get the young girl to answer questions but it seems to be that she is mute. A picture was handed in of what looks like the girl and two adults thought to be her parents or guardians."
Miley was still listening when they put up the picture. She dropped the controller and almost stopped breathing…
It was a picture of her and her mom and dad. They must have it confused! I wasn't in a storm! My parents aren't missing! I'm not….mute….the truth struck her then. She remembered that she was in a hospital bed. She realized that her parents hadn't come to see her.
She couldn't remember why she was there. But what hit her hardest was realizing that she couldn't talk. She was a mute just like they said. But…how?
Just days before she could talk like any other girl. She could sing and play guitar. But now…What was going on?
Tears started falling now but she didn't try to stop them. She was broken…right then a nurse walked in. Her smile faded as she glanced at Miley and then at the channel she was watching.
The nurse ran to grab the controller off the floor and switched the TV off as fast as she could. She smiled and comforted Miley as much as she could.
'This has to be a dream' she thought to herself. She pulled away from the Nurse and sat back. When the woman tried to comfort her more she just pushed her away. The woman frowned and assured her she'd be in to check on her shortly. When she walked out Miley lay her head down and closed her eyes and forced herself to go to sleep.
Close to a month later Miley had already been released. She had been rushed around to different clinics and hospitals by dozens of strangers. Everyone tried to make her speak. Nothing worked. She had no where to live…she was living in a foster home…
She'd always dreaded those places. When she was younger she made her Dad promise he'd never send her to one. He would always laugh and agree. He promised…
He also promised he would never leave her…he broke that promise too…
She heard all the strangers around her promising they wouldn't let her go anywhere she didn't want or do anything she didn't like, the foster home was something she hated. Broken promise.
After this long she lost hope. Her parents weren't coming back, she couldn't trust anyone. They all broke their promises. No matter how simple or complicated. Everyone she knew had broken every promise she had ever heard. Was there any hope? Not for her. She decided to let go. She didn't listen to anyone. She rebelled. If they didn't keep their promises, why should she keep hers...?
There was one thing different about the day she made these decisions…she was moving…where? To a foster home. The family name was Stanton. Miley Stanton…it sounded stupid to her. But there was no point in even trying out last names because they would never want to adopt her.
She'd be one of those girls that never got adopted. She'd float around from foster home to foster home.
There was nothing she could do. She couldn't speak and tell them she didn't want to go. She was helpless. No matter what they said of her. She now knew what it felt like to be a mental head case. Every one rushing around making your plans for you. Acting as if you can't make your own decisions. She hated it.
She had to live with it…for now. Until she figured out what to do in the future. She didn't know how long that would take.
Maybe she'd run away. She didn't know then, but she'd figure it out….she would….somehow…