Blip….Blip….Blip….Blip…..
The annoying monotone was beginning to annoy her. Cassandra turned her head and moaned, struggling to open her eyes against the blackness that held her.
Blip….Blip….Blip….Blip…..
Her fingers twitched, grabbing at the sheets the covered her.
Blip….Blip….Blip….Blip…..
"Cassandra? Honey?" the feel of warm, familiar fingers touching her skin, grabbing her hand and squeezing gently.
Blip….Blip….Blip….Blip…..
'Where am I?' Cassandra thought, as her eyes finally opened, and she took in the harsh, bright overhead lights.
"Cassandra! Oh honey! I've been so worried about you!" her mother's face swam into focus. Her mother?
Cassandra struggled to sit up, even as her mother's gentle hands made to push her back. "Where am I?" she asked, her mouth dry, her voice hoarse.
"You're in the hospital honey.. you had a fall…"
"A fall?" Cassandra repeated her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes dear" her mother's worried voice rose, "You were thrown from your horse, your friend Anna found you. She was worried when you didn't show up for your date with her. You were unconscious when she found you"
Cassandra's mind whirled. "Unconscious?" she repeated, "For how long?"
Her mother frowned, clearly torn between telling her daughter the truth, and her desire not to cause her shock or fear.
"Three days"
Cassandra swallowed as tears welled up in her eyes. Was it all a dream then? An awful, beautiful dream?
Cassandra attempted to sit up again, and winced at the pain she felt. Before, all she had noticed was the pain in her head, but now she was aware of it in other places as well. She felt something strange against her ribs, and realized they must have been taped. So she had broken at least one rib as well. And her ankle felt funny… was it broken? Sprained?
"Cassandra?" her mother's voice broke through her thoughts, "Are you in pain honey? I pressed the button on your bed, the nurse will be in shortly….."
Cassandra shook her head. Of course she was in pain, but not from the injuries she had sustained in her fall. The most severe pain she felt, the crippling pain that was forcing her to cry was coming from her heart, which she would have sworn she just felt break. Why did she have to wake up? Why couldn't she have stayed where she was? William… Oh William…. Cassandra's tears began flowing harder as she realized she had never met him, had never loved him. How could she bear it?