Harry opened his eyes.
He felt as though he was moving. He couldn't turn his head. He was wearing a neck brace.
"Sir, can you hear me? We're taking you to Alchemilla General Hospital. You were involved in a nasty car accident. You're going to be okay. Try to get some rest."
Harry closed his eyes.
When he opened them he was in a different place. He guessed he'd made it to the hospital. Someone was with him. He caught a flash of red material. A glimpse of a woman moving toward him across the room. A young nurse with long strawberry blond hair and tired eyes. She was wearing a cardigan, brilliant red, over her old fashioned white nurse's uniform.
"Glad to see you're awake sir. My name's Lisa Garland. Can you tell me yours?"
"Harry Mason."
"How do you feel?"
"I'm all right I guess."
"Glad to hear it."
"Was I dreaming?"
"I think you were having a bad dream, yes. But it's over now."
Harry couldn't remember the nightmares exactly. Mutilation, pain, panic. None of it made any sense. But something else happened. Something important...Cheryl was missing.
"Is my little girl here? Short black hair. Seven years old. My daughter."
"A seven year old girl...I can't say that I've seen her...I'm sorry"
"Well she's-" Harry's head began to pound. He felt like he was going to throw up. The nurse looked concerned. As his vision began to fade he heard her voice swim around in his skull;
"What's wrong Harry? Here, let me help you"
A noise like a siren rang in his ears as everything faded away.
"Sir?"
Another voice.
"Sir, can you hear me?"
Harry was beginning to come round. A strong smell of disinfectant filled his nostrils. He hadn't noticed it before.
"I need you to tell me your full name."
A smartly attired man loomed over him. He was a little older, but still with a good head of dark hair and a darker scowl. A nurse, around the same age as Harry, hovered behind. She wore a sensible navy cardigan over her uniform. Her dark curls kept back from her face with a black satin hairband.
"Harry Mason…Do you work here?"
"They don't give out these white coats to just anyone Mr. Mason" he deadpanned. He shone a light into Harry's eyes, what he saw seemed satisfactory. He continued to examine Harry while he spoke, "I'm Doctor Michael Kaufmann. I work at this hospital."
"So maybe you can tell me what's going on."
"I really can't say, I wasn't in the car with you Mr. Mason."
"Has there been any news of my little girl? She's only seven.
I was speaking to a nurse about it earlier."
"You couldn't possibly have spoken to any nurses Mr. Mason. You were barely conscious when they found you. You've been unconcious ever since. Nurse Mahoney informed me the moment you opened your eyes. And she's been watching you like a hawk.
I will certainly inform the authorities your daughter is missing. I will make it a matter of utmost urgency."
"I remember it quite clearly, Doctor. She was quite young. Reddish hair and a red cardigan."
Something seemed to flash across the Doctor's face. In a moment it was gone. It appeared that the nurse was about to say something but the Doctor gestured for her to stop.
"I was right here in this room."
"You've been involved in quite a bad crash Mr. Mason, sustaining a traumatic brain injury. You've been comatose for three days. At one point we were worried about the bruising on the brain but you seem to be on the mend.
However, I would wait a few days before fully trusting your faculties. You may have trouble remembering things or find things confusing. If you find yourself getting headaches or any numbness in the extremities be sure to notify a member of staff. It is also quite likely that you will experience pain, dizziness and nausea. We can prescribe you something for those.
Anyone who survives a crash like that should consider themselves lucky to be alive."
Harry was stunned. Cheryl might have been thrown from the car. Hadn't the windscreen been destroyed? Or was that another dream?
His face must have betrayed his thoughts. The nurse scowled reproachfully at Dr. Kaufmann.
"I'm sorry; you'll have to excuse my bedside manner. I didn't mean to alarm you. Your daughter may have escaped with minor injuries and wandered off. Just a little dazed perhaps. I'll inform the police immediately.
Is there anyone else you'd like us to contact? Your wife perhaps, she's here with you? Which hotel?"
"She died four years ago." The words still stung Harry whenever they passed his lips. "It's just me and my daughter"
"I see, I'm sorry." An awkward silence followed..."Well I can't stand around flapping my gums."
Nurse Mahoney hovered by Harry's bed. It seemed as though she wanted to speak with him.
"Rachel?" asked Kaufmann tersely.
They left Harry alone with his thoughts and fears.