Chapter 27 – Voiceless

The sound of crunching gravel stirred her from the delirium she felt. Did she really hear what she thought she heard? Could a vehicle have approached? Was it the supply truck? Was it the enemy? How could she find out?

She tried to get up but was finding it hard. Her legs didn't want to move, her whole body was weak. She didn't feel good at all. She wanted to just sit there but she knew if she did, she would not be able to find out if that was the supply truck. She didn't remember if anyone knew about the out building where she was presently treating patients. She hadn't been told about it before she arrived.

She looked over at the other people in the building with her and they didn't seem to be stirring. Shannon moved a little but not like she was alerted to anything. She and Shelley were cuddled up together. She saw no movement in her patients. The five women and three children were motionless. At this point she didn't even know if they were still alive.

It had been days since they had any food or water. Her patients weren't in the best of shape to begin with. She did everything she could think of before they ran out of food and water. They had rationed everything. She even used all of the vitamin shots that she had in her medical kit, thankful that she had packed extra that day.

She had given the children the chewable vitamins that she had. They thought it was candy and asked for more. She had to explain to them that it was medicine and not candy. She rationed the chewable vitamins as well.

Maura tried to think about the last time she had spoken. Her thoughts ran free but had she spoken any words in the last day or two. Shannon and Shelley had used hand signals the day before but she couldn't remember talking with them recently.

The spoken word was her primary way of communicating, yet at this point in time she felt voiceless. She felt her mouth move but she didn't hear any words come from her mouth. Was her hearing bad? No, because she had heard the crunching of the gravel. She could hear, but she apparently couldn't talk.

She had to find out who was in the village. She hoped and prayed that it was the supply truck. It was about the time for them to arrive. Or was it, she had no idea what day it was. Her iWatch had lost power. She remembered thinking she should have brought an analog watch as she couldn't guarantee that she would have power to charge her iWatch.

The charge on her tablet had drained of power. She figured she had nothing to lose by seeing what vehicle had approached. She could sit there and die of starvation or possibly die at the hands of an attacker, or to be positive in this dreary situation, she could be rescued. Yes, she wanted to stick with that thought.

She didn't know where she found the energy but she attempted to get up, she was able to raise up enough to open the front door and then immediately fell to the ground. She had to keep going. She wanted to live, she wanted to be rescued. She wanted to believe with everything she had that it was the supply truck that had arrived.

She struggled to make it to the entrance of the pathway leading to the out building. She heard English speaking people and realized that it was the supply truck. She screamed as loud as she could to get their attention. She didn't hear herself. She screamed again and still didn't hear herself. She continued to crawl towards the truck and continued to scream. This time she heard herself. Someone from the truck heard her also and was coming her way. Maura blacked out.

When she came to, she tried to speak. Annabelle introduced herself and Maura heard herself say, "others, down the path." Maura was happy, she was no longer voiceless, she had a voice and she was heard. Maybe the others would stand a chance of being rescued also. She could only pray to a higher being, one that she had never believed in.

Annabelle continued talking to her and she was able to say a few words here and there. She was weak and needed medical attention. Annabelle had administered an IV and after a little while Maura was feeling better. She knew that she was dehydrated. She was starving. She couldn't remember when she had something to eat or drink. It had been days but she had no idea of how many days. She didn't want to worry about that right now. Annabelle was there and was taking care of her. She felt calm in Annabelle's arms. She closed her eyes but continued to talk with Annabelle.

After a few minutes, she was being carried to the SUV. She saw Shannon and Shelley but not her patients. They must have perished. She felt bad, but she did all that she could, she knew it. She hugged Annabelle tighter, thankful that she was alive and that someone was looking out for her. Annabelle had insisted that she was going to stay with Maura. She didn't let her go. Annabelle was happy that she had heard Maura and was able to save her life. Well, she hoped they got to her soon enough to save her life. She was alive and seemed to better with the IV.

Maura could hear her voice better, she no longer felt as though she had lost her voice. Her speech was low but Annabelle could hear her and continued to communicate with her. Maura was sad when she was loaded into the helicopter and found out that Annabelle was not coming with her. Annabelle told her, "I will find you and check in on you as soon as I can. I am so thankful you are alive, Dr. Isles."

"Please, Annabelle, call me Maura. I would love to see you again. Thank you for everything you have done for me and my aids."

One of the medics told Annabelle, "Ma'am, we have to go." Annabelle let go of Maura's hand and backed away from the helicopter. The helicopter immediately took off. Annabelle hoped that she truly would be able to see Maura again, alive and in stable condition. Maura hoped for the same thing. She had been so grateful that Annabelle stayed with her. It was very comforting. After feeling so alone the last few days to have someone sit with her and hold her like that, she felt like she had a friend in Annabelle. She no longer felt like she had no voice.