As I sit on the park bench tossing bread crumbs to the ducks on the lake I think about how much my life has changed. Today a blonde wig covers my head until my hair finally grows back. Tomorrow I might be a redhead.
Unfortunately, three weeks ago the driver of an eighteen-wheeler lost control of his rig and my car was on his left-hand side. There was no chance to escape the impact that caused my small car to flip over a few times before finally resting on the grassy median.
My head was bandaged when I awoke, but everything else seemed okay. My fingers all worked and I could wiggle my toes. A button near the hospital bed would normally summon a nurse but instead, when it was pressed, a doctor entered the room. The name tag on his white coat read Dr. J. Carter.
"You gave us quite a scare."
"How bad are my injuries?"
"Other than your head injury, nothing major. Just the usual cuts and bruises you'd expect but I'm afraid your car was totaled. The whiplash from the accident caused your head to smash into the side window of your car. Your arrived here unconscious with a cracked skull and we had to operate. To be honest, we won't know for a while if there's any permanent damage but you were very lucky. You actually flat-lined twice on the operating table."
"Please give my thanks to the whole surgical team."
"I'll do that. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have others to visit but I'll be back if you want to talk."
As he left, I thought I heard his voice but his lips weren't moving.
"She's so young. I hope she's alright."
I was in shock, hardly believing what had just happened. Pressing the button next to my bed again, a nurse entered this time.
"Are you in pain?" she asked.
"No, but I have a strange request. I think I know the doctor who was just in my room. Don't tell it to me, but do you know his first name?"