I was lost in the darkness. I knew I should be able to wake up, but couldn't. Had something happened to me? Where was I? I had an impression of driving, an icy road, and losing control. Was that real, or was it a dream? My dreams were a mish-mash of images that I couldn't quite focus on. I was aware they were dreams, which is why I was certain I should be able to wake up.
Finally a sound came to my ears. It was a beeping sound, rhythmic and slow, also -- no definitely -- electronic in nature. I listened for a great long while, becoming aware of my own breathing first, then sensations in my body. The feeling of my feet under cloth. The weight of a blanket on me. An itching on the back of my hand, and the feeling of a tube there. The uncomfortable sensation of a catheter. I put it together, I was in a hospital. The foggy remembrance of an icy road might have been real after all. I also had a bad taste in my mouth -- like how I thought cotton balls should taste, cotton balls and dust.
I tried to open my eyes, but there was something over them. Bandages I assumed. I wanted to move my right hand over and scratch the itch on the left where the IV was obviously inserted. It moved sluggishly, as if not quite remembering how to. It was also stopped in less than an inch. Ok, so my arms were restrained -- why would my arms be restrained? Maybe so I couldn't move and hurt myself more?
I checked, both arms were restrained. My ankles were as well. I also realized there was yet another strap across my hips. Wow, it must have been some wreck to nearly immobilize me like this. I worked some spit into my mouth. It took a while. Eventually, I croaked, "Hello?"
Nothing happened. I waited, and nothing continued to happen.
I croaked again, "Anybody there?"
My throat was sore, obviously from lack of use. Where had I been driving? I couldn't remember. What could I remember? Flashes of something. Fuzzy flashes. Nothing concrete, nothing I could sink my teeth into and remember. I panicked a bit. What was my name? Surely I should know my own name. It swam up from my subconscious somewhere in a rich voice, my name was Mandy. I sighed, at least I knew my own name. It didn't sit quite right though. Had I always been Mandy? Was that a nickname or short version of Amanda? Did only my friends call me Mandy?
My thoughts were interrupted by a door opening and footsteps approaching me. I caught a faint whiff of flowers before a woman's voice said, "Amanda, are you awake?"
I practically sobbed with relief - I was right, it was Amanda. "Yes," my voice was whisper quiet.
"Oh, thank God," the voice said, "we have been so worried about you."
"Wha," I started before my voice failed again.
I tried to work up some spit, and the voice said, "Here, drink this." The end of a straw was placed against my lips, and I sucked in cool water. It felt wonderful, even if swallowing it was a bit painful.
I tried again after a few good long pulls on the straw, "What happened?"
My voice was normal, but I really didn't recognize it. Maybe the pain in my throat explained that.
"You were in a car accident," the voice told me, "you've been in the hospital for months."
I was shocked. Months had gone by?
"Why can't I see?" I asked her.
"Oh," she said, "Your face got badly damaged, and they had to do facial reconstructive surgery. You've had six operations in total to fix your face I'm afraid. The last one was only about a week ago. We think it was the last one. Everything should be back to normal -- we hope."
"Can you take the bandages off?" I asked. I'd been in the dark so long, I wanted to see again.
"Sure sweetheart," she told me, "I was going to take them off today anyway."
I could feel her hands on the side of my head as she undid the little hooks holding the bandages in place, then she started unwinding. It got brighter and I winced. "Let me turn the lights down lower and close the blinds," she said, and put the bandages down. They fell to my chest in a wad. I heard her click something then the rustle of venetian blinds. She came back, "Better?"
It was dimmer, and the light wasn't hurting my eyes anymore. "Better."
She continued to unwind, then took the pads off my eyes, and gasped, "Wow, you look perfect!"
I opened my eyes for what seemed like the first time in forever. I had to blink a few times against the brightness even in the dim room. A few moments past, and things came into focus. I was in a private hospital room. A very nice private hospital room. The walls were a champagne color with tasteful images of flowers and idyllic nature. A simple window, now covered by the blinds, was to my left, and real dark wood furniture -- a chest of drawers, a wardrobe, and a vanity were to my right. At the foot of the bed, there was a tv stand made of cherry or possibly oak, with at least a 60" LCD on it. In fact, the only thing that screamed hospital at all was the bed I was in with its high railings and the IV and monitor beside it, and a bin on the wall with the biohazard sign on it. I assumed that was for needles or sharps, or whatever they called the things. My nurse was a petite older woman, probably in her late fifties or so based on the greying hair. She had kind hazel eyes and wrinkles. Her nurse's uniform identified her as Maeve.
"Oh, where are my manners," she said, and picked up a hand mirror that she held up for me. I focused on it, and a stunning heart shaped face with perfect bee-stung lips and vivid blue eyes looked back at me. The crown of brown hair fell around the face adding contrast and depth. The image blinked long luscious lashed at the same time I did, and I was startled to realize that I was looking at myself. It took me a long moment to come to grips with that. I literally could not remember that this is what I looked like. I had to admit, I was pretty stunning.
"Now," Maeve said, "I think you are past tearing stiches in your sleep -- which is why we had you restrained. Let me remove these bindings." She unbuckled my right hand, then went around the bed and released the left one as well.
I rubbed at the tape behind the IV, where it still itched. It was awkward, however, as my boobs were getting in the way. I looked at my chest. I had pretty big boobs. Did I remember having big boobs? I couldn't remember a time in my life when I'd had big breasts. Surely that was something a girl would remember -- wasn't it? Although, I had to admit that I couldn't really recall much of anything of my life. I felt I should mention this, "Maeve," I said slowly, "I think I have amnesia. I can't remember much of anything."
She tut-tutted, "It was a pretty bad accident, and you had a big head wound. Cracked your skull pretty fiercely. I'm sure it will all come back soon enough." She unbuckled the strap across my waist. "Now dear, I need to take the catheter out -- are you ok with that?"
The tube felt uncomfortable now that she drew my attention to it, "I guess so."
Maeve pulled back my covers. I was dressed in a hospital gown that was tied at the side. Maeve twitched the fabric aside, and as the hospital bed was slightly angled up, I could see the catheter as it entered my penis. My brain did a flip-flop. Why did I have a penis? Everything about me screamed female. I had a woman's face -- I had seen that in the mirror. I had breasts. I could tell by the way that the gown fell that I had a small waist and flared hips. How in the world did I also have a penis?
Maeve said, "This might feel a bit weird dear." She pulled gently on the catheter and drew it out of my body. It felt very strange and weird. I was really glad when it was out, however. Maeve wheeled the small stand that held the collection bag, and its tube, down to the end of the bed. There she unbuckled my feet as well.
"Ok," she looked at me, "I need to take you to the actual bathroom -- make sure everything is working. I'm not sure you have the strength to get up, I should probably call for some help."
I did feel weak. Not only from lack of strength, but from shear confusion. Was I a transsexual? Isn't gender identity something you would think would stick in your mind? Apparently not, as I had no clue whatsoever. Since I didn't have any memories of my own to draw on, it isn't like I could call up going into the men's room, the woman's room, or changing for gym class. I was still mulling this over when an orderly, a fairly large, muscular guy with a goatee and a barbwire leaf motif tattoo on one arm came in to help. His name tag said 'Danny'.
He offered me his hand, "Miss?"
I took his hand in one of mine, and Maeve came to the other side. Between them, they managed to get me upright. My legs were far too weak to hold me, but they managed to support me the 12 paces it took to get to the bathroom. They helped me sit on the toilet, and the hospital gown flared enough to hide my modesty, for which I was grateful.
"We'll be right outside," Maeve patted me on the shoulder, "if you need is."