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.