Chapter Text
When I was 20 years old, I went to my first party. Everyone drank, and I was the designated driver. I watched as my friends danced, as strangers wobbled around. Even she was dancing. She was so careless.
Anyways, eventually we had to drive home. I got her into the car, and laid her in the back. I got in the drivers seat. I listened to her talk, rambling about how she was so happy she got to let it out for once. She was so happy, I couldn’t help but look at her, and stare. She was beautiful. Her messy hair, her black and purple dress. Her glasses. She was always so sweet.
I smiled, chuckling at her rambles. It went quiet. The light turned green. I went forward.
“LILA!!”
I opened my eyes to bright, blue based lights. They weren’t blue, they were white, but they were cold. It was blinding for a bit. I felt myself weakly squinting at the light. I then heard a small rumble, then I felt a sharp pain in my throat. It was me, I could hear myself groaning in pain. As my vision began to clear up I saw the tiles of the cold white ceiling. A repeating tone began to invade my ears, along with a sound of small commotion, or a quiet crowd.
I tried to ask for help, for someone, but all that came out of my throat was a strained wheezing groan. It hurt. It was scary. I felt the pain all over my body. It was a numb pain, but it was the kind that invaded your head. Where it feels like it doesn’t hurt, but at the same time it feels like it should, so it does. The beeping increased, which made it feel like it was only getting louder.
The door opened, and 2 or 3 people came in. One came to my side, and held my hand.
“Hi, welcome back. My name is Mrs. Daniel’s, or Kathy. You are in the hospital, so please don’t panic. We are going to take care of you.”
“Where…. Is… she?” I mustered up a lot of energy to even say that, but I needed to know where she was. I needed to know she was safe.
“Hmm? Who?”
I didn’t know. I don’t know…
———————————————
At some point, Kathy, Sheila, and Tanner, the three doctors that came in when I woke up, got me set up for some questions. Kathy asked most of the questions.
“So, I am going to ask you yes or no questions, and you are to nod or shake your head. If it hurts too much, then squeeze your right hand” -She tapped her right hand, which was held by Tanner,- “for yes, and your left hand” -that was being held by Sheila- “for no. Do you understand what I am asking.”
I squeezed Tanner’s hand, it was weak, but they all understood.
“Good, is your name Lila Frail?”
I squeezed Tanner’s hand.
“Do you know how you got here?”
I did, but I didn’t. I knew why I was here, so I assumed that the ER picked me up, but I didn’t really know. So I squeezed Shelia’s hand.
“Ok, do you know why you are here, or what caused you to be here?”
I squeezed Tanner’s hand.
“Do you remember what happened?”
I squeezed Tanner’s hand.
“Do you know what year it is?”
I was confused as to why they asked me this. I looked around to see if I could catch any hints, but there wasn’t anything. She then showed me a list of years. 2018 to 2027. When was the crash? It was her birthday, and someone else’s. It was also snowing, so I wouldn’t blame the person for not being able to stop. It was icy out on the roads during winter. I looked at the closed window, and wished I could what it looked like outside. Maybe I would see the snow.
It’s 2021, because she had just turned 21.
I squeezed Tanner’s hand.
“Ok, I’m going to put my finger over a year, and you tell me yes or no. Ok?”
2018, no.
2019, no.
2020, no.
2021, yes.
She looked at Tanner, and he nodded, as if they were communicating telepathically.
“Lila, do you remember the life you had before the accident?”
Well before the accident I was at a party, before the party I was with them. Before that…
I squeezed Sheila’s hand, hesitantly.
“Lila do you know a Mark Dennelle?”
I squeezed Sheila’s hand.
“Do you know a Cleo Bronzur?”
I squeezed Sheila’s hand.
“Do you know an Angel Sutton?”
I squeezed Sheila’s hand.
“What about a Callie Frail?”
I squeezed Sheila’s ha-
Wait, her last name is Frail. Is she my mother? My sister? Do I have a sister? No, I don’t, she’s my mother!!
“Do you know a—”
“Kathy, she remembers Callie,” Tanner said aloud. Kathy looked at me, then back at Tanner.
“Ok, do you know what family member they are to you?” I squeezed Tanner’s hand.
“Are they your sister?” I squeezed Sheila’s hand.
“Cousin?” I squeezed Sheila’s hand. I just wanted her to say ‘mother’. And she did so.
I flinched at it, it was almost so exciting. I leaned for words and attempted to say ‘yes’. But all that came out was a wheeze followed by an ‘s’ sound, and a ton of painful coughing. Tanner had me lay down again, and had me drink some water. As I drank the water, I listened as best as I could to Kathy as she talked with another person outside. They spoke about me, I think.
“We have to ease her into this”
“We’re going to tell her soon”
“We have to watch over her, this isn’t normal.”
“I understand but she… how can you…”
The two began to walk away, and Tanner began asking me normal yes or no questions. And Sheila prepped me for food.
How long was I out? And how long would I have to stay here?