Something Missing

Sandra finds herself floating in darkness once more, though this time it feels almost serene. Her body doesn't feel heavy anymore in fact it's light as a feather. There is a calmness that surrounds her as if to say 'everything will be alright now, just let go.' The temptation to let herself be overcome by this feeling is increasing as time goes on. "I feel like something's missing, what could it be? " allowing her mind to wander while she enjoys the relaxing Aura. Her thoughts snaps back to to the present when a familiar scent catches her attention. "Oh, Del? " confusion pushes aside the calm, bringing some logic back to her mind. "Where are you? I'm having trouble seeing you? " her body begins feeling heavy again when the warmth spreads across her hand. In the darkness she notices a dim light seemingly rising like a sun over the horizon and in front of it a figure. Sandra walks toward the figure noting it's curves as she nears, the faint scent of cucumber melon becomes stronger the closer she gets.

"Sandy" the figure calls out into the darkness.

"I'm here! " Sandra calls back.

"Hello? Anyone there? " the figure calls out once again.

"I'm right here, Del, I'm here! " her body becoming heavier with each step, she tries to run. It feels as though a hundred hands are holding her back while she runs through tar.

"Del! I'm right here!" she cried out, the figure standing still calling out to her as if it can't hear her cries. Desperately she pushes on, suddenly the figure turns around as if to walk in the other direction.

"No! I'm here! Don't go!" she tears away from the hands dragging her down deeper into the darkness and thrusts herself towards the figure. The figure faded into her, disappearing as the heaviness set in and everything became incredibly bright. Her eyelids felt heavy as she tried to adjust to the bright lights, the next thing she notices is something in her throat. She gags weakly before someone comes to remove the object. Warmth still engulfed her palm when her eyes start to dart across the room landing on the face in front of her. The face seems familiar but foreign she couldn't recall why. Sandra moves her tongue around wondering why she can't speak easily, her mouth incredibly dry, someone tips waters up to her lips. She notices that she is unable to move her arms up past her legs so she looks down at them and wonders 'whose arms are these? They are skin and bone.' her muscles deteriorated from lack of use during her long sleep. After a moment of looking around in blurry confusion her eyes rest on a woman's sad smile, analyzing her features and the way her hair rests across her face and down her shoulders. She notices a winding scar as her eyes follow down the woman's arm to the hand that's resting atop of hers. The ringing in her ears beginning to dull Sandra makes another attempt to speak but coughs in its wake. Swallowing hard, a raspy whisper breaks the silence. "Who are you?"

Tears falling from the woman's eyes she replies "I'm nobody" with a small smile the woman stands up and walks away.

__________

Adelyn laid deep in sleep until a noise woke her, at that moment her heart beamed with joy as she noticed Sandra's awake. She presses the call button and sends for a doctor to take out the breathing tube. Adelyn can't believe her eyes, she blinks rapidly to clear the tears from them and to make sure she wasn't dreaming. Using one hand she wipes her face before looking back into Sandra's gaze. Adelyn notices the small tongue attempting to move around Sandra's lips and quickly brings a cup of water to them. She struggled somewhat to drink it but seemed to get enough to calm down. After a few moments of exploration her eyes looked toward Adelyn. Adelyn's heart thumped heavy with so many emotions; excitement, anxiety and fear. Thoughts race through her head as she tried to think of what to say to Sandra. Adelyn's focus returned when she noticed Sandra attempting to speak, listening intently.

A very faint whisper escaped Sandra's mouth. Her first words hit Adelyn like a stone, bringing her back to her senses.

"Who are you?"

Reality sunk in "Oh yeah, that's right. She doesn't know me. How silly of me to forget. How was she supposed to recognize me after only maybe seeing me once in a bar randomly somewhere. I wouldn't know me either." after conversing with herself for a second she decided it's best to just leave things how they are, as two strangers. "...I'm nobody."

She gets up and leaves the room glancing back only to see a very confused woman staring back at her. It was but a moment too long because when she turned back she almost walked right into Margret who was seething with rage witnessing Adelyn's escape from her daughter's room. Margret winding up to yell at Adelyn, the red creeping up her neck as the anger boiled her blood.

Before Margret was able to get a word out Adelyn went first blurting out "I'm Sorry" then she fled the area.

"Well I never! Who does she think she is? I expressly told the hospital not to let her in here. What services am I paying for." Margret added watching the woman scamper off in an almost merry disposition. Lukas and Susanne trailed behind her a few seconds walking with confused expressions on their faces as Adelyn passed by. They heard a gasp which turned their attention back towards their destination.

"Oh my God! It's a miracle!" Margret exclaims, thanking God for saving her daughter. "The Lord heard our prayers."

Suzanne rushes over to the bedside, her baby bump prominent and slowing her down "Sandra, you're alive!" happy tears replaced the sad ones that were previously occupying her cheeks.

Sandra's doctor strolls up to have a look at Sandra and check her reflexes. Nurses and doctors walk in and out taking measurements, bloodwork, and cognitive examinations. Sandra's primary care doctor has been replaced a multitude of occasions throughout her stay. Almost everyone in the facility worked on her case or at least knew about it. This doctor has only been assigned recently, his salt and pepper beard not far below his chin. He took the proper measures to examine Sandra's movements and reactions to his prodding before explaining in his gruff tone of voice "Sandra is in good condition considering what she's been through, she may experience memory loss and have trouble speaking, please be patient with her and do not overwhelm her. I'll be back in an hour to examine her again. "

Margret, Susanne and Lukas pile around her, each of them takes turns hugging her gently. Everyone careful not to hurt her and amazed at her recovery.

"Sandy, baby it's so good to see you." Margret's voice is full of love and kindness.

"Hey sis welcome back" Lukas giving casual remarks as if she had just been sleeping the day away.

Susanne on the other hand is balling her eyes out "oh my god, I was so worried! I didn't want to do it but they said that you weren't gonna wake up, but you did, your here! " she throws herself against her sister for another hug barely believing what has just happened.

Sandra looks at everyone with a weak smile, she's feeling happy but doesn't quite understand why "Who are you?" she croaks out raggedly.

"We are your family, don't you remember? " the worry in Margret's tone was evident.

"Hey, the doctor said there could be some memory loss, so this is normal. I'm sure it'll come back lickity split." Lukas assured.

"Where's my bed pan lady!" screamed a a grumpy old man from down to hall. "What's her name, Darlene? Daisy? Deloris? Never mind, where is she? I want her! Not whoever you are! 'Clang crash'" the pan is tossed to the ground sloshing the yellow liquid onto the floor. The next moment the nurse comes storming out with much of the liquid dripping from her uniform and a face not hiding her disgust and irritation.

Sandra's ears perked up listening to the old man complain "Del?" the word poured out of Sandra's mouth unexpectedly even to herself.

Margret wore a face of disdain just hearing the name "don't worry about that girl, she's nobody to us." she began organizing the room and straightening the sheets, noticeably irritated.

"Nobody?.... " Sandra's thoughts drew her back to the woman who sat before her when she first woke up "Del is nobody?"

"Hush baby girl. You don't have anything to worry about now. Momma's here for you." Margret sits on the bed next to Sandra pulling the weak woman's head to her chest.

Suzanne and Lukas look at each other knowingly. Suzanne's hand absent mindedly caressing her baby bulge.