Waking Up

"Uhh, where am I?"

Oh, and that headache! My head is killing me. As I open my eyes, I find myself lying in a bed in a white room. To my left is a curtain and in front of my bed is a small TV. As I look through the window to my right, I see what looks like a parking lot. As I turn my head back straight, I hear footsteps approach my bed and find a guy in a white coat looking at me with a calm smile.

"Easy there, Chris, how are you feeling?"

I feel like shit, and why is he calling me Chris? I cock my head to the side and look down in confusion.

"Are you talking to me? Who are you? Where am I?"

"Yes, I am speaking to you, Chris. You are at Orchard Hospital, and I am Dr. Takani. Nice to meet you."

The guy clearly looks like a Doctor. I should have guessed.

"What am I doing here, Doctor?"

The Doctor takes a seat on a stool next to my bed and finds a pen. He then takes the clipboard and some paper in his hands.

"Well, son, to tell you the truth. You hit your head pretty bad, so we've been taking care of you for a while."

"My head? How did this happen? How long have I been here?"

"Hey, I know this is probably confusing, so let's take a step back and let me ask some questions for now. I'll be happy to answer anything you wish to know afterward. Sound good?"

"Sure, Doctor."

"First and foremost, can you tell me your name?"

"Uhh, sure, my name is…" Wait, I'm not actually sure what my name is. What the fuck?! "Actually, I don't know at the moment, Doctor. You were calling me Chris, right?"

"Yes, I was. Chris is your first name. No problem. Where do you live, Chris?"

Another question that I don't know the answer to! I must be somewhere in America, but where? Where the hell do I live?

"I'm not sure, Doctor."

"City, state, nothing comes to mind, Chris?"

"No, sir."

After a few more questions, it is clear that I don't know anything about who I am or what I'm doing, not even my age! I look at the heart rate monitor at the side of my bed. My heart rate is escalating, which makes because I am freaking out!

"Let's try something else, Chris. Can you tell me your most recent memory?"

I think deeply. I only have the faintest recollection of a memory, where I must have been four years old. It was a birthday where I blew out the four candles on my cake and opened a gift from my mother. My mother! At least I can remember someone, but is that my most recent memory?

After thinking more, I cannot recall a more recent memory or any other memory for that matter. It seems like my entire knowledge of my self-existence is limited to a moment when I turned four years old.

"I see, Chris. Are there any other memories aside from this you can recall?"

I slowly shake my head side to side in disappointment.

We move on to what feels like mental faculties: Arithmetic, quizzes on geography, fundamental questions on science, and reciting a few presidents. It looks like I can recall random information at an average level, which is honestly very comforting.

Then I am tested on motor functions. While lying unconscious for an extended period couldn't have been good for my health, I seem to be able to move everything without any issue. As bad as it is, at least I can control my body.

The Doctor seems to be finished. I can ask a few questions now. I ask the Doctor for details on everything, including my name, living situation, age, and the accident that led me to be here.

"So I'm 18 years old and just graduated high school. Shortly after graduation, I got into a car accident. The accident knocked me unconscious for a month, and now that I am conscious, I have lost all memories that have occurred after age four?" I ask after taking a moment to digest all his answers.

"I'm afraid that seems to be correct, Chris."

My face starts to contort in a combination of confusion and anger. Fuck. This is really serious. What do I do now?

"There are some people here to see you, Chris. Your family. They have been waiting for some time. Would you like to see your family, Chris?"

Family? I only recall my mother. Do I have siblings? A present father? I cannot imagine I have any children. It doesn't matter. I want to see whoever is here for me.

"Yes, please, Doctor. I'd like to see them."

"Excellent, I'll go get them. If you can give me a moment, I'll need to have a brief chat with your visitors before I send them in."