Chapter 1 AWAKE

• I’m being chased. I’m inside this man’s car, sitting right next to him while he is driving. He is bleeding from his forehead and his shirt has been ripped in many places showing his strong build. What catches my attention is a tattoo of a butterfly on his hand, covered in blood. I look down at my legs, seeing how there are several cuts on them. I try to touch one of them but I hiss from the pain.
• “We are going too fast”, I mumble but he only cares about getting us out of here. He is really anxious and I think I am the same. I feel my heart beating so fast as we are running away. I look at the colorful city lights decorating the streets, yet nothing is festive about this place.
• “Are you okay?”, he asks me with his deep soothing voice. The moment he did, I felt relieved.
• “Yes, I am”, I say back, but my throat is hoarse. He smiles, trying to make me feel more comfortable.
• “We are almost there. I won’t let anything happen to you”.
• That promise felt real, like it touched my heart deeply. I can’t help but smile back, feeling the tears rolling on my cheeks. He finds the opportunity and gently touches my skin, arousing my inner demons.
• “After all, I’m your bodyguard”.
• ****
• My God, why do I struggle to open my eyes? My chest feels heavy and my muscles weak. I can hear a machine beeping next to me. Am I in a hospital? Oh right, I was in an accident...a car came and… this memory is painful. Actually, everything hurts right now.
• Yes! I opened my eyes, finally! My vision is blurry and I can only make out the birds that are chirping. I try to blink twice to clear my eyes. Yes, it is a hospital. I try to speak, but nothing comes out of my mouth.
• I can hear the door opening and I try to move my neck to that direction, but it’s fruitless; I can’t move a muscle. A nurse enters the room, tall with black short wavy hair. Her eyes are beautiful emeralds and she is wearing red lipstick; truly a Goddess.
• I try to follow her with my eyes, maybe she will notice me. Why isn’t she looking my way? She is opening the window to let in some fresh air.
• “Mmm”, I try to make some sound. She stops moving and now I know I have her attention. She looks my way and I can see her eyes become wide open. She quickly comes and tries to speak to me.
• “Ms. Lady?”, she calls out my name. I try nodding since I can’t speak.
• “Oh my God, you are awake! Hold on!” and just like that she runs outside, leaving me there. Don’t be late, please. I’m scared.
• ***
• “Ms. Lady?”, I hear a male’s voice calling me. I open my eyes only to see a bunch of people surrounding me.
• “Can you hear me?”.
• “Yes”, I surprised myself by answering his question.
• “It’s so good to have you with us! You know, we have been waiting for you to wake up for some time”. What, why? How long was I out?
• “Thirsty”, is the only thing my mind thinks of. Quickly a nurse helps me drink a sip that scratches my throat so hard.
• “What happened? Why can’t I move?”, I ask him now that my thoughts are more composed.
• “You were in an accident”.
• “Yes, I remember that...wait, am I paralyzed?”, I say in terror.
• “No, no! Your muscles need physical therapy, that’s all”, he then pulls out a tool and carefully stings me with it.
• “Ouch”, I hissed.
• “See? You are okay”.
• “Then, why are my muscles so attached?”, I wanna find out.
• “Well, Ms. Lady...you were in an accident. We had to rush you into brain surgery. You lost too much blood. After that, you went into a coma”.
• I did what? Oh my, why can’t I remember any of this? Everyone must be so worried. “We need to tell my friends, my aunt!”, I exclaim.
• “Ms. Lady..”, he says silently, I can sense something is terribly wrong. I slant my eyebrows upwards, I don’t wanna hear what he has to say, no.
• “Do you know how long you’ve been in a coma?”. Oh no, what is he going to say? I slide my head sideways to show him my ignorance.
• “It has been five years since the accident”.
• It can’t be. I can’t breathe, what is this?! It can’t be happening, right? I’m hyperventilating and they bring a breathing machine. I can hear their voices telling me to calm down but it doesn’t work.
• The world has moved on and I have been left behind.
• “What about my aunt?”, I say while removing the mask. The doctor looks at the nurse and somehow that answers my question. I can’t take this.
• “I’m sorry, your aunt passed away two years ago….”, what he said after that was just a noise in my ears. The pain that stayed in my chest after that was unbearable.