Page 69 of Level Me Up

Chapter Thirty-six

Morgan

I hear a consistent beep of a machine. I try to focus on the noise and where it's coming from, but my brain is so foggy. As quickly as I hear the beeping, it starts to fade into the background, and I hear nothing more.

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I don't know how long it's been since I heard the beep of a machine, but in addition to the beeps, quiet fans, and machine motors, I hear voices. Several, actually. I try to move my head in the direction of the voices, but it’s too heavy. I can't make out whom the voices belong to, but I know they are starting to sound familiar. It sounds like two men and a female voice, maybe more. If only I could hear what they were saying, but all too soon the voices fade, and I fall back into silence.

~~~

Once again, I'm startled by the damn beeping. Where the heck am I? I hear a familiar voice again. It's one of the several voices I heard from before. His voice is close, like right beside me, and while his words are fuzzy, I recognize the voice. I've heard it before, and it makes me feel safe. He sounds like he's pleading with someone. He sounds so sad.

Who is he talking to? I'm so close to figuring it out when the voice starts to fade again. No! I want to scream. I want to hear his voice; I need to hear his is voice.

~~~

My brain feels funny, but my eyes flutter open, and I take in the white walls and rows of lights on the ceiling. It smells like cleaning supplies. I hear a machine consistently beeping next to me, and I listen to the perfectly timed interval of a click from another machine. I focus on myself and realize I'm in a bed. It’s an uncomfortable bed, but I'm warm, so I must be covered up.

I move my head just slightly and see Gia and Ruby sitting on a small couch that looks just as uncomfortable as the bed I'm in. I try to move, but it hurts. Oh my God. My whole body hurts. I let out a gasp, and I hear movement from the couch.

"You're awake!" I hear Ruby squeal. I turn my head and see Gia and Ruby rush to my bed. They both look exhausted, and tears trickle down Ruby’s face, and Gia looks like she is fighting to keep hers at bay.

I open my mouth to speak, but it feels like it's full of cotton. I lick my lips as I try to wet my mouth. Gia turns slightly and picks up a cup of water and brings it towards my lips. She holds the straw still as she puts it to my lips, and I take a drink. Oh, that tastes so amazing.

Ruby squeezes my hand, says, "I'll be right back," and leaves the hospital room.

Gia places the cup back on the tray and says, "It's about time, slow poke," with a small smile. "You've had us all on our toes."

I clear my throat before trying again, "What's going on?"

Her face turns remorseful, as she grabs my hand and says, "You were in an accident. Do you remember that?"

I just stare at her, because I don't remember.

Gia continues. "Well the cab you were in tried to beat the train, and didn’t. You were badly injured. You're going to be fine, but we didn’t know for sure at first. The doctor said you'd wake up when your body was ready, and now you’re awake." She squeezes my hand. I take my eyes off her and turn to look out the window. It looks like its early evening.

I try to sit up, and a jolt of pain shoots through my body. “Ouch!" I say, but I continue to push through it.

Gia pushes the pillows up behind me for support and says, "Yeah, try not to move much. I think they are going to have to give you more painkillers."

"How long have I been here?" I ask.

Gia worries her bottom lip as if she doesn't want to answer my question. "Gia?"

"Three days. Your last surgery was two days ago, so we've all been waiting for you to wake up since then."

"Was I in a coma?"

"No, but your body went into shock with the extent of your injuries and surgeries. The doctors have been monitoring you around the clock, but for the past twenty-four hours or so, you've been fine, just in a deep sleep. The doctor said you'd wake up at any time."

I'm taking this all in, and honestly, I'm overwhelmed. I'm about to ask Gia something more when the door opens, and a doctor and nurse come in the room. The doctor is an attractive, older woman, probably in her forties. She looks a bit harried like she hasn't had much sleep. She takes in my state and smiles warmly at me.

"Hello, Morgan. I'm Doctor Davis. I've been tending to you since you were admitted to the hospital a few days ago. Has…" she looks to Gia for a second like she is trying to recall her name, "Gia. Has Gia had a chance to talk to you about what's going on at all?" She asks me but looks toward Gia.

Again, with a dry throat, I say "Umm, kind of. The cab I was in was hit by a train, and then I went into shock after my last surgery." My answer sounded more like a question than a statement.

"Yes, that is correct. You suffered some severe injuries. We had to perform two different surgeries to stop internal bleeding. When you came out of your last surgery, your body went into what we call, hypovolemic shock. This happens when your body loses too much blood. We had to give you a blood transfusion. After that, you came out of shock, but you haven't fully woken up until now. We've been motoring your vitals so we could tell if your body was healing, and it is. This kind of thing happens when your body goes through lots of trauma."

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