Page 3 of Found By You
“It’s okay.” She was back. “Can you drink?”
I felt the straw at my lips and sipped the water. I opened my eyes again.
Ella smiled. “There.” She pulled the water back. “Better?”
“No.”
“Hold tight. The doctor is coming.”
Panic filled me. “Why am I in here?”
“Now, calm down and let’s take a deep breath together. Ready? Breathe in, two, three, four—out, two, three, four.” She took my hand in hers.
I did as I was told because I didn’t know what else to do. I felt around in my brain and tried to remember something, but nothing came to mind. “Why am I in here?” I asked again, yanking my hand away from Ella’s.
Ella’s face remained calm. “Listen, we don’t know. You came in last night.”
I thought of the man who’d helped me. “I—the cop.”
Ella smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling. “That’s right, sweetheart. That’s my brother-in-law, McCrae. He’s the one who picked you up. Do you remember anything else?”
“I just remember waking up last night and walking and walking in that rain and falling.” I grabbed my chest, feeling the bandages beneath my gown. “I think I fell on a rock.”
Ella’s eyebrows went up. “I think more than that happened to you. But what else do you remember?” She took my hand again, her fingers warm against my cold skin.
“I remember the cop coming and getting in his car, and then …” I trailed off, the memory fading. “I don’t remember.” I started to cry. “What happened to me?”
Ella shook her head. “I don’t know, but it’s okay. Dr. Chavez is coming.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, steeling myself against the pain. Tears ran down my cheeks. “I can’t remember anything.”
Suddenly, there was a cup at my lips. “Take another drink, and take a deep breath again. We’re going to figure this out.”
I opened my eyes and did as I was told. The water felt cool and calm against my throat.
She pulled back and put the water down.
“Where is the cop?”
Ella shrugged, her scrubs shifting softly with the movement. “You’ve been out for about twelve hours. That’s a long time.”
Twelve hours. “What time is it?”
“It’s almost noon. You’re probably hungry.”
I shook my head. “Not really.” But my stomach growled loudly in the quiet room.
Ella paused and smiled. “I’m going to go get you some food, okay? I’ll be right back.”
I nodded, and then Ella left, her footsteps fading down the corridor.
I felt lost, alone, a little bit scared in the impersonal hospital room with its beeping machines and antiseptic smell. I didn’t like it.
It wasn’t long until someone else walked in the room. He was wearing a white coat with the words “Dr. Chavez” embroidered on it. He had dark eyes and a neatly trimmed beard. His stethoscope hung around his neck. “Well, hello, you’re awake. I’m glad to see that.”
“Hi,” I said softly.
He came to my side and immediately took my wrist. “I just saw Nurse Armstrong, and she told me you’re awake, but she hadn’t had a chance to check your vitals. How about we just do that?”
