Fiction
2 min
I’m Sorry, but I Don't Know You
aisha syed
My head was pounding and my entire body, especially my stomach and legs, felt stiff. I tried to open my eyes, but even those felt too stiff to move. There was something warm on top of me - a blanket, maybe? I couldn't tell. I was probably right though, I could feel a pillow under my cheek.
Still trying to open my eyes, a quiet creak escaped from the door as light spilled in. The sound of quiet footsteps filled the room and became louder and louder as they came closer. They stopped before they reached me. Another quicker pair of feet followed and came all the way to my bed before they stopped. The mattress dipped as whoever it was that ran to my bed plopped themselves onto my bed with no invitation whatsoever.
It's probably a kid, I thought to myself. I mean, not many adults run into a room and plop themselves onto a bed as enthusiastically as kids do.
I took my mind away from the kid, now snoring in front of me, and focused on the two - no, three - voices speaking in hushed whispers I could barely hear. Maybe that was the point. I could make out just enough to understand that they were talking about me. Suddenly, a bright, white light pierced the dark room, and I flinched. Slowly, I pried my eyes open.
The first thing I saw was the face of the kid who had run into the room earlier. He was young, probably six or seven years old, and had a very chubby face. I wanted to reach out and poke his cheek so badly, but I refrained. I mean, it's kinda weird to just poke a sleeping person's cheek.
Peering over the kid's shoulder, I saw an open window, which was probably where all the light was coming from. The entire city glimmered in the sunlight below us.
Tearing my eyes from the window, I propped myself on my elbow and scanned the room.
I was in a hospital.
There was no doubt about it.
The room was mostly empty, except for the doctor's computer and medical equipment. I saw three people; a doctor, a man, and a woman. The more I studied them, the more I realized that the man and woman were probably the kid's parents. They were so engrossed in their conversation, that they didn't notice me sitting up and pushing my blanket off to the side. Although, I'm pretty sure they were supposed to be waiting for me to wake up.
There were casts on my legs, and bandages all over my stomach.
Huh. So that's why my body felt so stiff. I wondered how I got them. I didn't remember doing anything to get them. Before I could think about what that meant, I realized that the whispers had stopped. I looked over to the corner where they were standing. They were all staring at me, mouths wide open, relief clear on their face. Except for the doctor, who looked like she was expecting it. So, I stared back at the man and woman for a while.
"Hey, can I get some water please?" I finally croaked, my voice hoarse from lack of talk. My throat felt dry, but not the kind where just a sip of water would quench my thirst. It felt itchy like something was irritating it.
It was as if that sentence brought them back to reality. They rushed towards me, relief on their faces.
"Oh Teresa, you're finally awake, we thought you'd never wake up!" Before I could fully comprehend what she just said, she leaned towards me, raising her arms as if she were about to hug me, but I leaned away, and she dropped them. Her face dropped along with them, and I felt bad, but I wasn't going to start just hugging random strangers anytime soon.
"Um, I'm sorry, but, who are you? I don't think I know you..." I replied, confused.
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