That night she lay awake in her bed. She thought about driving by Nikki's house. What harm would that be? She could just drive by to see if she was home. But she would be crushed if she saw Nikki out with someone else or drove by and didn't see her car. She would wonder where she was or whom she was with. She felt such terrible anguish and all she could do was hug her pillow tightly.
*******
As her eyes finally grew heavy, she felt that same pressing dream starting to begin again, and she couldn't wake herself up to stop it. She was on the road, driving down a hill. It was so clear. It's as if she was there. She was in a hurry. Her brakes failed her. She was trying desperately to slow down, but it was no use. Then when she felt her car flying off the last part of the turn right around 10 to 15 feet into the tops of the trees, she awoke in a cold sweat shouting. “Ahh! Ahh! Ahhhh!”
She sensed a group of people rush into her room and turn the light on. She sat up in bed to realize that she wasn't at home at all. She was in a hospital room surrounded by nurses in blue scrubs. They were all staring at her. Many were smiling, some were gasping, others were clapping happily. A couple of others were checking her vitals and trying to use a thermometer to check her temperature. She was too frightened to comply.
“She's awake! It's a miracle!” shouted one voice.
“I knew she'd come around,” said another.
“Where am I? What's going on?” asked Anna confused.
“You're in the hospital,” said the nurse checking her blood pressure.
“What am I doing here?” Anna's eyes filled with tears. She had no sense of time. “How long have I been here? How did I get here?”
“Someone phone the doctor immediately,” said one of the nurses.
“Let's give her some space and room to breathe. Everyone clear out, please,” said the nurse on duty. The other male and female nurses in the hospital wing cleared out and went back to their patients.
“My name is Charlotte,” said the nurse. “You've been in a terrible car accident. Do you recall anything?”
The tears streamed down Anna's cheeks. She shook her head. “I don't remember. What happened?”
“I don't know all of the details. But from what I gather your car's brakes failed and you drove off a cliff.”
Anna gasped. “That's what I was dreaming about! I've had the same recurring dream for months now!”
Charlotte's eyes watered. She nodded her head. “Yes,” she said softly. “That's about how long you've been here. You've been here nearly six months. We were all praying for you. You were all broken up and bruised and the doctors worked tirelessly on you to bring you back from the brink of death. Just when we thought you were going to recuperate, you fell into a coma.”
“Six months?” asked Anna. “What about Nikki? Was Nikki in the car?”
Anna felt her heart rate increase. It was pounding in her chest.
Charlotte shook her head. “No, there was no one else in the car. You were alone.”
“Was anything recovered? Maybe my cellphone?”
Again Charlotte shook her head. “I don't know. I think your car was pretty much totaled and the wrecker took it somewhere to be disposed of possibly the police impound lot. You're very lucky to be alive.” She paused for a moment. “Your doctor should be in to see you soon. She was on vacation, and she just got back today. She will be so thrilled to see that you're finally awake! What a welcome home surprise it will be!”
Anna half smiled. She was still feeling confused. Was she seeing what was really happening in her dreams? Were they memories manifesting themselves as dreams or were they simply nightmares caused by the accident itself? Did she suffer any brain damage?
After the nurse turned off the light and exited the room, she sat in bed and spoke aloud to herself. “Five times one is five. Five times two is ten. Five times three is fifteen. Five times four is twenty. Five times five is twenty-five. My brain function seems normal.”
She tried her hardest to recollect the day of the accident, but try as she might, she just couldn't remember where she was going or what she was doing. She wondered if it had something to do with Nikki or if she was on a business trip.
Chapter Fourteen
Just before lunch time, Anna's doctor finally arrived. With eager anticipation to see her patient, she hurriedly walked into the room still wearing a surgeon's mask, surgeon's hat, and navy blue scrubs not having taken the time to change clothes. “I'm so sorry for my delay. I was in surgery all morning. As soon as I got the message that you were awake, I had to rush right over. How are you?”
Anna sat up in her bed and watched as the doctor removed her hat and let her silky blonde hair fall around her shoulders. Anna's eyes widened in disbelief. “Nikki!?” she blurted.
“How do you know my first name?” asked Dr. Bateman surprised.
“You're Nicole Bateman, aren't you?” asked Anna perplexed.
Nikki nodded. “Yes. Have we met before?”
“I guess I'm confused, to say the least. We've been dating for the past six months!”
Nikki pressed her lips together. She sat down on the bed beside Anna and took out a small flashlight. She began to look into her eyes to examine the dilation. “How many fingers do you see?” she asked holding up three fingers.
“Three,” replied Anna. “Am I on crazy pills or something? We met at the park remember? You were reading to me? You've read to me almost every weekend. We have lunch picnics. You broke it off with me and left me, and I haven't heard from you in a week! What's going on?”
Nikki's eyes became watery as she began to understand Anna's situation. She took a deep breath before responding. “Please, calm down. I think I know what's happened. Let me try to explain. I have been trying to stimulate your mind to see if you would awaken. I have been reading to you. Prior to your hospitalization here, I am certain that we have never met.” Nikki paused for a moment to let the information sink in. She saw the tears and confusion in Anna's face and knew it was breaking her heart to hear the truth. “I was on vacation for a week and just got back this morning. I'm sorry that I haven't been able to come to your room to read to you. It was probably the reading that caused you to somehow dream up a romance. But I assure you that we've never met prior to today.”
Anna began to cry. She felt the sting of heartache all over again. Not only did she lose Nikki in her dreams, but the Nikki that truly existed wasn't part of her reality at all! She'd never even met her! She was a dream; an illusion that she had created in her mind while she slept and heard her beautiful voice reading to her. Her mind, her thoughts, her dreams had all played her for a fool. The entire relationship was something that never happened.
“But the books?” stammered Anna. “Do you like the author Rebecca Sullivan? Did you read me lesbian fiction books?”
Nikki smiled. “You remember?”
Anna nodded. “I remember everything you ever read to me. Every word.”
“So you heard me then? You heard my voice, my reading, and the other events such as dates and romantic thoughts were mere parts of your subconscious mind that came across in your dreams.”
Tears streamed down Anna's face. “I guess so. I must've heard you all along. How about that? I come to the hospital, and I meet the woman of my dreams only to find out she was only a figment of my imagination.” She glanced down at the bed sadly and painfully embarrassed. Tears continue to fall down her cheeks.
Nikki grabbed a hold of Anna's hand. “Do you mean that?”
“What?”
“That you thought of me as the woman of your dreams?”
“Yes. Absolutely. At least, I thought so.” Anna grabbed a tissue from the nearby tissue box to wipe her tears and blow her nose.
Nikki smiled. “I'd like to continue our daily readings.”
Anna was puzzled. “Even though I'm not in a coma anymore?”
“I probably shouldn't be saying this, but I talked to you a lot more than I probably should have. I confided things i
n you because I wasn't sure if you could really hear me. And I knew you couldn't judge me. If you remember any of those things, you probably know things about me that I've never told anyone else.”
“Do you read to all of your patients?” asked Anna.
Nikki shook her head. “No, I've encouraged family members to do so, but I've never actually done it myself.”
“Then why did you? Why me?”
Nikki shrugged her shoulders. “I knew there was something special about you.”
“Like what?”
“I knew you were a lesbian, for one...”
Anna pressed her further. “And then?”
“And two, I guess I thought you were attractive.” Nikki paused. She took a deep breath. “I shouldn't be saying that considering you're still technically my patient and under my care, but I did think there was a possibility of us getting to know one another when you recuperated.”
“How did you know I'd pull out of it and wake up?” queried Anna.
“I have faith I guess. You're young and strong and you have a lot of fight in you.”
“A young, strong, fighter, huh? You didn't mention cute. You thought I was cute?”
Nikki laughed. “Don't let it go to your head. I already stated what I thought.”
“Dang, I was trying to get some more compliments out of you.” Anna sat there with a goofy grin. “So how about a date?”
Nikki smirked. “Where do you propose we go? A date in the cafeteria? We probably shouldn't be seen together while at the hospital.”
Anna shook her head. “No, when I get out of here. I want to take you on a picnic in the park just like in my dreams.”
“I'd love that. I love picnics.”
“I love picnics, too.” Anna was beaming with her new found confidence.
“I'd love to hear more about these dreams of yours.”
Anna grinned. “All the naughty details?”
Nikki laughed. “You didn't mention that they were sexual dreams. If that's the case then...” Nikki's voice was cut short as Anna interrupted.
“No, no. I'm joking.” Anna laughed. She would have to save the part of her dreams where they had made love as a story to tell for another time.
“I have to go now, but I'll have a physical therapist come in to see you and help you get on your feet again. It's good to see you're able to speak and that you still have relatively good cognitive skills. You were in and out of consciousness during some of your surgeries, but after we set some of your bones and did some work on your spine, you fell into a coma.”
“Oh, Dr. Bateman? Before you leave, can you tell me how soon I'll be able to leave the hospital?”
Nikki grinned. “Thank you for calling me Dr. Bateman. And I think it all depends on how quickly we can get you back on your feet and walking around. I'll be back later tonight with a new book and to see if the physical therapist has come by to see you. Good day to you, Anna.”
“Good day to you, too, doctor. And thank you.”
With that, Nikki left the hospital room.
Chapter Fifteen
When Nikki had first met Anna in the Emergency Room the night of Anna's accident, Anna had been broken both literally and figuratively. Nikki had seen her battered and bruised and had pieced her back together, nursed her wounds, set the bones in her legs, had surgery on Anna's spine, and watched her closely as her broken ribs healed. There were times when Anna seemed to be awake and lucid, but they were few and far between. Mostly she was in pain and in and out of consciousness. But she had been sure that Anna had seen her. She had looked directly at her. After she had fallen into a coma, Nikki still went to see Anna to read to her, to check on her, to see her get well day by day. The more Nikki saw Anna heal, the more she began to see her beautiful features come to light. It was like watching a rosebud blossom over time, she had often thought to herself. And now Anna was awake. She was awake and had asked her out. She couldn't believe it. She had spent so much time fantasizing about the day that Anna would finally awaken only to find out that Anna had been dreaming about her all along!
“I feel like I have to pinch myself to see if I'm even awake. Maybe I'm the one dreaming now,” she had whispered to herself as she went to phone the physical therapist. She made the call and went on with her day. All the while she couldn't stop thinking about Anna and the fact that she had dreamt up a romance between them just as she had. Could it be fate?
Chapter Sixteen
Later that night, Nikki stopped in to read to Anna and spoke with her briefly about having the therapist visit her three times a week.
“I assure you, doctor. I'm fine. I can probably get up right now and walk down the hall,” insisted Anna.
“I'd rather you not try to get up without the aid of the therapist. She might even come by tonight. She sometimes makes evening rounds.”
Anna sighed. She was anxious to recuperate to get out of there. She needed to check on her house, return to work, and of course, she was ready to take Nikki out on a date.
Just as Nikki was about to leave the hospital room, a physical therapist walked in.
“Good evening, Anna. I'm Shelly. I hear you're ready to get up and go for a run already.” She laughed and Nikki grinned.
“She sure is,” replied Nikki. “She's ready to run outta here.” Nikki turned to Shelly, “I'll be right back, Shell.” Shelly nodded.
Shelly began massaging Anna's legs and pushing on the soles of her feet to test her strength in her legs and her level of resistance. After about an hour, Anna swung her legs over the side of the bed.
“I'm pretty sure I can stand up,” she insisted confidently.
“Wait, here-use this walker to bear some of your weight,” said Shelly handing Anna a walker with two tennis balls attached to the legs to make it easier to push against the floor.
Sure enough, Anna was able to get around more or less with a walker. She beamed with pride every time she walked past the nurse's station. The physical therapist walked steadily beside her to be there in the event she should need her to lean on. They made a couple rounds around the hallways and then back to her room.
“I'll be back tomorrow to check on you,” said Shelly. “Take it easy. You don't want to walk too much right away.”
“I won't,” insisted Anna. But as soon as Shelly was gone, Anna was meandering down the hospital hallway in her hospital gown. She was pushing her walker and her IV drip up to a nurse's station and unknowingly bearing her rear end for all the world to see, or perhaps not all the world, but all the hospital staff and patients.
Anna was growing impatient as she walked up to the nurse's station. “Nurse. I've already been here to inquire about dinner. I really don't need to be on this IV anymore. I assure you that I'm ready to eat solid foods.”
“We've already checked with your doctor and you're to be put on a liquid diet. Someone will bring you a tray of Jell-o and chicken broth shortly.”
Anna's voice was slightly raised as she began getting frustrated. “Jell-o and chicken broth? I haven't eaten in six months. My appetite is coming back, and I'd like to order off of this menu.” She was clutching a paper cafeteria menu in one hand and waving it at the nurse. “I want a cheeseburger.”
“Perhaps you'd like to talk over your dietary needs with your doctor.” The nurse sitting behind the desk motioned to Dr. Nikki Bateman just as she was walking toward them.
“What?” asked Anna perplexed. She turned around to see Nikki walking in her direction with a grin across her face. “Oh. Hi.” Anna's tone and demeanor quickly changed for the better as she smiled brightly to greet her.
Dr. Bateman smiled. “Hello, Anna. I'd say 'I see London, I see France' but I'm afraid that--one, it wouldn't be very professional and--two, you're not wearing any underwear.”
Anna gasped. “Geezus!” she exclaimed, grabbing her gown from the back and attempting to tie a ribbon with the closures.
Nikki laughed. “What's this I hear about you wanting to change your diet from
liquids to solids?”
“Well, I'd like to eat regular foods. I think I'm doing great. I stumbled around a bit, and I'm still trying to get my bearings, but I feel well enough to walk and surely well enough to eat real food. I'm mostly wandering around the hallways like a toddler or a caveman, but so far so good. I'm upright and bipedal and no longer horizontal in bed and....”
Anna's voice trailed off as Nikki interrupted. “A caveman, huh? Well, just as long as you don't start any fires and start beating your chest or clobbering any of the nurses on the head with a club and dragging them off by the hair, then I think you're doing okay.”
Anna chuckled. “Why don't we go back to my room, so that I can sit down for a minute.”
“Sure, after you.”
Anna led the way padding her baby blue hospital socks down the hallway and pushing her walker and IV drip back to her room. She arranged her gown and set her IV stand to the side of her bed before sitting.
Nikki sat down in the chair beside Anna. “I'd like to keep you on a liquid diet. Your system hasn't had any solid foods in a long while, and we need to ease your body into ingesting solids. You'll be okay I promise. A little soup and Jell-o will do you some good. I'm also glad to see you're up and around. Most people need weeks of physical therapy to help them walk again.”
Anna shook her head. “Not me. I don't feel at all like my muscles have atrophied.”
“Uh huh,” said Nikki with a smirk. “And that's why you're lingering around the hallway like a baby just learning to walk?”
Anna laughed. “I liked the caveman reference better.”
Nikki grinned. “Oh, I'm sorry. You mentioned a toddler and that was my first thought actually until you started talking about being upright and being bipedal like an ape.”
Reader in the Park Page 5
