When I woke in the hospital I couldn’t recall what day it was. All I could remember was the darkness. Although my body was weak I managed to sit up. The room had too sterile a smell to it and was playing havoc with my nostrils. The room’s restrictive presence was topped by the functional decor surrounding the room. Nothing of character existed here. There were no pictures on the walls or even a keepsake on the night table.

I attempted to crawl out of bed. I found the lever that released the steel girders that bound me into place. My legs I found were stiff as I started to move them. I felt frozen as they dangled over the side of the bed. Knowing this I still attempted to plant them on the floor. As I lifted myself up, I stumbled onto the carpet.

I cried silently when I felt the pain of my fall. I was too stiff to walk erect, which could only mean that I had been there for quite some time. How long I couldn’t recall. I crawled over to the foot of the bed where my medical chart lay. With slightly shaking hands I began to read it.

September 20th was the day I was admitted.

“I don’t remember September 20th. September 19th was the day of the explosion. But what day is it now?”

I flipped the chart until the last date was shone: December 12th. It just hit me that I had been here nearly two months. In my weakened state I had no desire to move. I lay down on the plush carpet and fell into sleep.

I awakened at first light and saw a woman dressed in white coming towards me.

She shouted frantically at me as I opened my eyes. “Oh, dear, she’s fallen.”

“Who are you?” I asked, still sleepy.

“My name is Nurse Crane, and you should be in bed, young lady. Come now.” She helped me to sit up. “Can you stand?”

“I don’t know.”

She gave me a chuckle as she said in slight southern accent, “Don’t know how ya could after what you have been through. Let me help ya.”

Nurse Crane lifted me onto the bed where I had finally realized the full extent of my position. Amanda Crane as she had said her full name to me took my pulse and temperature.