“Don’t stress. You hit your head pretty badly, but your memory will come back soon.”
“Tell… me.” I said, my throat dry and scratchy.
The grave expression on his face set my heart racing. “I wish I could, sweetheart.”
What did he mean? Why did he call me sweetheart? I didn’t know him.
“You were brought into the ER with another woman,” he said.
Another woman? I tried to move, feeling panicked, but searing pain stole my breath away.
“Don’t move, sweetheart. Just try to be still,” he said in a comforting tone. This man was too nice to me. Why would he call me sweetheart and kiss me when I didn’t know him?
I reached my hand out and he took it, leaning his face closer to me. He was tall like a basketball player. Handsome,too. “D. Do. I know you?”
His face fell slack. “Yes. We’re friends. I’m Jon. You like to call me Doctor Jon. Just try to rest and let your body heal itself. Your memories will return. I promise.”
“Oh.” It was like my brain was a dark, black cave. Nothing was there and it was frightening. “How did I get here, Jon?”
“You were brought in. I’m glad I was working.” He shook his head. “You were unconscious. I barely recognized your beautiful face.” His eyes welled with tears.
“What?” I reached a hand up to my face.
“Don’t worry. Nothing’s broken. But there’s a lot of bruising and there was a lot of blood.”
My mouth trembled as I stared at him, desperate to understand and for everything to make sense. I was in the hospital, in a private room. A machine was at my side. Tubes were in my nose and hand.
“I should go now and let you rest.” He let go of my hand.
“No. Please stay,” I cried. “Tell me more.”
“Okay, I’ll stay a little longer.” He smiled weakly. “You have three bruised ribs, a fractured arm, and a nasty gash on your temple where we believe you hit your head and bruises all over your body.”
“You saw me naked?” What a weird question to ask.
Jon shrugged. “It’s my job. My only concern was your safety. There were a lot of nurses and doctors working on you.” He kissed my hand. “It wasn’t at all how I imagined seeing you without clothes for the first time.”
My face warmed. Or maybe the heat was from my apparent bruising and injuries. Either way, Jon had wanted to see me naked before? But he said we were friends.Awkward.
It took me a moment to register everything Jon said. Mymind was fuzzy, but I suddenly remembered my sister, Elsie, banging on my door and letting her in.
“My sister, Elsie …” Slowly, pictures flashed behind my eyes. She was afraid and badly battered. “Is she okay?”
“You remember your sister?”
“Mhm.”
“That’s a positive sign your memory is starting to come back.” He placed his hand gently on my head. “I knew you were a strong cookie.”
“When can I go home?”
“Ready to leave me so soon, are you?” His voice was playful and light, an improvement from a moment ago when he seemed sad. It helped me to relax and assured me I was going to be okay. “We’re keeping you another day or two for observation.”
“Why?” I tried to sit up but froze from the pain.
“You’re a stubborn little thing, aren’t you? Stay still.” He squeezed my hand. “Your body is in bad shape, Isla. Your ribs need to heal. Your arm is in a cast.”
I peered down at my arm, and sure enough, it was in a cast. How had I not noticed before?
