I try to pry my eyes open but they won’t stay put. Every time they open, I see flashes of white. They flutter closed again. I try opening them again. I see a blurry face. I hear beeping noises.Where am I?
“Honey, are you awake?”
I think I am.
This time I open my eyes and they stay open. My throat burns and my head hurts.
“My head hurts,” I say to whoever is standing above me.
“Okay, I’ll call the nurse, darlin’. Don’t move.”
Darlin’.Must be Dad.
“Where are we?”
“We’re in the hospital. Do you remember what happened? Actually, don’t answer that. It might make your head hurt worse. Where the hell is the fucking nurse?”
“Is she awake?”
I hear a high-pitched frantic voice.
“Why didn't you tell me she’s awake? Sorrel, Mama’s here, baby.”
I turn to see Mom. She’s holding clothes, a hairbrush, and a makeup bag.
“I brought your stuff so we could fix ya up a little. Oh, thank you Jesus for waking up my baby girl.”
“Thanks?” I rasp.
The nurse comes in now.
“Fucking finally,” Dad says.
The nurse checks my vitals. “Hi, hun, we’re going to get you taken care of. I already let the doctor know you’re awake.”
“My head hurts,” is all I say back.
“I’ll get you something for your head and the doctor will be in soon.”
The nurse leaves the room. Mom and Dad are both staring at me with pained looks on their faces.
“So, is anyone gonna tell me what happened?”
Mom comes over and takes my hand in hers. “Honey, there was a fire. You got knocked unconscious trying to get Duke out.”
It all comes rushing back to me. The fire. Huck in the barn with a can of fuel spreading it around. Me trying to get the horses out. Denton trying to help me.
Wait, Denton was there.
“What happened to Denton? Is he okay?” I ask frantically.
“I’m okay Sorrel.”
I hear his voice from the corner of the room. It’s raspy and quiet but it’s him. I crane my neck up to see him sitting in a chair in the corner of the room.
“He’s been here the whole time, Sorrel,” Mom says.
“Yeah, refused to leave to even take a shower.” Dad rolls his eyes.
