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Gathering Strength
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A Troubled Mind Making Peace
The sun was warm on her face as she sat there on the grass looking out across the pond. There was a small flock of Canadian geese swimming along, honking at each other as they seemed to glide across the mirrored water. Here and there a fish occasionally broke the surface of the water. The reflection of the trees creating the illusion of a twin upside-down forest, their fall colors were amazing. Over on the far bank a few muscovy ducks napped or preened their feathers. Near the ducks was the old dock. Usually there were people fishing or feeding the ducks from there. Today it stood empty. Other than the honks of the geese and occasional quack of the ducks it was completely silent. There was no one else in sight. Cara had always loved to come here. She had been here many times with Mrs. Davies throughout her childhood. They had come to feed the water fowl and to have picnics. As Cara sat there looking around, she wondered if there actually were people here. She wondered if it was like at
A Troubled Mind Awakening
Cara blinked her eyes over and over as they tried to adjust to the brilliant white light all around her. Eventually as she squinted she could make out a white room all around her. Walls, floor, ceiling, it was all blindingly white. It was also deafeningly silent. Cara could hear her heart beating. The sound echoing in her ears. She looked all around but there was nothing but the vast white, silent room. Cara took a few steps and the sounds of her shoes on the floor echoed all around her. She was confused. She had attempted to enter the hospital room the same as she had before. But this place was definitely not her room. Her mother was not here. There was no hospital bed. No beeping monitor. Nothing was here. She didn't have any idea where she was. It struck her as strange that dispite not knowing where she was she wasn't afraid at all. In fact she felt no anxiety over the matter at all. She thought it was a little odd that she found this place to be strangely comforting. She couldn't e
A Troubled Mind The Reunion
"Hello Cara. I'm Dr. Frankston. I'm very glad to see that you are awake." The handsome older man smiled down at her. He looked over at a pretty blonde nurse and nodded his head. She smiled down at Cara before writing something down on the chart she held in her hands. The nurse looked over at the bedside monitor before turning and whispering something to a male nurse beside her. They both shared a knowing look before turning back to the doctor. They obviously were waiting for further instruction. The doctor smiled down at Cara and then turned to the male nurse, "Mike, if you would please, go let them know. And bring them back down here please." Mike nodded and then smiled down at Cara one last time before leaving the room. "Cara, you've been through quite an ordeal young lady. We are all very happy to have you back with us. Do you know where you are?" The doctor looked expectantly down at her as he awaited her answer. Cara furrowed her brow as she looked first at the doctor
A Troubled Mind Reflection and Disappointment
Cara laid there in the dark, listening to the sound of her mother's rhythmic breathing from across the room as she slept on the cot that the hospital staff had brought in for her. The only light in the room was the soft illumination provided by the monitor by her bed. It was silent now. Finally. The nurse was considerate and had muted it when she had made her last rounds so that the two of them could rest. Cara was grateful for this. She had come to find the the incessant beeping more than a little maddening. The sound had haunted her for however long she had been in her coma. She wondered how long she had been asleep. She figured that it must have been at least a week, maybe even two. She would have to ask her mother in the morning. For now she wanted let her mother rest. She watched her mom sleeping peacefully in the soft glow cast by the monitor. Her mother had fallen asleep very quickly. She was out almost before her head hit the pillow. Cara guessed that her mom had spent severa
A Troubled Mind A Father's Pain
(Mike) Dad's POV His sleep had been horrible all night long. Mike tossed and turned. When he managed to sleep it wasn't restful at all. He had been plagued by a terrible nightmare. All night when he slept he was transported back to Kaylee's viewing and funeral. Each time it was the same. He would peer into the coffin but instead of seeing his daughter's best friend laying there it was always Cara. Each time he would wake up, heart racing, barely able to breathe. Then he would toss and turn over and over again until sleep took him again and it would repeat. He was certain that it would drive him mad if he continued to lay there. Looking at his bedside clock he saw that it was almost a quarter to four. Sighing loudly he rubbed his hand over his face in exasperation and made the decision to get up and go make coffee. Then he slung the blanket off of himself and sat up on the side of the bed. He slid his feet into his slippers and sat for a moment rubbing his face. He sighed again as he
A Troubled Mind Is It Real?
Cara found herself walking along a side walk through what looked like a park. It was a warm sunny day. The sun was high in the sky. Fluffy white clouds floated gently over head in a beautiful blue sky. She could hear children laughing and playing somewhere off in the distance. There were pretty flower beds and well manicured grass covering rolling hills as far as she could see. Scattered here and there were large oaks and magnolia trees providing shade for people to escape the sun if they pleased. Cara saw people playing, exercising, and picnicking with their loved ones. There was exercise for equipment over near a Pavillion and a playground near a builing that had the word restrooms painted on it. Up ahead alongside the sidewalk she could see that there was a large message board. Curious, Cara decided to go take a look at it. As she approached it she could see maps and flyers with information about the park, activities, and local wildlife. She stopped in front of it and looked ove
A Troubled Mind Not Sorry
Angela sat there watching her daughter sleep and drew a deep, ragged breath. She felt numb. From head to toe and inside-out, she felt completely numb. This was something new and foreign to her. She had become accustomed to feeling fear, terror, anxiousness, and even heartache. On rare occasion she had even experienced hope. That and those other emotions were normal to her now, her constant states of mind over the last 7 months... There had been so much pain and loss. As she pondered her new lack of emotions she looked from her sleeping youngest child to the outside world that was visible through the hospital room's window. She watched as the world went by. Cars driving into and out of the parking lot. People coming and going. She wondered how many of them were happily living their lives unconcerned about their loved ones lives. Angela wondered just how many of them had the misfortune of having a teenage daughter that had been fighting for her life? How many more were simply fortunate
A Troubled Mind Standing Together
There was a soft knock on the hospital room door before Angela heard the door knob turn. Looking up and over to the door expectantly, she smiled as she saw first husband walk into the room and then her two grown sons followed. She felt a waive of relief wash over her. Immediately, in their presence, she felt a hundred times stronger than before. They smiled back at her before glancing in unison over at their sleeping sister. Angela stood and hugged them each individually before sighing aloud. "I'm so glad you guys came. I'm sorry to start your morning off with worry and stress. Cara, had a rough time this morning. They gave her something to help her rest. Just a mild sedative. The doctor said she would most likely wake up soon. I'm really worried about her. She didn't take it very well earlier. I don't know how she will react when she wakes up again. " Micheal tightened his jaw and his eyes watered over. "I knew we should have told her when she woke up yesterday. I was just so hap
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