Chapter three - Fragments

Katerina opened her eyes. At first, her vision was blurry. All she could hear were beeping machines. Slowly, her view became clearer. She tried to move, but she felt discomfort, light-headed, like she had hit her head. 

Where was she? she wondered.

The smell of the hospital hit her nostrils. She hated hospitals. Ever since both of her parents died in a fatal plane crash three years ago, when she was sixteen years old. The smell, the sick people, the blood. She hated it all.

Just then, the memories began to return. She remembered she left the house in a hurry. She was driving, and all of a sudden, she saw an animal- like a deer, in the middle of the road. 

She had tried to avoid hitting the animal when she lost control of the steering. She remembered screaming as loud as she could just before her car fell into the old Wickery Bridge.

She could feel her breath slowly leaving her lungs. She struggled to open the door, but the pressure of the water was too much. Water was flooding her car so quickly through the window. The memories were slowly returning.

But there was one question she couldn't answer- how did she get out?

She had no memory of it. She tried forcing herself to remember but began to feel dizzy. She lay there on the hospital bed for a while, trying not to think about it until she fell asleep.

The sound of the nurse walking in woke Katerina from her brief sleep. She felt less light-headed now.

“Miss Katerina Everett,” the nurse said as she stared into her patient file. “How are you feeling?” she asked.

“A little bit light-headed. Can't remember much. The memory of the accident is a little foggy.” 

Katerina paused. “Is that normal?”

“Well, yes. Actually, it is. Your breathing is good, your pulse is steady. You were lucky you got out of the water and were brought into the hospital quickly. We will keep you here for a while just for observations,” the nurse said with a comforting smile on her lips.

“Just ring the nurses if you need anything else.” The nurse added.

“I will. Thank you,” Katerina said, returning the smile.

Just as the nurse walked out, someone else walked in.

“Oh my sweet Kathy!” It was Rebecca. Her childhood friend. Katerina and Rebecca's parents were business partners and extremely close. So they basically grew up together. 

They called each other cousins due to the close relationship they shared. Rebecca was her emergency line, as she was the closest thing Katerina had to a family. 

Katerina's parents were both the only child of their parents and so was Katerina. She didn't grow up with any siblings or uncles or cousins. Only extremely distant relatives, she didn't even know if they were alive or dead. 

When her parents died, Rebecca's parents had taken her in until she was 18 and was able to live on her own.

“Rebecca! Sweet cousin.” Katerina's face brightened the moment she saw Rebecca.

 She tried to sit up with a few pillows behind her for support.

Rebecca rushed to her, dropping her bag on the chair at the corner of the room. She pulled her into a gentle hug.

“I was so worried when I got the call. I got on the first train I saw.” Rebecca looked so worried, she tucked strands of Katerina's hair behind her ears so she could see her face clearly.

“I'm okay. The nurse said I'd be out of here soon,” Katerina said, giving Rebecca a reassuring smile.

Rebecca sat on the bed, moving a bit closer to her.

“What exactly happened? How did you get out of the car? The paramedics told me what happened.” 

“I don't know. The memory is a bit foggy. I have been trying to remember.” Katerina paused. “It's all blurry.”

“It's okay. Take your time, Kathy.” Rebecca loved to call her Kathy while Katerina loved to call her Beks.

“You know what? Maybe it was your prince charming, you know? Like in the movies where the prince rescues the damsel in distress,” Rebecca said, trying to lighten up the mood. 

She always knew how to make the mood lighter.

Katerina smiled softly. But then bits of memory flashed. She looked confused.

“What is it, Kathy? I was only joking. Didn't mean it literally.”

Just then, another piece of memory flashed in Katerina's brain.

“Easy”- she had heard a voice. Calm but with a hint of worry in it. 

The memory wasn't clear, it was more like a dream, but she remembered she could feel the weight of someone holding her, pulling her out of the car.

 The sensation and motion was too fast, it felt unreal. Like it happened in seconds. Was it real? Was it an imagination? Was her mind playing tricks on her? If it wasn't, then how else can she explain how she got out of her car and swam to safety in seconds?

“Someone was there,” Katerina let out.

“What? Who was it? Did you see them?” Rebecca asked.

“Yes… I mean no. Not exactly, but I felt it. Like someone pulled me out. They were strong, fast… I don't know.” Katerina paused.

“How else can I explain how I got out? It has to be someone,” she added.

Rebecca stared at her. She thought about it. Katerina was right. There was no way her friend would've swam out of the water safely.

Katerina felt relieved that she was safe. However she got out, she was grateful. She didn't believe in miracles, but this was one she would refer to as a miracle.

 Just a few months ago, she had graduated from her two-year media school program. She had the dream of becoming a journalist, and here she is lying in a hospital bed after surviving something terrifying, something that could have ended her life.

 And yet the person who saved her… what kind of person moved that fast? Who was it? Curiosity filled her again. The thought made her pulse quicken again.

“When did the nurse say you would be discharged?” Rebecca asked, snapping Katerina out of her thoughts.

“She didn't say when,” Katerina responded.

Rebecca let out a sigh.

“Well, I'm here with you. You could come stay with me for a few days after you're discharged till you feel much better.”

“Yeah, I could,” Katerina said. She felt relieved that her best friend was here and she didn't have to think too much about who her mystery rescue person was.