Chapter Two - Tanya

While Dr. Richmond leaves to call my other doctors, the nurse unplugs me from some of the machines. I am now able to roam the room freely with little help from the nurses. I take a shower while sitting on the shower bench in the doctor’s absence.

Once I showered and dressed, two new doctors came in with Dr. Richmond. I sit up in the bed as they move closer to me. Dr. Richmond stands forward. “This is Dr. Ward.” Dr. Richmond explains as he points to a tall, older, grey-haired man in a lab coat.

I nod my head in acknowledgment.

“Dr. Ward is your neurologist. He brought along a colleague who has studied your case.”

The doctor behind Dr. Ward steps forward and extends his hand to me. I look at it for a second and then take it into mine to shake it. The seconds our fingers touch I feel a spark. I look up at the doctor to see if he feels it too, but I can’t tell whether he does or not. He is looking at me strangely.

“I am Dr. Clark. By any chance does that ring a bell?”

“No, should it?”

“No. I was just wondering. They say coma patients can hear while they’re in a coma, and I have been here helping with your case.”

“Thank you.”

“No thanks necessary.”

For some reason, I feel naked under Dr. Clark’s piercing blue-green eyes. As I look at him, I feel the need to stare at him from head to toe. I’m guessing because he is the only one of my doctors that seems to be young. Maybe he is about my age, whatever that might be.

Dr. Clark does seem appealing to my eyesight. How can he not be? He has beautiful eyes, but on top of that, he looks as if he works out. I shake the thoughts from my mind as Dr. Ward steps forward again.

“Can you please tell us what it is you last remember?”

“That’s the thing. I don’t remember anything.”

“You don’t remember anything that happened to you?” Dr. Ward inquires.

“No, not a thing.”

“Do you remember anything about yourself or your family?” Dr. Richmond asks.

“No. Do I have a family? Have they come to visit me?”

“No, I’m sorry to say.” Dr. Ward answers.

I watch as the doctors all turn to look at him. I wonder why.

“So, I have no family? No one has come to visit or report me missing?”

“As far as we know, no.”

I become sad. That must mean that no one cares for me. How do I live without anyone in my life?

Dr. Ward places his hand on my shoulder. “Don’t get sad. There could be several reasons why no one has come in. Your loved ones may not know that you are missing.”

“I guess. Why is it that I can’t remember anything about myself, but I can remember how to speak?”

“The brain works in crazy ways. There could be several reasons. We have to run tests and find out.”

“Do you think I will remember who I am eventually?”

“Yes.” Dr. Clark answers.

Somehow, that makes me feel better.