Drew

This room is much nicer than the other one. It has drapes across the window. They’re blue with white stripes. The walls are a brighter blue, and there are abstract pictures on the wall opposite the bed… two of them. I’m not sure what they’re supposed to be of, but they’re certainly colorful.

It’s also quieter here. There are no machines beeping, and I can’t hear a single voice. I don’t know where I am exactly, but I’m guessing this isn’t the Emergency Room. I was there last night, and I remember a conversation about being transferred. Most of what happened is a blur of hazy thoughts and fractured conversations. The only thing I can remember with any certainty is the woman in the purple top, who made the blur seem less scary.

She came back to see me, although she didn’t bring the baby with her. She brought a different doctor… an older guy, who stood beside my bed looking down at me and frowning.

“There was a man here… with a woman,” I said, sounding as vague as I felt. “Where are they?”

“Don’t worry about them,” the doctor said.

I remembered someone else telling me not to worry, although I couldn’t remember who, or when… or what it was I wasn’t supposed to worry about.

“What happened to me?”

“You’re in the hospital and we’re going to look after you.”

“That’s not an answer. Why am I in the hospital?”

“You’re having a few problems with your memory.”

“No shit.”

The woman in the purple top was standing at the end of my bed and I noticed her put her hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh.

“Can you tell me why I’m here?” I asked, keeping my eyes fixed on her.

She lowered her hand. “You were in an accident. You hit your head, and you were unconscious for a while.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” The doctor glared at her, but we both ignored him. “There’s nothing to be concerned about.”

“Then why can’t I remember anything? Why don’t I know who I am?”

The doctor held up his hand. Ignoring him didn’t seem to be working. “That’s what I’m here to find out. Now… can you tell me how old you are?”

I shook my head, even though it hurt. “If I don’t know my name, how the hell do you expect me to remember my date of birth?”

“You can’t recall your age?”

“No.”

“Any idea where you live?”

“What city are we in?” I asked, and he shook his head, making it clear he wouldn’t give me any clues. “In that case, I don’t know.”

“Can you tell me who is the current President of the United States?”

“Absolutely no idea.”

“Okay. What about the previous President?”

“What on earth makes you think I’d know that?”

His questions seemed pointless, and I turned to the woman at the end of the bed. “Do you understand the word President?” she said. “Do you know what it means?”

“Someone who runs the country?”

She tilted her head, which was very cute, and made me smile. “Is that a guess? Or do you know that’s what it means?”

“I don’t think it’s a guess. It sounds right, doesn’t it?” I was so unsure about everything, I felt the need to ask.

The doctor stepped back slightly, moving closer to her. “I’m going to have Mr. Bennett transferred to the neurotrauma department as soon as possible. We’ll keep him under observation overnight and you can start working with him tomorrow.”

She was going to be working with me? Even if I couldn’t remember my own name, things were looking up.

Unfortunately, the doctor took her away then, and I haven’t seen her since. I remember being moved here, and given some pain relief not long afterwards, and then I must have fallen asleep. I was woken several times, though, not that I can recall what for, and as I turn over in the bed, I wonder if this is how I’m going to live my life from now on… always in the moment, with no past and not much of a future.

The door opens, startling me, although I have to smile when the woman in the purple top comes walking in. Her hair is tied up behind her head again, and although I can now see she’s wearing purple pants to match her top, I’m more distracted by her curves… by her full breasts and rounded hips, forming a perfect hourglass with her slim waist. She’s carrying a small box, but she looks up and returns my smile.

“Good morning.” Her voice is still soothing, just like it was yesterday, when I first heard it, and I let it wash over me in gentle waves. “How did you sleep?” She comes across to the bed as she’s talking, putting down the box at the end.

“Not bad… considering.”

She frowns slightly. “Considering what?”

“That people kept coming in here and waking me up.”

She giggles and shivers rush down my spine. The sound is no less soothing than her voice, but the effect is different; my skin tingling, my cock twitching. “We always keep up observations on concussion patients for the first twenty-four hours, I’m afraid.”

“So I’ll get a better night’s sleep tonight?”

“Yes, you will.” She steps a little closer… close enough that I can smell her floral scent. “Now, it’s time you stopped lying around in bed. We need to get you moving.”

I’m not sorry about that. I’m fairly sick of lying on my back, and I smile up at her. “Okay. Let’s try it.” I sit up, the room swirling, nausea gripping my stomach, a sharp pain stabbing behind my eyes. I wince against it. “Oh… shit…”

She grabs my arm, steadying me. “Are you okay?”

“No… my head.”

She keeps me sat up for a moment, re-arranging my pillows behind me and then helps me to lean back against them, pulling up the covers and straightening them.

“I’ll get you some more painkillers, and we’ll leave getting you up for a while longer.”

I’m grateful for that, although I feel incredibly weak and pathetic for being unable to even sit up in my own bed.

She leaves the room, returning within moments with some tablets, which I swallow down with the water she offers.

“Am I allowed to know your name?” I ask, resting my head against the pillow.

“Yes. I’m Josie.”

“That’s nice.”

“Thank you. Now… get some rest and I’ll come back in a little while.”

I want to ask her not to go, but I don’t have the strength… and besides, she said she’d be back.

The door closes and I’m surprised how much I miss her already. There’s something about her that makes me feel safe, and I need that at the moment. I close my eyes, which seems to ease the throbbing in my head, and try to remember…

She said there was an accident. She mentioned the word concussion, although that doesn’t mean a thing to me. I know what it means, but it’s like there’s nothing in my head as to how I came to be concussed. It’s just a void, and the harder I try to think, the worse it gets.

What if they can’t help me? What if I can never remember who I am, or where I’m from, or how I came to be here? How will I live the rest of my life in this shadow world of never understanding anything?

I open my eyes again and look around the room. The light seems brighter, my head feels a little better and I realize I’ve been asleep, although I don’t know how long for. Time doesn’t seem to matter, or to mean anything, and I wonder about trying to sit up again. The problem is, I’m scared. What will I do if I feel dizzy and sick again? Will I have to spend the rest of my life lying here in bed?

The door opens and I look up, unable to stop that smile touching my lips as Josie comes back in. I remembered her name and I feel a small sense of triumph over that.

“Feeling better?” she asks.

“My headache’s gone, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“It wasn’t.” She comes over to the bed and looks down at me. “How are you?”

“To be honest, I’m terrified.”

She nods her head. “It’s okay. We don’t think any of this will last.”

“Y—You knew that was what I was frightened of? That I’d be like this forever?”

“Yes. I can’t imagine what it must feel like, but it’s got to be scary, feeling so sick and knowing nothing about yourself.”

“It is. Can you remind me of my name again?”

She shakes her head. “No. I’m sorry, I can’t. I’m not supposed to tell you anything. You have to try to remember for yourself. Your brain will mend itself. You just have to give it time.”

“You’re sure about that?”

“As sure as I can be.” She smiles. “Do you want to try getting up again?”

“After last time, not particularly.”

“I’m right here. I won’t let anything happen.”

Those are the most reassuring words I’ve heard so far, and I throw back the covers, deciding to try properly this time. She takes my arm, holding me while I sit up and swing my legs around until I’m perched on the edge of the bed, my feet on the floor.

“That’s a weird sensation.”

“It will be. But give it a minute. You’ll soon get used to it.”

I take a few deep breaths, and after a short while, I feel a lot better.

“Okay. I think I’m ready to stand.”

“Sure?”

I nod my head, and she steps right in front of me, taking my hands. Then, looking into her eyes, I raise myself up onto my feet. I’m towering over her now, although she’s a lot steadier than I am, like she’s the rock and I’m the tide, swaying back and forth.

“Whoa… this really is weird.”

“It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

I look down into her blue-gray eyes and kind of lose myself for a moment. I think it could become an endless moment, during which she gazes up at me, too… except I suddenly notice a strange sensation behind me. It’s like a draft of cool air and I let go of her hand, reaching around to feel my bare ass.

“Um… why is there no back to this nightshirt thing?”

She purses her lips, trying very hard not to smile. “Because that’s how hospital gowns are designed.”

“By whom? A pervert?”

She giggles, and despite my embarrassment at having my ass exposed, my cock hardens. The sound of her giggle seems to do that to me. Or maybe it’s just her presence.

“Do you wanna try taking a few steps?”

“Are you gonna peek?”

“At what?”

“My ass.”

A smile tugs at her lips, her eyes sparkling. “I might.”

“In that case, let’s try it.” I hear her slight gasp, noticing the blush on her cheeks. “Did I embarrass you?”

“Of course not. I’m a nurse. We’re impossible to embarrass.”

“Then why are you blushing?”

“I’m not. Now come on, right foot forward.”

“Yes, boss.”

She shakes her head and I move my right foot, my head spinning just slightly. I grip her hands a little tighter and take a deep breath, moving my left foot.

“Well done. Keep going.”

Slowly but surely, I make it across the room, reaching the chair by the window in around five minutes… a pitiful length of time.

“You need to sit for a while.”

“Is that because you’re worried you might see my ass?”

She chuckles. “No. It’s because you’ve suffered a serious concussion, and you need to rest.”

I sit, looking up at her. “I hate to admit it, but I feel ludicrously tired.”

“It’ll get better. I promise. But before you get too comfortable, I’m gonna give you some exercises to do.”

“Really? You heard the bit where I just said I’m tired, didn’t you?”

“Yes, but it’s not your body I’m interested in, it’s your brain.”

“In which case, I’m not only very disappointed, but I’m sorry to have to admit, I’m not sure I have one.”

“You do. You even have a memory. We just have to find ways of triggering it.”

“I’ll take your word for that.”

She turns, perching on the edge of the mattress, and reaches over for the box she brought in earlier. I’d forgotten all about that, and I watch as she pulls out a large book, which she holds out in front of her.

“I’m gonna show you some pictures and I want you to tell me what you think they are. If you don’t know, just say so, and we’ll move on.”

“Okay.”

She opens the book, turning it around, and flips the page. I study it for just a second and look up at her. “It’s a cat.”

She smiles. “And the next one.”

She turns the page again. “An elephant.”

“Good…” She moves on… and on, and I identify everything she shows me with no difficulty at all.

As she closes the book, I shake my head. “I don’t understand. Why can I recall what all those things are, but I don’t know who I am?”

“Because the brain works in mysterious ways. Don’t be downhearted. The fact that you recognized everything in the book is a good sign… so cheer up.”

“I’ll cheer up when I can take a shower. I feel awful.”

She tilts her head, which is just as cute as the last time she did it. “Who says you can’t take a shower?”

“Me. I’m so dizzy.”

“I know, but I can help you if you want.”

She’s blushing again, even as she’s speaking. “Is that allowed?”

“Of course it is, if it’s what you need. I’m here to look after you.”

“Well… I guess you’ve seen it all before.”

“You’d be amazed. In this line of work, we see just about everything.”

“I’m not sure whether to feel relieved or scared.”

She shakes her head, smiling. “Just sit there, and I’ll be back in a minute.”

She puts the book away and gets to her feet, going over to the door and letting herself out without another word. Once she’s gone, I glance out the window, staring down at the cars in the parking lot. I wonder for a moment if I can drive, but I can’t remember, and before my mind drifts off into that tortured void, I close my eyes and think of Josie instead. It’s a safer place to be…

“Are you ready?” Josie’s voice startles me and I open my eyes. She’s back in the room and I stare across at her, unable to stop myself from smiling. Is she going to do that to me every time she comes into the room?

I hope so.

“Ready for what?”

“You said you wanted a shower.”

“Did I?”

“Yes.”

I don’t remember that, but I can’t see any reason she’d make it up, and she’s carrying a towel, so I guess it must be true.

I stand, taking a moment to steady myself, and Josie comes over to offer her arm in support.

“Worried I’ll fall over?”

“No. Just here to help.”

I nod my head, although I wish I hadn’t, but rather than making a fuss, I take her arm and let her lead me into the adjoining bathroom.

Josie pulls the light cord, and I look around. There’s no bath in here, or shower cubicle, for that matter. It’s more of a wet room than anything else, but there’s nothing luxurious about it. The room is very functional, with what appear to be hoists hanging from the ceiling and a shower head in the corner, with a seat beneath it, and two bars on the walls, to grab hold of, I guess. They might be useful . There’s no screen… just a big empty room, with a toilet and basin on the far wall.

“Why is the room laid out like this?” I ask as she puts down the towel and moves behind me.

“It’s for people with mobility issues.”

“Like me, you mean?”

I feel her reach up, undoing my gown, then pushing it forward, off of my shoulders. She walks around in front of me again, looking up into my eyes.

“Compared to most, you’re lucky.”

Looking down into her beguiling face, I’m feeling kinda lucky. She pulls the gown from me and I stand before her, completely naked.

My cock is bone hard, and I ought to feel vulnerable, or at the very least embarrassed.

Except I don’t.

I feel alive.

And safe. Very safe.

After a moment, she steps away, moving toward the shower. She can’t be unaware of my arousal, but she doesn’t show any signs of awkwardness, and instead she turns on the water.

“You adjust the heat setting here,” she says, pointing to the controls.

“Okay.”

I go over, testing the heat and turning it down slightly, before I step underneath.

“There’s some body wash on the shelf there,” she says, turning away.

“You’re not leaving, are you?”

“No. But I think you can handle washing yourself, don’t you?”

“I’ll try.”

“If you get tired or dizzy, just sit down.”

“Okay.”

I turn around, holding onto one of the rails, and dip my head beneath the water. It feels good. I don’t remember the last time I had a shower… but that’s not surprising. I don’t remember anything.

I take a moment before I turn back around again to find Josie’s standing on the far side of the room, leaning against the wall. She’s staring at me, her thumbnail in her mouth, her eyes fixed on my chest, although they slowly wander south, widening as they go. I should wash, but I don’t. I stand and watch her reactions… the flare of her nostrils, the heave of her breasts, the slight pinking of her cheeks.

She’s not embarrassed; she’s aroused.

I don’t know how I know that, but I do.

It’s an instinct, and it’s one that makes me smile.