Voice
By Andrea Teagan
I wake up in a hospital.
I can’t remember what happened to me. A tube pushes my tongue against the bottom of my mouth and leads down my throat. A blast of air enters my lungs, it feels cold, unnatural. The tube hangs from my lips like a cigarette.
A nurse comes in and changes my bandages. She does not look at me, even when she adjusts the tape over the tube. I want to ask her what has happened to me but I can’t. I move my head around but she doesn't seem to notice.
The white light sears my eyes. I close them and eventually fall asleep.
“Ms. Powell, my name is Dr. Ruskin.” My eyes flutter open. His black hair is peppered with grey and neatly trimmed. "You were lucky to survive the accident.”
What accident? I shake my head no.
He checks the equipment and looks over some papers. I don’t remember the accident. I don’t remember.
“You are in good hands, just get some rest.”
Like I have a choice?
