Chapter 1
My eyes flew open, my heart pounding in my chest. The last thing I remembered was the deafening sound of a gunshot and a searing pain through my head.
But… I’m not dead?
I carefully pushed myself up and swung my legs to the side of the bed, trying to ignore the throbbing pain in my head.. As I looked around I couldn’t help but notice, piles of letters stacked on my nightstand.. and how the room looked really neat and lovely, something about this room really made me happy. Glancing at the pile of letters, I thought “who would put such time to write these many letters?” Oddly strange… As I shifted between the letters, they all seem to date back months, yet appear to be untouched? Just as I picked up one of the letters, a knock at the door caught my attention. A nurse came by with.. more letters? Or actually… one letter.
“Evelyn? You’re… You’re awake!” The nurse rushed towards me and handed me the letter.. “This just came in for you,” the nurse said with a kind smile
“I’m glad you’re awake to see it,” the nurse looked at me.. quite concerned “You’ve been out cold for some time.. and your healing hasn’t gotten any better,” My hands wouldn’t stop shaking making the letter’s surface crinkle all over..
“How uh.. How long have I been out?” My voice barely above a whisper The nurse’s expression turned somber as she softly replied, “I’m afraid it’s been over four years since you were brought in, dear” My breath caught in my throat at her words
“Sorry… what? — I didn’t catch that!” I let off with a nervous chuckle
The nurse’s expression remained somber as she repeated, “It’s been over four years since you were brought in...”
My heart nearly stopped. Four years? How was that possible? I had no recollection of anything beyond the gunshot.
“That can’t be right,” I stammered, my voice trembling. “What happened to me? Where am I?”
The nurse placed a gentle hand on my arm. “You’re safe now, Evelyn. We found you, and you’re recovering in a medical facility. We’ve been caring for you all this time.”
I stared at her, my mind reeling. Four years of my life, gone. What had become of everything and everyone I knew? And who had sent me these letters, waiting for me to wake up? Soon, the nurse left the room and I was left with me, myself and I
With a deep breath, I broke the seal and unfolded the letter, my eyes scanning the words that would hopefully shed some light on the mystery of my past.
What’s this? A poem?
In twilight’s hush, shadows await,A secret rests at journey’s end.Down by a woodland,Eight roses bloom, a hidden clue,For those who find this avenue,In twenty-eight heartbeats, a rose so rare.
This makes no sense to me whatsoever. Nonetheless, I shook my head and closed the letter as I left it on my nightstand and called it a day.. Looking beyond the window, I wonder.. It’s funny how the world works; the unexpected twists and turns often lead us to the places we were always meant to be. And somehow I was meant to be here.. to this very place often known as the psychiatric ward. Another knock at the door snapped me out of my thoughts. A woman with a warm smile entered the room and took a seat right next to the window, “It’s wonderful to see you awake, Evelyn” she took a brief look around, “How are you feeling?” I took a long pause, I’m feeling uneasy all of a sudden, she hasn’t even introduced herself.. weird “Good?”
She nodded, smiling. “I’m glad to hear that. I know you must have a lot of questions, but I want you to know that you’re safe here. We’ve been caring for you and monitoring your recovery.”
I shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to respond. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”
The woman folded her hands in her lap. “Ah, my apologies, I’m Dr. Marie Ross. I’m the lead psychiatrist overseeing your case. As for where you are, this is a secure medical facility operated by a private organization. We specialize in the care and rehabilitation of individuals who have experienced... unusual circumstances.”
I furrowed my brow, trying to make sense of her words. “Unusual circumstances? What do you mean by that? There’s nothing wrong with me..”
Dr. Ross leaned forward, her expression turning more serious. “Evelyn, you’ve been through a very traumatic experience. You were found severely injured, with no memory of how you got that way. We’ve been working tirelessly to help you recover, both physically and mentally.”
“Really? That’s a shocker.. I wonder how’d that happen, hm?”
“So you’re telling me I’ve been here for four years? What about my life before? My family, my friends. What happened to them?”
The doctor’s expression softened. ” I don’t have all the answers, Evelyn. Your past is still very much a mystery to us. But I can assure you that we are doing everything in our power to help you piece together what happened and to support you in your recovery.”
I felt a surge of frustration. “But how can I recover if I don’t even know who I am or what led me here? This is all so… overwhelming.”
Dr. Marie reached out and gently placed her hand on mine. “I know it is, Evelyn. But you’re not alone in this. I’m here to help you, every step of the way. And those letters you found? They may hold the key to unlocking your past. Why don’t you tell me more about them?” “Well I mean I could show you, but I dont trust you so why should I in the first place?”
I laughed it off, trying to downplay my unease at the situation. “Those letters? I don’t think they’ll be that helpful. They seem to be just some random poems and notes. I appreciate your concern, Doctor, but I’m feeling really tired now.” I glanced at the clock on the wall, exaggerating a yawn. “Oh, would you look at that! It’s midnight already. I should probably get some rest.”
I didn’t want to reveal too much about the letters or my growing suspicions. After all, I had just woken up from a four-year coma in a hospital, with no memory of how I got here. The last thing I wanted to do was trust this doctor, no matter how kind and concerned she seemed.
The doctor’s seemed confused, but she nodded understandingly. “Of course, Evelyn. You’ve been through a lot. Get some rest, and we can talk more in the morning. I’ll be here if you need anything.” She gave my hand a gentle squeeze before standing up and exiting the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the letters.
I called it a night, as I rested my head against the pillow, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this story than the doctor was letting on.
As the night drew to a close, I found myself unable to sleep, my mind racing with questions and uncertainties. The letters on the nightstand seemed to beckon me, their contents a tantalizing mystery that I was desperate to unravel. But for now, I knew I needed to rest, to gather my strength and prepare for whatever the next day might bring.
When I finally awoke, the morning light shining through the window, I felt a renewed sense of determination. Sitting up in bed, I reached for the letters once more, as I carefully read through each one..
Suddenly, a knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. A nurse came by with some documents in her hand
“Oh, good morning, Evelyn!” She laughed. “Looks like you’re awake and ready to start the day. How’s your head feeling?”
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to explain. “I’m feeling uh… great? thanks.”
The nurse smiled and continued, “Well, we’ve got to get you checked out and make sure everything’s looking good.” As she guided me through the hallways, we took multiple check-ups like the MRI scan and various other medical tests. The nurse explained that these were standard procedures to monitor my recovery and ensure there were no issues from the Incident.
The MRI scan was particularly thorough, as the medical staff carefully examined my brain for any signs of damage or abnormalities. They wanted to make sure there were no underlying neurological problems that could be impacting my memory or cognitive functions. The process took a long time, with the nurse reassuring me that it was important to gather as much information as possible about my condition.
After the scans and tests were complete, the nurse escorted me to a small examination room where the doctor, Dr. Ross, was waiting to discuss the results. She greeted me warmly and reviewed the findings, explaining that while there was some scarring from the original injury, my brain appeared to be healing well and there were no major concerns. However, she noted that the memory loss and gaps in my recollection were still a mystery that they were working to unravel.
The doctor emphasized the importance of taking things slowly and not pushing myself too hard, as the recovery process could be unpredictable. She encouraged me to rest, focus on my physical healing, and continue engaging with the various therapies and treatments they had developed to support my rehabilitation. With a reassuring smile, she promised that they would do everything in their power to help me regain my memories and get back on my feet.
As I left the examination room, my feet ached from how much testing we did today, and all I wanted was to put my feet up and rest. The thought of a hot shower sounded really good, especially because of how cold it gets in this room.
Slowly, I made my way back to my room, each step making me want to collapse from how exhausted I am. As I finally reached the door to my room, I opened it with a sense of relief. With a deep breath, I walked towards my bed and plopped myself onto it. My eyes drifted shut, I couldn’t help but wonder what the future held, but that is an entirely different story, for an entirely different day.
