Part 18 (1/2)

He leaned in close. His friendly face came into focus. It was not a handsome face, but it was kind. And seeing it helped ease my panic. The wrinkles around his eyes were deep from many smiles, but the bags underneath showed that he hadn't slept well for many days.

”It's a hospital of sorts,” he said. ”Hold still.” He s.h.i.+ned a light into my eyes. ”How is your vision? Are you able to focus?”

”It's-- coming back slowly.”

”Good, very good. I'm going to take your blood pressure now.”

I attempted to lift my arm, but it wouldn't move. I tried again. ”Why can't I move my arm?” ”Why can't I move my arm?” Panic gripped me. ”Doctor?” I tried to control my voice, and frantically searched his face. ”Am I Panic gripped me. ”Doctor?” I tried to control my voice, and frantically searched his face. ”Am I paralyzed?” paralyzed?”

He smiled kindly. ”No, Thomas. You're not paralyzed.”

”Then why can't I move!” Again I tried, and my fingers moved a little.

”I'm sorry, Thomas. It will take some time before you are back to normal, but please try to be patient. You've, ah... You've been...” He furrowed his brow and a look of compa.s.sion crossed his features. ”You've been sleeping sleeping, for a long time.”

I stared at him. ”--How long?”

There was a notable silence.

”Doctor-?”

He gave a weak smile, and a look of sympathy. ”You're not going to like this. That is, if you even believe me.”

”What? A week? A month? month? How How long long have I been sleeping? have I been sleeping?”

He sighed, and his eyes took on a look of clinical detachment. ”Twenty-one years, Thomas, twenty-one years.”

I searched his face. ”You're joking. Right? Right? Please tell me you're joking.” Please tell me you're joking.”

”I wish I were.” He looked me in the eye. ”You were in a bad accident, Thomas. And you've been in a coma, for twenty-one years.” There was no sign of humor in the creases of his old face. Only deep concern.

”That-- that's not possible!” possible!” I stammered. ”I- I can't...” My voice broke off. I stammered. ”I- I can't...” My voice broke off.

”Under normal circ.u.mstances, you would be correct, but these are far from normal circ.u.mstances.”

I felt his warm hand grip my wrist. He brought my arm up slowly. My hand came into view. The sight of it made my blood run cold. It was the hand of a stranger-- too thick and worn out to be my own. But it had my wedding ring on it. The skin looked rough and aged, the veins disturbingly p.r.o.nounced. I moved my fingers.

It was mine.

Twenty-one YEARS! TWENTY-ONE-YEARS! I couldn't even TWENTY-ONE-YEARS! I couldn't even begin begin to process... Just to process... Just yesterday yesterday I was in the city with Annie. On vacation. My business was booming. Annie had another baby on the way... Twenty-one... Rebecca would be twenty I was in the city with Annie. On vacation. My business was booming. Annie had another baby on the way... Twenty-one... Rebecca would be twenty-six, and my unborn son? and my unborn son?

It couldn't be true. Someone was playing some kind of sick sick joke on me! Emotion welled up, and tears threatened to overtake me. But I bit my lip hard. I would joke on me! Emotion welled up, and tears threatened to overtake me. But I bit my lip hard. I would NOT NOT believe it. I pushed the thoughts away, and let my brain shut off. believe it. I pushed the thoughts away, and let my brain shut off.

”Thomas, what you're going through is perfectly normal, but it will pa.s.s and you will once again connect with the things you feel you've lost.”

I turned my head away.

”Time has a way of catching up with you. And there will be many people to help you get back on track. It's not so bad living in 2032.”

My throat tightened.

”Many things have changed, but if you take it slow, you'll be okay.”

”Though your words are appreciated,” I choked, ”I don't think you can appreciate- the magnitude of my situation.”

”I'm sorry, Thomas. You're right. I can't. But I do know the human spirit is strong, and yours is incredibly incredibly strong. To have come back from where you've been is a strong. To have come back from where you've been is a miracle! miracle! The fact we're even having this conversation at The fact we're even having this conversation at all all is unimaginable! By all rights you should be brain dead. That's something at least, don't you think?” is unimaginable! By all rights you should be brain dead. That's something at least, don't you think?”

I remained silent.

He was quiet for a time. Then spoke. ”Well, I know this is going to be difficult. But how about getting you up to get your blood pumping. Maybe it will get your mind off things, for now anyway.”

Get up? I didn't like the sound of that that one bit one bit, and my face must have shown it. and my face must have shown it.

”It'll be okay if we take it easy.” He went over to the wall and grabbed a wheelchair. ”Here, I'll help you.”

It was a long process, but he was patient with me. My limbs were like sandbags, and my head was groggy, but otherwise, I felt completely healthy, much healthier than I should have.

Slowly he helped me to a sitting position. My head pounded, but then things started to level out. I looked down and saw the two wrinkled strangers protruding from the sleeves of my medical gown. They were definitely not the hands I remembered. They were old and ugly. I hated them. Bitterness surged in my gut, but I forced it back. I had faced worse than this! Hadn't I? This was only a temporary setback. Yes. A setback. I pushed away the introspection and focused on the doctor.

”Careful now. Take it slow.” The floor was cold and painful to my unused feet. He held me firmly as I put weight on my weakened legs. With a slight twist, I fell back into the chair, breathing heavily from the activity.

”Very good, Thomas. Very good.” He gave me an encouraging smile and patted my back. ”We'll have you climbing ladders again in no time.”

What was that supposed to mean? I opened my mouth to ask, but he had moved behind me and was pus.h.i.+ng my wheelchair up a ramp to an elevated catwalk, which encircled the room. My vision had almost completely returned, and I realized now, that I was not in a hospital at all, but in a lab filled with computers and sophisticated equipment. It was dark in this upper area, except for the light that came from a myriad of tiny screens lining the walls. They flickered softly, filling the room with an ambiance, which spoke to my soul. Something about the crisp, vibrant glow of the computer screens put me at ease. I opened my mouth to ask, but he had moved behind me and was pus.h.i.+ng my wheelchair up a ramp to an elevated catwalk, which encircled the room. My vision had almost completely returned, and I realized now, that I was not in a hospital at all, but in a lab filled with computers and sophisticated equipment. It was dark in this upper area, except for the light that came from a myriad of tiny screens lining the walls. They flickered softly, filling the room with an ambiance, which spoke to my soul. Something about the crisp, vibrant glow of the computer screens put me at ease.

I reached out to touch the wall. Each screen displayed a different image and had its own set of glowing b.u.t.tons. I was careful not to push anything. I only wanted to feel the monitors on the tips of my fingers.

From here I had a nice view of the entire lab. In the center of the room, workstations were positioned strategically around an enormous device, a giant cylinder reaching from floor to ceiling. A number of beds surrounded it, like petals on a giant flower. Patients of various shapes and sizes occupied the beds. As I studied them, I couldn't help but notice, that one of them stood out from the rest. He was the only child, a young boy of perhaps nine or ten. I could see his nameplate from where I sat. It read, ”Fredrick Armadon.”

My mind whispered, Vrin Vrin.

”Who are they?” I inquired in a low voice.

”They are other coma patients, like you. Don't worry, we will come back here soon. I promise I'll explain everything.”

I nodded silent confirmation.

We approached the exit, and the doors glided open. The long gray corridor was filled with people in lab coats on various errands. The sounds of movement and conversation invaded the peaceful quiet. As we moved through the doors, everyone stopped and stared. Instantly I felt exposed in front of the sea of smiling faces.

”Where are we going?” I asked nervously.

The doctor increased his pace, and spoke with more optimism than I cared to hear. ”Rehabilitation!”

CHAPTER 17.

MEETING WITH DARKNESS.