Chapter 1: You must remember this...

Two weeks later...

I was sliding through space and darkness all alone, my own screams unable to keep up were growing fainter the farther I plunged. My sight disappeared as if I were being told that that sense was no longer needed. Then in my head I perceived two windows which acted as my eyes, one window steadily growing smaller and finally disappeared into a vast blackness, and the other grew larger and larger and larger-

There is someone/something behind, behind, behind-

This, then, is where my story ends.

The heat radiating off the metal felt hot against my arm, and the stench of burning gasoline filled my nostrils. Smoke filled my lungs, which began to burn. I coughed and let it out. I took a breath. It burned, burned the way two-day moonshine eats at your throat. Darkness-

When I opened my eyes again, my head literally buzzed, and flashing lights appeared.

"Sir!" A man yelled sharply. "Sir!" The man yelled again. "Just hold on sir. Don't try to move sir. The paramedics are on their way."

Loud wailing. Sirens.

"Don't try to move sir." Another voice. A softer, more soothing voice. "Just hang in there. We'll have you out in just a minute."

Fingers on my wrist. Soft delicate fingers, yet, strong fingers.

"Sir. Can you hear me sir?" The soft voice asked.

I tried to speak but my mouth was to dry and words could not escape my throat.

"That's all right sir. Don't try to speak. If you can hear me just blink your eyes."

I blinked.

"This one's ready for the brace." The soft voice said. "Thanks."

Those delicate yet strong fingers gently raised my head and then placed something about my neck which also supported the back of my head.

"All right sir," The soft voice spoke again. "We're going to get you out of there now. Don't try to move yourself. Let us do everything. You just lay still. Okay, let's get him on the gurney! One, two, three, lift."

Hands everywhere. I can feel myself floating and then darkness...

I woke up feeling older. I didn't know how it felt to be younger, or even how it felt to be older for that matter. But I felt older.

My eyes were closed, and when I opened them, looking around to see where I was, I was confused. I couldn't figure out exactly where I was.

A nurse was standing by my bed taking my pulse. She was short and plump, in her late twenties, and even in her nursing uniform she looked prematurely matronly, but she had this natural glow about her that made you instantly like her.

When she noticed that I was awake she smiled down at me and said, "Well, hello there Mr. Eldon, I'm pleased to see you're awake. How do you feel?"

"Where am I?" I croaked.

"You're at the Good Samaritan Hospital. You were involved in an auto accident on the freeway and brought here by the emergency rescue unit."

How long?" I croaked once again.

"Would you like a drink of water Mr. Eldon?" The nurse asked and then without waiting for my answer she reached over and filled a plastic cup from an orange plastic pitcher and then held the cup near my mouth while supporting the back of my head with one of her hands.

I drank.

"Only a few hours," She answered my earlier question. "You haven't been with us very long at all."

"More water." My voice sounded better that time. Yet, somehow it didn't sound like my voice at all.

The nurse filled the cup once again and I drained it.

"Am I hurt?" I asked.

"Now that you're awake I'll ask Dr. Jenkins to come speak with you. Dr. Jenkins was the emergency physician that attended to you when you first arrived. She'll be able to answer all your questions."

With that she scribbled something on a medical chart which was attached to a clipboard and then hung the clipboard at the foot of the bed.

"I'll let Dr. Jenkins know you're awake, Mr. Eldon. If you need anything just press that little red button lying next to your bed there and a nurse will come." Then she turned and walked out.

I tried to think. There was something nagging at the corner of my mind but I couldn't quite bring it to focus. I decided to count appendages. Arms? Two. That was good. Legs? I wiggled my legs under the hospital sheet. Two also. Better yet. Then a dreadful thought occurred to me. I threw back the sheet, then yanking up the hospital gown I looked down. One by itself and two close together. Three total. Okay. Everything seemed to be intact down there. My member appeared a bit puny to me but at least it looked like it was in working order. I pushed down the gown and then covered myself with the sheet once again.

Car accident? Freeway? Why couldn't I remember? The nurse had called me Mr. Eldon. That sounded right to me. What was my first name... ?

But before I could continue with that particular train of thought, a woman whom I assumed to be Dr. Jenkins came in with a smile on her face.

She had high cheekbones, an angular nose, a long chin, and unyielding brown eyes situated behind wide paned glasses. She was tall, appeared to be in her mid 40s. Her shoulders were wide, and her posture was energetic. She walked, I thought, with a John Wayne sort of amble. Her hair was frizzed and wild.

She snatched up the medical chart, briefly scanned it with her eyes, and then replaced it before she said anything. When she spoke her voice sounded strong and reassuring. She said, "You're a very lucky man Mr. Eldon. From what I understand of the severity of the accident you were involved in, you could have very easily been killed. I'm Kristine Jenkins, the doctor that attended to you when you were brought in."