Phoenix

Drip…

Drip…

One rotation.

Drip…

Blink…

Drip…

Two rotations.

The aquamarine orbs absentmindedly tracked the lazy spinning of the fan blades, their irises remaining as still as their owner. The figure remained lying down, her body covered by the downy sheets encasing her. Her left arm, encased in plaster and wrap sat across her stomach, a dull tempest of pain buzzing through her mind like a swarm of chattering insects.

A shrill breeze carried through the thin gap of the window’s defenses, pleasantly embracing the girl before dissipating with a silent murmur. Her eyes, the glassy orbs refusing to move from their vigil of the ceiling fan, blinked once more, allowing the girl to momentarily relieve herself of the endless duty of guarding that fan. When her eyes opened next, they were peering to the side, her bandaged ear catching the sound of something sliding smoothly, as silent as a snake through the grass.

Tip.

Tap.

Tip.

Tap.

Precise, careful, and delicately measured steps echoed in the vast silence of the room, the pall of tranquility before dispersed by the waves of announcement. The noise slowly grew closer, but remained hidden around the corner of the wall, her eyes doing their best to find out if it was friend or foe about to confront her.

“Ah, you’re awake!”

Friend, it appeared, judging by the warm smile and dulcet tones playing across her half muffled ears.

“I was begin to worry that you wouldn’t wake up until after I left for the day.” the woman said, smiling down at the bedridden figure.

“I do hope that I didn’t wake you, dear. I am just here to check your vitals, but seeing as you are awake, maybe we could have a quick talk?” the greenish-blue tint of the woman’s clothing contrasted with the cream machinery she stood before, her lithe back turned towards the girl as she moved her arms around in front of her, a scratching sound filling the air.

“All things considered…” the woman started, turning around to once again loom over the girl laying in the bed, studying her intently. “You seem to be doing well. How do you feel?”

The girl's shoulders rose up ever so slightly, quivered for a moment, then returned to their previous position.

“I expected as much.” the woman said with a knowing smile, grabbing a chair that rested beside the bed and bringing it to rest right in front of the bed. “Now an easier question to answer. When you were brought in you were lacking any sort of ID, so I guess the first thing I have to ask is your name, sweetie.”

Silence. A look, a stare boring through the woman ahead of her. The moment passed.

Then another.

And finally a third.

Before the fourth could join it’s comrades in death, the girl cracked open her worn lips, a small, minute hole leading it’s way to her mouth, growing ever wider.

“I don’t know.”

***

“So she doesn’t remember anything, huh?”

“I can’t say I’m too shocked in all honesty, given that bump on her head“

“Bump on her head? What about the rest of her?”

“I wouldn't be surprised if the trauma of whatever happened to her is also at play here.”

“Did she show any signs of it being anterograde?”

“Not that I could tell, but I didn’t spend much time with her, so I had no real way to confirm.”

“We can at least all but confirm retrograde, what about dissociative?”

“At this point? Really?”

“What’s wrong with me checking?”

“It’s like putting a kettle on to boil and instantly asking if it is hot enough yet! We won’t know until tomorrow at the earliest.”

“Her MRI was booked, right?”

“Yes. And I made sure to get you the “good” one.”

“Heh. You never cease to amaze with how well you know me.”

“Someone has to, since you seem to be useless by yourself.”

“You wound me! Was it not I who performed the surgery on our dear Jane Doe? I put well over a hundred stitches into her myself, as well as setting that ghastly break in her arm.”

“And you set her fractured kneecap, blah blah blah. Are you done tooting your own horn yet?”

“Fine. Just make sure to be here early with me so we can…”

***

“Well, I think it is safe to say that we shouldn’t try feeding you anything with meat again any time soon.” the nurse said as she finished bundling up the bile soaked sheets.

“Sorry about that…” the girl groaned from the nearby washroom, the door open to allow her delicate voice to carry itself towards the nurse.

“Don’t you apologize dear! We didn’t know that you’d react like that.”

“Exactly…” came the muttered response before the girl once again took a mouthful of water from the bottle beside her, swishing it around her mouth in a vain attempt to rid her taste buds of both the taste of meat, as well as her bodies response to said taste.

“Well, I think for now we should assume that you are vegetarian, given your reaction to meat.” the nurse called out as she walked towards the doorway to the girls hospital room, depositing the soiled sheets in the wheeled laundry hamper just outside the room.

“Works for me…” the girl spat out the last bit of water, awkwardly disengaging herself from the toilet but remained lamely leaning on her right side.

“Here, let’s get you up.” the girl looked up as she felt the nurse gently pat the girl on the back, nodding as she felt the nurse move to wrap in her arms.

It was an extremely awkward endeavor, the ordeal of getting the patient to her feet allowing the hands of the clock meet, the bell from the hospital announcing yet another hour starting.

“Thank you.” the girl said, sighing as she sat down on the edge of her sheet less bed.

“Don’t worry, this sort-” the nurse was cut off by a set of knocks ringing from the door, cutting through the still air of the room.

“Excuse me, but there is a guest here to visit.” a third voice called into the room, the sound of the door sliding open.

“Are you fine having a guest?” inquired the nurse, turning to look at the girl, who shrugged before giving a short nod, earning a smile from the nurse as she rose to her feet and headed towards the room’s entrance.

“Oh, so good to see you again dear!” the girl eavesdropped as best she could with bandaging covering one ear. “I do apologize for the smell, we just found out that our girl here is a vegetarian.”

The sound of the door closing, combined with the footsteps of the guest and her nurse, muffled into one another as they reached the girl’s ears.

“Alright dear, this nice woman here was one of the people who found you the other night.” the nurse said, introducing the newcomer. She was taller than the nurse, her cerise skin framed by a cavalcade of vibrant colours. Her light purple eyes conveyed both joy to see the girl up and sadness at the state she was in.

“This is Mi Amor-”

“Cadence is fine.” the woman said with a knowing titter, smiling at the nurse.

“Thank you…” she said, the edges of her mouth turning up as she tried to smile as best she could.

“I’m just glad to see you awake, dear.” Cadence said as she moved and sat on the bed’s edge to the side of the girl. “You weren’t in the best state that night.”

The girl gave a self conscious chuckle as her fingers played with the strands of her fire and gold hair.

“I think we are all glad to see you awake and more or less lively.” the nurse said, grabbing a chair and sitting in front of the pair.

“I just wish my memory would be coming back as fast…” the girl said, sighing as she rested her arms on her lap. Cadence spared a questioning look at the nurse as she patted the girl’s back softly.

“She’s suffering from amnesia.” the nurse explained gently. “We can cross off anterograde PTA, but we are unsure if it is retrograde or dissociative.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Cadence consoled, gently embracing the sombre girl. “Has her family stopped by yet?” The girl sank down at that comment.

“Not yet…” the nurse said quietly, reaching out and patting the girl’s good leg softly. Cadence’s face fell, grabbing the girl tighter.

“I’m sure they are just out of town or something…” she said, trying to convince herself as much as the poor girl she held onto.

“We have contacted the police, and let them know about her, in case a missing person report comes in matching her appearance.” the nurse added. “Regardless we will be here for her for as long as she needs.”