I awoke in the prison of a broken body reeling from the invasive feeling of tubes and needles. They conspired to pull me back from euphoric disembodiment. In a strange way, I can relate to the helplessness of a hooked fish. Despite a valiant fight, it learns it isn't the master of it's own destiny - that it's useless resisting. I came to understand that it wasn't my time. That doesn't mean I didn't fight to find that feeling again. I slipped into obscurity, but the blissful stream was no where to be found, only darkness and the absence of pain greeted me.
When darkness faded and pain returned, I noticed a picture of a serious faced woman taped to a television like box that had green squiggly lines running across its screen. In the picture, the woman sat on the ground with her knees pulled to her chin, sunshine bathed her pale skin and untamed blonde hair. Her back rested against what I would eventually identify as the memorial arch in Valley Forge National Park. Above her etched into the stone was the quote: "We can not admire enough the bravery and fidelity of the American soldiery," George Washington.
Who's George Washington? I thought turning away from the picture. My head flinched against the pillow when I noticed the same serious faced woman sleeping on the chair next to my bed. I watched her chest expand and contract beneath a blanket, its rhythm steady and strong. Her mouth twitched and she mumbled something in her sleep. I don't know how long I watched her, occasionally I turned to study the picture before turning back to her. Who is she? Why is she sleeping in my room?
I studied her face, turning its features over in my mind, prying through its recesses for a slightest hint. Her bright green eyes flew open.
"James," She whispered.
I smiled thinking who is James?
"James," she said louder. "Oh my God," she cried bolting up in her chair. "Just James you're awake?"
I don't know why, but my heart raced as she climbed out of the chair.
"Nurse!" she cried. She stood next to me clicking a button. "Oh my God, Just James, you're awake. Oh my God. Thank God. I can't believe it! Oh my God!"
The door flew open and the room was flooded with light. "He's awake," the blonde cried. "He's out of it! He's awake!"
"Welcome back James," another woman said while gazing at the screen with the green squiggly lines.