I smiled and looked back at the blonde woman. "Damn it Just James, you scared us shitless." She brushed my hair from my forehead.
"I did?" I whispered. Why would this stranger care?. Whatever the reason, I delighted how my forehead came to life with her touch. Something about it was familiar, but I couldn't place it; something about her was familiar, but I didn't understand how.
"Yeah you did," the familiar stranger answered. She bent over and kissed my lips. "God, I love you Just James," the stranger said.
A starburst of warmth exploded throughout my body. I smiled. Exhausted, I closed my eyes.
"James?" the blonde's voice pleaded, it had an edge of panic.
"Yeah?" I struggled to open my eyes.
"He's okay," The nurse said. "James, are you tired?"
"Yeah," I whispered.
"Shannie, why don't you call James' father," the nurse said as I drifted off to sleep.
***
I awoke to doctors and nurses prodding my body. "Hello," a young faced doctor said as I opened my eyes. He said his name was something or another and that he was a neuro-something. Even now, I can't remember his name. My father reminds me his name is Dr. LaPish. "What's your name?" the doctor asked.
"Ah…" I stuttered. "James," I guessed.
"James what?" the doctor grilled.
"Uh, um," I stalled. I couldn't remember my name. "It's James. Just James," I said.
"Do you remember what happened, why you're here?"
"Swimming, I was swimming, put I was pulled out."
The doctor frowned. I sunk into my pillow. "I wasn't swimming, but it was wet," I continued.
"Do you know where you are?" The doctor asked.
"In a hospital," I thought very hard for an answer.
"Do you know what hospital you're in?" I shook my head no. The doctor told me my last name was Morrison and that I was in a serious car accident. He told me the name of the hospital."
If you say so, I thought. Grimacing, I tried to memorize what he said.
"Rest up bud." He patted my arm and escaped the room.
James Monroe? I mouthed, trying to remember my last name. Frustration consumed me, I knew my last name wasn't Monroe, but I couldn't remember what the doctor said. I remembered him saying I was in an accident and that I was in Pot town Hospital. Not thinking to read the name on my wristband I slammed my head against the pillow. Pondering my name I fell asleep.