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Once she had it down, Darlene returned to her interrogation. “Now, how about that name? Can you remember your name?”
“Raina,” Raina croaked, making me sigh in relief. “Raina Bollen.”
“Good. And do you know where you are?”
Raina glanced around at the walls. “At the hospital, but I don’t know why I’m here.”
“You were in a car accident, sweetness. What about this fellow here?” She pointed at me. “Do you know this person?”
Raina focused on me, and I held my breath. Even if we’d never technically met, she should at least know who I was.
But she shook her head, unable to place me, and I swallowed hard, not sure what to think of that.
My hair was still damp from the shower I’d taken at her apartment where she’d gone down on me, and now—barely an hour later—she was looking at me with no recognition at all.
My chest went tight with pain as Darlene told her, “That’s okay, dear. We won’t worry about it too much yet.”
Relief swam in Raina’s eyes, and she nodded her thanks.
“What about your age?” Darlene asked. “Do you know how old you are?”
“Tw-twenty?” she asked with a slight squint to let us know she was unsure.
But Darlene nodded, praising, “Very good. And your birthday?”
“Uh…” Raina looked up at the ceiling as if trying to wrack her brain, but then she slurred, “September. September 17th?”
“Perfect. Do you know what town you’re in?”
Raina started to shake her head before asking, “Westport?”
“Yes,” Darlene congratulated. “That’s right. And were you born in Westport?”
With a wince, Raina shook her head. “No. Just going to college here.”
“Where were you born?”
“Gal…” Raina hissed out an aggravated sigh and jerked her hands as if she was trying to throw them up in frustration. “Galves…” she tried to answer again, only to lob her head back and forth to shake it no. “I don’t wanna do this anymore.”
“Okay, alright,” Darlene said calmly, in a soothing voice. “We’ll stop for now. You deserve a good rest after all that. You just call for me if you need anything. Okay, hon? Do you remember my name?”
Raina jerked her head back and forth, not remembering the nurse’s name.
“I’m Darlene. I’m your nurse at the hospital. You’ve been in a car accident and hurt your head, so everything’s going to feel confusing and muddled for a while, which is totally expected. But we’re gonna get you better, ya hear? We’re going to take the best care of you, and you’ll be out of here in no time.”
That seemed to settle her before she glanced over at me and winced in confusion. “Wh—why is Foster Union in my hospital room, though?” she asked sleepily. “Am I hallucinating?”
I stepped forward eagerly, thrilled that she finally recognized my face. “No, I’m real,” I assured her, taking her hand, only for her to pull it right back out of my grip.
Meanwhile, Darlene chuckled. “Finally remember his name, huh? Good. That’s good. That brain of yours is working hard to put itself back together again.”
But Raina didn’t seem to appreciate the praise. Shaking her head, she moved her arms, but they didn’t seem to do what she wanted this time, and her agitation spiked. “What’s happening? Why can’t I move right? I just want to go home. Whathappened?”
When she tried to roll out of bed to escape, both Darlene and I dove forward to catch her. “Whoa, whoa! What’re you doing there, Raina?” Darlene demanded as I scooped her into my arms and helped her back onto the bed.
“I want to go home,” Raina cried from her hoarse voice. “I don’t like this. Why can’t I move right? What happened to me?” Burying her face into my shoulder, she wept. “I don’t like this.”
“I know, I know,” I soothed, petting her hair and then kissing it. “But it’s going to be okay. You’re going to be just fine. We’re here to help you, and soon your body’s going to work the way you want it to. I just know it will. It just needs some time to heal.”
