Page 4 of Insidious

Beep.

I try to open my eyes, but they feel so heavy, as though someone has placed warm stones over them. My mouth tastes like a hangover. I need water.

Something presses against the back of my hand. Then, there is a sharp pain, and someone saying, “That’s it, love. It’s over now. You did well.”

It feels like I am back at the hospital. But … why?

The thought floats up slowly and then slips away into the darkness.

Voices begin to filter through the cracks in the darkness.

“… pulse regular …”

A man’s voice. A really nice, manly-man voice.

“…possible contusion …”

A different voice breaks in. Another manly-man voice, but I should know this one.

“Why isn’t she waking up? What is wrong…”

I hear a sob … Men don’t cry…

“Luna. Luna, can you hear me?”

I know that voice.

But my thoughts scatter like birds. The words float around me like bubbles.

Wake up.

I try. I really do, but this cloud is so soft… I don’t wanna get up. Let me sleep for a bit.

The darkness is like an inky whirlpool, sucking in all my thoughts.

A baby cries somewhere, her mewls thin and desperate. I don’t know how, but I know it’s a girl. There is a burning pain in my chest. I don’t understand.

A name floats by. Amelie. But that is also sucked into the darkness before it reforms slowly.

My baby.

I try to move, but my body doesn’t want to. My hands feel miles away from me. I can’t feel my legs.

“Shh … It’s okay, baby.”

Another voice I know, warm and wobbling a little.

“She just wants her mum.” Someone sobs.

Footsteps move away. The crying fades, and blessed silence returns.

Hands move around me, and cold air brushes my face.

“GCS eight … Pupils sluggish.”

“Let’s logroll her onto the stretcher.”

The words float past me without meaning.