AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 8
The throbbing in Ali’s head was like nothing she had ever felt—a cross between a jackhammer and a slow pulsating ache stemming from behind her eyes and radiating down to her neck and shoulders.
Swallowing was like trying to eat sandpaper. She coughed, and a pain stung the entire middle of her body, making her cough again.
What happened?
It was hard to open her eyes—nearly impossible—as if someone was holding her lids down, forcing them shut. It took all the strength she could muster, but Ali managed to pry one open. The lights above the bed forced it shut again, and she groaned, the obnoxious fluorescents penetrating her skin and skull, making her head throb worse.
“Ali?” It was her mother’s voice. “Ali, sweetie, can you hear me?”
Ali turned her head toward Bobbi’s voice. Her mouth stung when she forced her voice out. “Where am I?”
The bed shifted, and Ali’s fingertips grazed her mother’s pant leg as she sat beside her. “You were in a car accident. You’re in the hospital now.”
A car accident? Ali couldn’t remember any accident. She had driven home with Mowgli just earlier, changed and walked him. He was trying to eat the neighbor’s flowers. Wasn’t I on the phone with you? We hung up and then… she gasped. Graham. He came to our house. He was drunk. A panic seized her throat. I drove him home. Is he okay?
Wanting to sit up, Ali’s arms seemed not to work. She lifted. She pulled. Nothing. Pulling again, she noticed that they were held back by something around her wrists.
Handcuffs. Oh my god. I killed Graham. I killed him, and I’m in the hospital until they can take me to jail and—
“Ali, you need to relax. Everything is okay. Can we please take these off her now?” Her mother’s voice was pleading. “She’s confused and doesn’t need to be tied up. It’s making it worse, please!”
Ali began to sob, panicked. My hands, I want my hands.
Bobbi shushed her, rubbing her head gently. “They’re taking them off, don’t worry.”
But why are they on? Ali wanted to ask, but she still couldn’t quite find her voice.
“Alison, my name is Dr. Lowell. Can you hear me?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t want you to panic. You’re in the hospital. You were brought here last night after your car hit a telephone pole. You have a bad head injury and a few fractured ribs, but you’re okay.” Dr. Lowell spoke slowly, and Ali appreciated it. “The nurse is going to remove the soft restraints now, alright?”
Nodding eagerly, Ali forced her voice out. “Please.”
The minute her wrists were free, Ali pulled her arms up as if someone might try to snatch them again.
“How about we sit you up?” Dr. Lowell pressed a button and Ali felt herself slowly lifting forward. “I want to ask you a few questions, okay?”
The doctor asked her for her full name and to identify Bobbi. He asked if she knew what day it was—frowning slightly when Ali told him Monday. He asked about the last thing she remembered.
“I drove Graham Jones home. He lives on Broad Meadow Lane. Is he okay?” Her hand flexed as if it was on the gear shift, just as it had been last night when she went to reverse out of Graham’s driveway.
“Do you remember anything else?”
Her breath hitched. Oh my god Graham must be dead.
“Your accident was down that street. It’s pretty dark. Maybe you swerved to avoid hitting another car? Did you see an animal?”
Struggling to keep her eyes open, Ali’s head throbbed harder the more she tried to remember. “I’m sorry,” she sobbed. “I’m so sorry about Graham.”
“You were the only one in the car when the paramedics arrived on scene,” Dr. Lowell assured her, and the relief that struck Ali was like none other. He pulled a pen from the pocket of his white jacket. “Can you follow this?”
Up. Down. Left. Right. Middle. Down. Left. Up.
“Good. How does your head feel?”
