Five Years Lost

Beep. Beep. Beep.

That simple noise fills my ears, the same exact noise. Over and over again, its annoying consistent beeping. 

“Five more minutes…” I mumble, trying to turn over, but with a shock I realize I can’t. Pain shoots through my arm as I do so. I open my eyes and look down at my now bleeding hand.

What on earth?

And then I realize this isn’t my room at all. This is a hospital. It’s a white room with an open window. The wind blows the curtains inside, towards me.  I look around at all the machines and begin to panic. I try to rip the cords from my arms and the oxygen mask from my face.

Why am I here! What’s going on!?

While I do this the beeping goes erratic, hysterical. Suddenly nurses burst through the door and they stop and stare at me, and I at them. Their eyes are wide and one puts her hand to her mouth and whispers, “It’s a miracle...”

While the other finally jumps into action and stops my crazed hands.

“Let go of me!” I scream at her, “Why am I here!?”

She pins my hands down and looks sadly into my eyes, “You’ve been in a coma, sweetie. You’ve been in a coma for five years, three months, and nine days to be exact.”