Tony’s voice continued, gentle and comforting. “Can you remember what happened? You had an accident.” Claire tried to say, “No, you did this,” but she couldn’t. It may have been the dryness of her tongue or the horror of the images, but she just stared at him as he continued. “You had an accident in the woods. When we found you, your jeans and boots were all muddy, and you had multiple injuries. Did you fall? Did you slip? Did someone or something hurt you out there? We have had the woods searched. Nothing was found. Claire, we have been so worried about you.”
The stiffness in her neck made turning it painful, and the dizziness made focusing difficult. She could hear Catherine. Someone was with her. Was it the doctor? Whoever he was, he was right in front of her; an older man with a very pleasant encouraging deep voice.
“Ms. Nichols, I am Dr. Leonard. I’ve been taking care of you since Mr. Rawlings found you in the woods. Can you talk to me?”
Claire lifted her right hand to her throat. It tired her to make the slightest movement.
“Catherine, could you please get Ms. Nichols some water?” Catherine hurried for the liquid. Claire watched as Catherine came back with a glass and a straw. She handed it to the doctor, who put the straw to Claire’s lips. “Drink slowly, your stomach has been empty for a while.” Claire began to sip. The water felt cool and refreshing. She kept drinking. The doctor talked to Tony. Claire continued to drink. She could feel the invigorating liquid lubricate her throat. As she sipped she could only hear a buzz inside her head. The doctor’s lips moved as did Tony’s, but the only sound was the buzz. He removed the straw from her lips. The buzzing ceased.
“Please, that was so good,” Claire spoke. The room went silent. Everyone turned to her.
“Claire, thank god. How do you feel?” Tony leaned over her. She realized she wasn’t in her bed, it was a hospital bed. That made sense. She wondered how she’d sat up. But she wasn’t in a hospital room, it was her suite.
“I feel . . . I feel . . . tired . . . and kind of dizzy” Her voice quivered weakly with uncertainty and pain.
Dr. Leonard asked Tony and Catherine to allow him to examine Claire alone. Catherine agreed and began to leave but Tony stayed, saying that Claire wouldn’t mind him being there. Claire started to say it was all right, Tony could stay. Dr. Leonard continued, “Mr. Rawlings, I realize you hired me. However, as a medical doctor, I need to see and talk to Ms. Nichols alone. You will be welcomed back as soon as we are done.” Tony just stared at Dr. Leonard. The doctor continued, “Mr. Rawlings, she is not related to you. We should allow her some privacy.”
Claire watched and thought Tony can handle this. It’s his battle. But he didn’t battle. “I am sorry. You are right. It is just that it has been so long since she has been awake. I don’t want to leave her.” Standing, he continued, “But I will. I will be right outside the door. Please call me when you are finished.” Then he leaned over, kissed Claire on her forehead, and left the room.
The doctor spoke soothingly as he helped Claire remove her nightgown and removed tubes. Claire mindlessly thought that the doctor’s breath smelled like coffee, she liked coffee. He pushed on her side and asked if it hurt. He touched her face, her cheek, her temple, did any of it hurt? He examined her head, touching her skull, front and back, and near the neck. Then he focused on her arms and legs. Lastly he touched her back, pushing harder in some spots. Claire could see the remnants of the bruises on her arms, legs, and midsection. She could feel them elsewhere. Her back and midsection hurt the most from the doctor’s pressure, and her face felt tender. Looking at her legs covered in brown and yellow marks, she wondered if her face looked as bad as her legs. After he finished with his examination, and yes, no questions, he helped her put her nightgown back on.
“Ms. Nichols, I need you to be completely honest with me, do you understand?” Claire said she did, but she was getting very tired. “Please tell me what you remember from the night of your accident.”
“Dr. Leonard, I am very tired and my memories are fuzzy.” As she spoke her head continued to buzz. Her throat felt raw. The combination made talking difficult.
“It’s all right. Let me put your bed back.” He pushed the button to recline the bed and continued to inquire, “Now please, what do you remember?”
The fatigue overwhelmed Claire. Abruptly her stomach revolted against the water. Initially queasy, she instantly knew she would be sick. “Doctor, I’m going to get sick.”
She sat up. He grabbed a basin, and the water she drank came back up. Dr. Leonard explained that it was normal, her stomach had been empty for too long. The vomiting caused her to shake, and suddenly her head and ribs throbbed. The fierce pain caused her to cry.
“Ms. Nichols, your pain medicine has started to wear off. I will get you some more, but I want you to be thinking straight. Please tell me what happened.” He was persistent.
Claire felt faint with her body limp. She wanted food, but her stomach wouldn’t even hold water. The doctor wanted to know what had happened and she knew. When she closed her eyes and felt the pain in her body she saw Tony. She saw his rage, his fury, his unwillingness to let her explain. She remembered every terrifying minute until she blacked out. It happened two weeks ago but she still felt the agony.
The weakness combined with the unsettled stomach told her that it wasn’t going to end anytime soon. She wanted to go back to her visions. But the doctor waited for the answer to his question. He gave her some more water but instructed her to only rinse and spit into the basin. It helped the terrible taste go away. Her mouth felt moist again. She could talk.
“I went for a walk in the woods, I like the woods. It rained the day before and the ground was slippery in some spots. I made it into the woods fine, but I let it get dark. I watched the sun set. I remember it being crimson and beautiful.” She laid her head back on the pillow and closed her eyes. Softly tears trickled down her cheeks. Dr. Leonard was determined, he asked her to continue. She did, but with closed eyes. “So it was dark by the time I headed back to the house. I remember getting to the clearing, which is about forty-five minutes from here. The sun . . . I mean, moon, was bright. I tried to get back. Catherine had dinner waiting for me.” Her eyelids were heavy and her words slowed and slurred. She never remembered feeling so incredibly tired, all she wanted to do was sleep. Please God, she prayed, let me sleep.
“Ms. Nichols, did you make it back to the house?” Dr. Leonard spoke softly.
“I don’t remember.” Her decision was made. Telling the truth wouldn’t do any good. Actually, it would be a direct violation of Tony’s rules. She wasn’t allowed to discuss private matters. She had learned her lesson well. As her ribs, head, and stomach ached, the lesson was reinforced. “I remember slipping in the mud. There were roots and limbs. It was very dark under the trees. After that, I just don’t know.”
“Please know that anything you disclose to me is said in confidence. I am bound by complete patient-doctor confidentiality,” he spoke quietly. Despite her physical exhaustion, Claire’s mind was astute. She knew that every word they uttered was recorded and possibly overheard as they spoke.
“Doctor, I’m not sure what you are asking me or what you are insinuating, but I can’t remember what happened that night. Perhaps I hit my head.” Her eyes were open and brimming with tears. She felt so tired. “Please, may I rest?” Her eyes closed and she could feel herself slip away.
Claire opened her eyes to see Catherine holding a glass of her famous banana strawberry yogurt smoothie. She told the caring woman that she was afraid it would make her sick, like the water. Catherine explained that the doctor had put some medicine in her IV. It would help with the pain and with her stomach. Claire reached for the button to get herself up, but before she could get to it Tony did. His presence made her involuntarily tremble. His eyes weren’t dark, instead they were melted chocolate. He gently touched her face. “You need to listen to Catherine. Please try to drink the smoothie. You need to get better, and to do that you need to eat.” She looked at him and wondered if he knew about her recent confidential conversation. He continued to plead, “Please, Claire.”