Page 19 of Imbalanced Minds

Chapter Ten

Iris

I’m uncertain why my body is uncomfortably sore. It aches all over and when I move, sharp pains shoot through from head to toe.

The stench of disinfectant leaves suspicions to where I am, but keeping my eyes closed is the safest option as I’m too afraid to open them and confirm my surroundings. Everything is better in the dark anyway; there’s no need to face reality here.

Not a moment later I’m pulled from my thoughts by someone talking to me in a muffled tone. They seem to know who I am as whomever they are keep repeating my name. It becomes clear it’s not one I know so I try my best to stay hidden behind my eyelids. As the clarity of the voice gets louder, I discover it’s one of a soft and caring female. The more I focus on what she’s trying to say, the more I’m being pulled from the dark depths of my oblivion.

I fight my eyes’ natural urge to open, but they flinch open then blink rapidly to adjust to the bright light.

“Iris? Iris, can you hear me? Ah good, you’re waking up. Take your time to adjust.”

There’s a nurse by my side, helping to set my pillow while I try my best to move. “Here’s some water, dear, be careful to take small sips.” She raises a plastic cup to my lips and with slow movements, I sip from the straw hanging over the edge. The nurse continues getting me comfortable while the doctor speaks to me from the end of my bed.

“Hello, Iris, I’m Doctor Sullivan. You’ve been admitted into Memorial Hospital. You were brought in earlier this morning by ambulance, unconscious and with multiple injuries. We’d like to do some more tests now you’re awake if that’s okay with you. Firstly, can you tell me your full name, please?” she chirps, much too happy for my liking.

“Iris Rose Jones.” I rasp. Why wouldn’t I know my own name?

“Great. And your date of birth?”

“Ah… July thirteenth, nineteen ninety-six.”

I frown at all the questions, obviously they should know all of this from when I was a child and broke my arm.

Over the next few hours, I’m asked more questions by medical staff. Poked and prodded, stabbed with needles so they could take blood tests; I’m even taken for an x-ray. I’m not sure what they say in between tests; my mind is in a state of chaos so I don’t register. The doctor leaves after a while but the two nurses stay, finishing my sutures and dressings.

I don’t know why anyone would do this to me. All I was doing was having a good time. Remembering what I was doing gets me in a panic; as I look around the room, I can’t see Nat anywhere. I need to get out of bed to find her, I manage to make my body cooperate enough that one leg moves off the side. Sliding the other to meet it I’m met with yet another agonising pain in my stomach area which makes me hiss. Suddenly overwhelmed, I erupt into a teary mess.

“Iris, dear? Please let us help. We don’t want you to hurt yourself.” One of the nurses says, which makes me cringe.

I lie back on the bed and let the nurses help get me resettled. This also leads to one nurse administering some pain relief which makes quick work travelling through my veins and before I can process any more, I’m left inspecting the inside of my eyelids.

A flood of memories come flashing back. Being taken against my will. A large hand smothering my screams. Fear pricking my skin. The sinister voice. Bile burning my throat.

Buzzing noises in the distance cause my eyes to shoot open and as they do I manage to turn my head. Heaving up every ounce of liquid left in my stomach, I wrap my arms around myself trying to dull the pain in my body.

“Nurse,” I hear Dad yell. I look at him standing right next to where I vomited all over my pillow. He looks at me worriedly while pressing the red button in his hand. Next thing I’m being moved, and more hospital staff are attending to me as the vile burn rises again.

“Sweetheart,” Mum sobs next to me, “you gave us a scare.” She sniffles back her emotions and takes hold of my hand, gently rubbing her thumb over my knuckles in a soothing, motherly motion.

Thankfully, the nurses and doctor have sorted my situation; I focus on my parent’s aghast expressions looking them over, taking in their tired features. Dark circles sit under their eyes. Mum’s glow is unrecognisable, as is Dad’s once soft appearance—each replaced with grief.

Mum rubs her other soft hand through my hair. I can tell she’s shocked, the way she looks at me shows pain and fear, yet her sorrow-filled eyes tell me she’s trying hard to keep her emotions on lockdown.

Dad now has my other hand squeezed between his giant callused ones, raised to his lips giving my knuckles a gentle kiss.

They both look so aged.

“Honey, I’m so glad you’re awake. We’ve been so worried.” Mum continues sobbing next to me. Dad clears his throat which has me looking worriedly at him. “Iris, honey?”

Mum and Dad are quiet for some time and it’s making me nervous.

“How long have you been here?” I ask them, trying my luck.

“We came as soon as Cory called us. We’ve been in this hospital the whole time, honey.” Dad tells me.

“Cory called you? But what about Natalie?” I ask, confusion wrinkling my brow. “Oh my God, please tell me she wasn’t hurt too! Mum, Dad, where is Natalie?” I ask, panicked. My heart rate starts beating uncontrollably and the machine next to me starts dancing in and out of its earlier synchronised rhythm.

“Iris, shh honey. Nat’s okay. She’s been out in the waiting room with the others all night. Actually,” Mum looks at her wrist, “they’ve been waiting for almost six hours to see you.”

This confession warms me, yet I’m still slightly confused. “You said Cory called you in. Is he here too? What about Justin?”

Mum nods. “They’re all here honey.”

She and Dad fill me in on everything they know, although that isn’t much.

I do the one thing that’s the hardest to face, and that’s to ask for the person I didn’t expect to be here waiting with my family.

No matter what he put me through, by doing this and being here, he’s shown me he really does care and I need to thank him.