I felt black tiptoe into my eyes and control my vision. I could feel my ears sort of adapting and opening to the world around me. I was surrounded by a weary strand of nothing where they could see me, but I was impaired. I could start to feel strange, distant yet even sounds of a monitor of some sort.
My brain seemed to click slightly as I gathered all of my strength and pushed open my eye-lids. That part was the hardest. At first, all I could see was blurry, white lines that contoured different objects I couldn't identify. My eyes adjusted to my surroundings as I took it all in: the bright window to the left of the hospital bed I was lying in, the bright flowers and the monitor to the side of me. It was weird considering that I couldn't remember a thing. I was completely dumbfounded until everything seemed to slide into plain view. "Uncle Martin", Ava, Riley and those horrible documents indicating such horrible facts.
I looked at the white door and saw a shadow. I heard quiet footsteps and I closed my eyes, fearful I'd have to explain everything. The door creaked open and I could hear gentle footsteps making their way to my bed side.
"Open your eyes, Noah. I know you can hear me." said a voice I recognized to be Riley. I slowly opened my eyes.
"How'd you know?" I asked, in pure confusion. I had decided to dwell on light, airy topics rather than to plunge into the hard unknown.
"I just did." replied Riley, avoiding the topic. "How're you feeling?" she asked.
"I'm okay," I groaned and continued, "What happened? All I remember is that I was reading about . . ." I shuddered. I couldn't relive reading those horrid words. I still couldn't grasp the fact that . . . I shuddered violently on the soft, bed.
Riley took a step closer and sighed sympathetically. "You fainted." She replied simply. I looked at her and started to laugh, thinking, 'There goes my 'macho reputation' I tried to uphold.' "And then you hit your head." She said quite strangely.
I thought for a minute or so and questioned, "But why? And who found me? Do you know? How could he? What about my mother? Dear God . . ." Riley held up her hand and motioned me to be quiet.
"Uncle Martin feels horrible. It was a horrible thing to do. He feels terrible and he only did it for money. He found you and yes, I do know. Do not ask why because you will find out in time. Your mother is on her way, but we have a few more minutes." Riley finished as she glanced at her digital watch. She grabbed my arm just as I was about to start my furious rant. Next thing I knew, we were soaring higher and higher as the white hospital disappeared out of view and all I could feel were my ears popping.
