I’m engulfed in darkness. I can’t see the stars any more. Where have they gone? They were there just a moment ago…weren’t they? Where am I? What’s happened to me?
I hear footsteps and low voices, coming closer.
“How’s Natalia? Will she remember anything, Nurse?”
It’s my brother, Carlos. But why does he sound so panicky? It’s unlike him. I mean, he never worries about anything. Carlos can’t be bothered with worrying. He’s seventeen. He has better things to do.
“I’m afraid Natalia’s still in a coma but her condition is stable. We won’t know anything else until she wakes.”
But I am awake, aren’t I? What is this woman on about? Why is it so dark?
“Can I see her please?”
Carlos is never this polite. He does what he wants, always. Why does he sound so worried? What’s happened?
“Yes, of course. But she may not be able to hear you.”
I can though. I can hear both of them, Carlos and the nurse. I just… I just can’t see them.
“I’ll turn on the lights.”
There’s a faint click. The light flickers on, just for a second, and then off again.
“Maybe this switch doesn’t work.”
But… there was light, wasn’t there?
“It doesn’t matter really, I just wanted to….”
“I’m sorry, I’d better go and report this to maintenance. I’ll be right back.”
Again the light flickers. My head is filled with light, just for a second, then darkness. And again the light comes. It’s so beautiful. It reminds me of the stars, the bright stars and… and… I’m sure there’s something else. Perhaps if I can just concentrate, I might be able to remember. But my head hurts. It’s a drum kit. It gets worse with every flicker of light. ‘Make it stop. Make it stop. Oh please Lord, make it stop.’ Can they hear me moaning, I wonder? I can’t hear Carlos anymore. Where are you Carlos? Carlos?! If my head would stop throbbing, I might be able to hear him. Darkness comes over me. It’s like taking a cold shower after being burnt by the Sun. A pleasant coolness: relief. Then it all comes back to me – how I got here. The hiss and the unmistakable sound of glass shattering. The explosion of heat.
