Writing for Fun
June 2019
Recovery - Gerry Miller
She laid there feeling the warm sand beneath her; at least that was what she believed it to be. Her mind was fuzzy and as she tried to stretch she groaned her body ached and tingled, trying to turn her head her eyes opened briefly. It was not dark nor was it daylight; trying to brush the sand from the side of her face she screamed with pain. Every bone from the base of her neck and down her spine screeched with agony. A cool breeze blew over her and her clothes blew gently against her. Mustering what courage she could she tried to wriggle her legs but her body failed to obey any instructions.
Pain surged through her body; her eyes felt glued together and filled with grit. Pin pricks jarred her as she heard voices muttering as though through a haze. Her mind was fogbound Lucy relaxed into the pain as it washed over her in cycles. Time seemed to have lost any meaning to her but with what she felt was common sense and reacting to the temperature it could be either sunset or twilight. The feeling of a giant band drawn tight across her forehead restricted all but the tiniest of movements. Fighting to stay conscious, immense pain surged through her, she debated with herself maybe it was twilight? Images and reflections flashed across her forehead, thunder and lightning were in control of her brain. Blackness descended yet again.
Lucy felt compelled to make even the tiniest of movements; an inherent sense of fear was growing inside her; until she remembered anything clearly she needed safety. Nausea washed over her and she felt sickness flood up in her throat and out of her mouth. She felt a presence behind her and her head was raised very slightly, a cool flannel wiped her down and as water washed over her Lucy sank once more into the sand and the tide lapping gently underneath her, wanting to carry her away. The water was cold and the sand was gritty; a strong smell of antiseptic assailed her senses. She knew the tide must be rapidly coming in and fragile as she was her heart, speed had quickened, confusion reigned, why had someone left her below the water line out of sight of any cliff top rambler knowing she would disappear.
Within her subconscious a huge fight was going, Lucy knew she was not ready for death and so she fought with every ounce of strength she had. More needles were jabbed into her as they struggled to cover her face on and Lucy felt herself slide into the ocean. The jagged rocks were just out of reach and as Lucy let go of her struggle to stay conscious, the smell of faeces and vomit was all pervasive, she succumbed to the warmth of the dark blanket of tranquility that engulfed her whole body.
Feeling a mattress beneath her Lucy kept her eyes closed; petrified with fear she sensed that her safety may rely on playing dumb. Slowly her memories returned and voices grew nearer, a cool hand touched hers taking her pulse, the smell of cleanliness went with the hand and Lucy realized that she was pain free clean and comfortable and the putrid smell of faeces and vomit had disappeared. Whoever administered the bed bath had done so with the utmost of care and gentleness.
Lucy’s sense of awareness returned and as noises penetrated her memories returned and the horror of the helicopter crash landing on the beach was with her. The nightmares faded from her as she understood the context of her experiences in hell. Opening her eyes Lucy smiled as she recognized her family around her, she was on the road to recovery.