Where Are We

The last thing you remember is driving on the highway. Headed home. You were sad. Really sad actually. You had just looked at the GPS and saw it was a long way. All of a sudden you then saw headlights. Headlights coming straight for you. You honked your horn and began swerving, but it was too late. BANG. That’s the last thing you remembered. Nothing less, nothing more. Just those headlights. Where are we?

Now you’re in a coma. But you don’t realize it and maybe never will. Depends if you ever wake up. But for now, you’re just stuck in your own head. Free to think about whatever you want. No one will know. A common theme. No one knows you drove all that way just to get someone back into your life. No one knows you were driving back with a broken heart and regret. No one knows you’re in the hospital. Well, the cops, paramedics, nurses, and doctors know. No family members. No familiar faces. Where are we?

Still in a coma, but now you’re having a dream. You’re lying in a field wearing your hospital gown. Somehow your brain registers that’s what you’re wearing, along with the cuts, bruises, and a broken left foot. You open your eyes and see the sky. It’s pure light blue with a thin scatter of clouds. Sitting up slowly, you’ll see a walking boot on your left foot. Your head is pounding. This is from the concussion. Pick up your left hand. There’s a gash on your palm and you see no wrist watch. They cut it off before operating. You do the same with your right and see cuts and bruises on that arm too. Touch your face next. Feel the right eye and all the puffy skin around it. Looks like you just got done fighting a heavy weight boxer. Where are we?

Look forward now. The tall grass is moving with the blowing wind. The sun is shining down on one spot. A figure is standing underneath it. You can’t tell who or what it is. Stand up. Slowly. Don’t be an idiot. You were in a car crash. Your body hurts. A cane is lying next to your feet, bend over and pick it up. This’ll help you conquer the journey that lies ahead. Keep most of the pressure on your right foot and begin limping toward the sun and figure. The grass continues to dance around you as you cut through it. As it grazes your skin, you become itchy. That’s not the main focus. Getting closer makes your heart beat faster. But soon you have to stop and rest. Sit on the rock to your left. Sun is still shining. Then you hear a sound. A sound that’s oddly familiar. Where are we?

You’re sitting now and scratch your head. You hadn’t realized it before, but you have a bandage wrapped around your skull. That was from the operation. They had to stop the bleeding before it was too late. Or maybe it was already. You won’t know yet. You hear the sound again. Look around. Then you see them. Two familiar faces. Right there. Right there for you to touch. They are excited to see you. What the fuck is going on? You reach for them, but they dart off. They head toward the figure in the sunlight. You stand up. Say aloud: “Is it you?” Start limping as fast as possible. Where are we?

The sunlight is now fading some. You’re still chugging along. The figure is getting closer. Then comes another noise. A voice. It’s echoing through the field and grass.

“Hurry here.”

Now you’re really moving. Heart is beating out of your chest. The figure is right there. Long dark hair is the first thing you notice. Then those hazel eyes and perfect smile. The other two familiar faces sitting next to the figure. They look excited. 35 yards separate you from them. Where are we?

Suddenly the sun goes away and dark, ominous clouds move in. The wind picks up drastically. 20 yards to go. You’re breathing heavily and start seeing double. Your head feels weird. BOOM. A clap of thunder echoes through the field. Your legs begin to shake. 15 yards. Suddenly you’re on the ground. Face first into the dirt and grass. You have no strength to get back up. It begins to get dark. You pick up your head and quickly rub the dirt from your eyes. 12 yards away. The three familiar faces are right there. They all look so excited to see you. Another clap of thunder. Wind is blowing the grass every which way. They rustle. You hear the voice.

“Hurry here.”

The three begin to fade. You reach for them, desperately trying to hold the figure’s hand and pet the other two. They fade some more. Start crawling. Another clap of thunder. The three fade away. Now you’re alone. Put your head back down. Lay in the dirt. The tall grass surrounds you. Close your eyes. Where are we?