Frozen Memories

Reassurance

“Are you alright?”

    “What is this?” the words escape my lips.

    “I don’t know, hon.”

    “Did the healers d-did-did your people do this?”

    Dr. Byrne paused for a moment before she answered. “No, no Wilhelmina. Of course not.” she reassured, suddenly appearing behind me. “Your hair was this way when you were found. And the first time I’d seen your eyes, I was as shocked as you are now. I fear this may be some lasting result of-whatever may have happened before you got here.”

    Words, yet again, flee from me; I slumped back onto the bed in thought. Before another word could be spoken, the familiar young nurse rolled into the room with a tray of what I assumed to be nourishment. I looked down at the plastic tray and then back up at her; one question strumming my mind.

    “Do you fear me?” I happened to ask before I could catch myself. "Are you afraid of what you see when you look at me?" I was when I looked into that mirror, so I could not help wondering if she had; especially, when thinking about how she reacted to me when she first saw me.

    The question seemingly startled the nurse before her facial features soften into calmness. “No.” she finally answered. “Why do you ask?”

    “I saw the way you looked at me the first time we met.” I countered. “If you are attempting to spare feelings-do not waste your time.” I scoffed, looking away. “I would fear me.” I whispered, thinking about what I had just seen in that mirror in comparison to what was apparent normality when considering the mundanely attractive Dr. Byrne and the nurse, Lisa Jones. 

Don't get me wrong-they are very attractive women; and the use of the word mundane, did nothing to take away from that. I only meant that-well, their beauty was one that could be admired without wondering why they looked so alien.

“I look abominable.” When I heard the shifting tray in her hand, I realized that she had come closer.

    “You’re kidding right?” I heard her say. Looking up to her, she chuckled. “You’re actually abominably pretty. I’ve never seen anyone glow when they’re emaciated.” She laughed, touching my hair and then looking at me again. “I mean, this is a lot of pretty for one person even in your sick state-but you can make this work.” She assured. “And yeah you’re a little under nourished, but that’s what the food’s for.” She smiled. “We’re going to get you back to rights.”

    “Do you think so?” I asked after fiddling with my messy hair.

    She nodded. “I tell you what.” She touched my hair and then looked at me. “You eat and when you’re all done, I’ll do your hair.”

    “Do?” I ask confused. “My hair?”

    “Yea-fix it up; maybe an extra-long, extra thick fishtail braid or something.” She grinned.

    I had no clue what a fishing tail braid was, but I didn’t doubt the young woman’s stylistic opinion considering how nicely coiffed her hair was. Thank you was the word that I wanted to say but could not form through my lips. Her kindness seemed a rare and foreign gesture, aside that of the Dr. Byrne. Well-and that Dr. Grey. “Alright.” I struggled in gratification.

    “Well, we’ll be back in an hour.” Dr. Byrne said. She grabbed an oblong shaped device that had apparently been attached to the side of my bed the whole time. She pointed out a red button. “You press this button if you need anything.”

    I took the oddly shaped thing into my hands. “You will come if I press this button?” curiously, my gaze shifted to her. How on earth would she know that I was pressing a button?

    “Yes.” She smiled. “I promise.”

    I wanted to ask how that could be, but decided not to dampen the mood with even more seemingly ridiculous questions.

    The Nurse Jones placed the tray in front of me and they both left the room after assuring once more that they will return.

    I opened my tray and saw two large pieces of chicken with creamy potatoes and gravy sided with sweet peas. A small carton of milk that read chocolate underneath the label along with a plastic little cup that appeared to be grape juice. Hunger settled in, my rumbling belly confirming how piqued I truly was. All the while, my mind on one thing; the food sitting affront me. Finally the one thing that I knew; the one thing that I was familiar with since consciously arriving into this unusually advanced era. The one thing that had apparently not grown complicated. Food.

    It was a small thing but this one small thing had me thinking-maybe things would not be as bad as they seemed.