There's a knock on the door and the doctor enters.
"Princess, you're awake? Wonderful."
I do my best to smile at the doctor but I'm not sure that my mouth followed my brain's order. He comes to kneel in front of me and performs a regular examination. He checks my temperature, blood pressure, heartbeat, and my lungs. Then he begins to remove the bandages I woke up in.
"You're going to need regular check ups Princess."
"What exactly is wrong with her doctor?"
"A couple of her ribs were broken, there almost healed but one of them punctured her lung. That's going to give you some trouble princess. Then there's the scarring on her arms and legs you see. Most of the bruising she had when I first saw her is gone now so that shouldn't give her any trouble. The worst though is her head. She hit it when she fell. Best I can tell there's something wrong. It's what put you in the coma highness. It'll be what affects you the most even though most of your other afflictions are gone."
"How?" My father asks on my behalf.
"Every text I've read on brain trauma suggests unconsciousness inability to remember the cause of the injury or events that occurred, confusion and disorientation, some difficulty remembering new information, headache, dizziness, blurry vision, nausea and vomiting, ringing in the ears, trouble speaking coherently and changes in emotions or sleep patterns. Some texts suggest more but those are the basics. And I don't mean to say she'll experience all of them but they're likely."
"What can I do to stop them?"
"Nothing, just give her a break if you see any of that happening. She can't control it. If you'll come with me I'll give you a written list. I'm glad to see you awake and getting better."
My dad follows the doctor out leaving Gavin standing just inside the door and Lane kneeling at my feet. Neither one dares to move. I stand and hand my glass to Gavin and motion out the door, he leaves and I hope that he will return with more water. I'd like to be able to speak again.
I turn back around and Lane is still bowed down facing my bed. I sit next to him and tap his shoulder. He quickly lifts his head but lowers his gaze when he realizes that it's me. I tap him again. He slowly looks up and I shake my head. He keeps his head up this time. I take his shoulders into my hands and push him until he sits up.
He sits cross legged and lets his arms fall to his sides. We just sit there looking at eachother until Gavin returns with a glass and a pitcher full of water. He hands me the glass and puts the pitcher on the table. I drink most of the glass and cough. My voice comes out as a bit of a squeak.
"Why?"