Darkness and aching pain spreading through her brain like tiny tentacles touching every place that wasn't hurting, making it burn. She heard voices, muffled words of concern that she couldn't understand or respond to. She would fight to the brink of consciousness scratching, clawing trying to break through only to slip back down into the dark.
Beeping was a new noise a constant steady beeping that she heard when she was close to consciousness trying to pry her eyes open to see it.
Light.
Light slowly appeared as her eyelids responded to her attempts to see opening only a little but enough to see the machine making the noise. It stood tall and tv like next to her in the bed she realized she was laying in a line flickered across it. It was a heart monitor but why was it monitoring her? The ache in her head had dulled but it gave her a clue to her situation. A hospital she was in a hospital wired, tubed like a science experiment and alone.
Her eyes focused on a red button attached to her railing and she struggled to lift her hand towards it shaking and weak it finally hit it. Within moments a nurse was running in a look of excitement on her face.
"Miss Crawford! Your awake!!" The nurse looked at her monitor and vitals then took her hand.
"I think so."she choked out her throat dry.
"We were all so worried. " she turned to poor water from a pitcher into a plastic cup helping her sip it slowly. The cold water felt wonderful down her throat.
"How did I get here?" She was glad the nurse was thrilled she was awake but where the hell was she.
"You had a accident. I have to call the doctor and Mr. Hiddleston" she whirled right back out of the room.
Mr. Hiddleston why was she calling an actor? Did he run her over or something. Great in an accident with an actor just what she needed.
The nurse came back in with a man in a lab coat behind her looking pleased.
"You see Doctor!" She beamed.
"Yes, Gwen I do." The man she called Doctor looked at her with a kind smile. How are you feeling Gemaline?"
"I have a headache." She answered. "Where am I?"
"What is the last thing you remember?"
Gem frowned it was hard to think with a headache.
"I woke up grabbed breakfast with my friend Kate to go to a photo shoot and that's it. Was I in a car accident?"
The doctors face showed concern for a brief moment before he hid it she saw it all the same.
"Where were you at that time?"
"New York." It was then that she noticed the accents of both the nurse and doctor.
"Where am?!" She was scared something was wrong.
"Calm down it's going to be ok."
He pulled a chair to her bed side and sat close beside her. "Gemlaine, I'm Doctor Stewart you fell off a ladder hitting your head on a coffee table. You have been here for 7 days you needed surgery and have stitches at the back of your head. It's Sunday November 1st."
"November 1st?" She couldn't wrap her mind around what he was saying. "That's not possible it was March 3 the trees were just beginning to bud in Central Park. Are you telling me I can't remember the last 8 months?!" She looked at the doctor and nurse who looked concerned an distressed.
"Gemaline, sometimes this happens after a head injury it takes time but the chances of you getting it back are high."
"Really?" she asked her head spinning and aching.
"Yes, it could, but right now you have to just need to relax. I know it's easy for me to say but it will help." He touched her hand and smiled reassuringly. " I will be back later Gwen will help in anyway she can. " He nodded at the bubbly brown haired nurse who smiled warmly.
"Alright thank you." Gem could think of nothing else to say she was in shock.
Doctors Stewart made his way out of the room closing the door behind him just as Tom came down the hall looking like he hadn't slept in days.
"Bill, how is she?" Tom was anxious he had just went out for some dinner when he got the call Gem was awake.
"Tom, she's healing." Bill Stewart hated to tell him but he had to be prepared.
Tom stilled at Bill's tone.
"What's wrong?"
"Tom, her memory of the last 8 months is gone. It could come back but for now she can't remember anything after March 1st."
"What." Tom swayed and the doctor moved him into a waiting room. He felt like he was going to pass out.
"I'm sorry. But like I said it could come back. "
"March 1st is the day we met. Does she remember me?" He collapsed into a chair his head in his hands.
"No, she said it was in the morning a breakfast with a friend."
"So she has no idea?"
"I'm sorry Tom." Bill grabbed his shoulder and squeezed. "All you can do is remind her."
Tom broke down it had been a week of not knowing if she'd live or die the blood when she fell had filled his dreams. He lived at the hospital in a private room so he could be close to watch her and hold her hand and now she wouldn't even know him.
"Tom." Bill felt helpless for his friend they had graduated from Eton together then Cambridge and he would do anything for him and vice versa.
"It's ok Bill I'm ok."
"If you need me call. I'm in hospital all night."
Tom wiped his eyes on his sleeve and nodded.
"Thanks Bill."
"Anytime friend." Bill left the room closing the door and sighing heavily it was going to be a long night.
Tom sat staring at the ceiling trying to gather himself to go to her room and be greated like a stranger. He had to, just seeing her awake when they worried she wouldn't ever be ,was pulling him to her. That and the fact that no matter what she was the love of his life.