The first thing I heard was the bird. It chirped an erratic pattern of sounds, blotting out the silence that had fallen upon me. Dully I considered opening my eyes. They were intently shut, however, and I gave up instantly.
Next thing I heard was running water. Not a loud, roaring waterfall, but a small tinkle, soothing and constant. I enjoyed the sounds, and not a single thought crossed my mind for a moment.
Then I felt the flowers under my hand. I felt them under my arm. And my back. Slowly I felt my sense of touch return throughout my whole body, and everywhere was the distinctive pattern of flowers. Finally, it occurred to me that something wasn't right. I broke out of the thick fog and forced my eyes open. Light stun my eyes, and they immediately filled with tears. I blinked them away as I slowly looked around.
Where am I? Did I fall asleep in the flowerbed? No, this doesn't look like home at all. It's a bit hard to see without my glasses, where are they? I look around my body, but instead of finding them, I realize that I am in a water bed, with flowery vines crawling along the whole thing. My heart starts to beat faster as I quickly sit up.
Where am I?? Why am I alone? My head thumps hard in response to the quick movement and I clutch my forehead, waiting for the sensation to pass. Once it does, I look around again, squinting my eyes until they were mere slits.
Then I notice it. The wall. The... Wall? Am I inside a building? I scan the room, looking for a door. And I find it. There are glowing red letters above it, the familiar word, 'EXIT'. I stood up frantically and took a running step towards it, but that was as far as I got. My legs, no stronger than wet noodles, crumpled to the ground, and my head hit it too. It started thumping again, even harder than before. So much that I didn't even move when I heard a noise coming from the direction I had been headed. There were a few bumping and clanging sounds, then a sigh.
Then, I heard, "OK... let's get started shall-" a brief pause. Then, "OH, SHIT! WHERE IS SHE??"
A gruff voice roared. I panicked, and the only thing I could think to do was bury my face farther in the ground. Please, don't find me, please, I thought desperately. I heard his boots clomp across the floor as he came in my direction, then he stopped short.
"Bani?" He whispered. My heart skipped a beat. He knows my name. This strange man knows my name. I stay frozen, but he crouches down and lifts me into his arms. I look at him, riddled with anxiety. He looks just as scared of me as I look of him. After a long pause of us staring wide-eyed at each other, he finally speaks again.
"Let's get you back into bed. I'll call Hokil." He lowers me gently into the place I woke up, and darts out the door.
"Wait!" I call weakly. He doesn't wait. Suddenly I start to cry, and I don't know why I'm crying. But I am, and the sobs shake my weak body. It feels like an eternity until the strange man returns. He runs over to me and places a hand on my forehead.
"You don't feel warm. How are you feeling otherwise?"
I completely ignore his question and wail loudly, "who are you and where am I??" In between sobs. He rubs my arm, and his eyes dart around nervously before answering.
"It's alright, you're alright. Just try to calm down."
"That's not an answer!" I try to sound angry, but I know I don't.
"Look at me." He crouches again, so that we are on eye level. "Hokil will explain everything when he gets here. It'll only be a few minutes, he's already on his way. Just try to relax."
This makes me even angrier and I consider punching him. But I know that if I'm too weak to walk, my chances of winning in a fistfight aren't too good. So instead I begrudgingly follow his orders and lie my head back down.
"Can you at least get me my glasses?" I ask, tears still spilling out my eyes.
"Of course, Bani. Straightaway." Why does he talk to me like that? Who am I to him? I repeat what he said to me earlier in an attempt to calm myself.
"Hokil will explain everything. Whoever that is." After a wobbly breath, I wipe the tears from my face. By the time he gets back, I feel considerably calmer. This time he isn't alone however, and the man he's with runs to my side with amazing speed. He falls at my feet, sobbing, and I recoil from him.
Who is this deranged stranger? What is happening to me? With shaking hands he places a pair of glasses on my face. I can now see his clearer, but I do not know him.
"Bani." He whispers, touching my hand. "You- you're awake." His body is shaking and he looks at me in a way that terrifies me.
"Who are you?" I ask, my voice trembling. His face contorts, showing emotions of shock, terror and pain. But only for a mere second, then it returns as before, love-stricken and and relieved.
"It's me, Bani.
It's Hokil.
Your husband."