Over time, moments of true peacefulness were seldom.
" Why can't it be a beach, for goodness sake," I screamed in frustration, and just like that the scenery changed in the blink of an eye. And found myself on a very peculiar tropical beach, with palm, and coconut trees, black sand, crystal clear water, and a scorching sun.
I could feel the dry heat in my throat, and lungs with every breath I took. The extreme heat was unbearable.
As relieved as I was, I was also terrified at the change. The idyllic scenery was breathtaking. Looking up, I noticed there was a purplish sky. Strange colour, I thought, but still better than no sky.
The sound of rushing water made me halt my steps. No, I thought and turned to look at the sea. The gigantic wave that towered high enough to eclipse the sun, turned my blood into ice. Oh, sweet mother of god! That was the last thought I had before I felt myself getting violently swept away by the tidal wave, and slammed into a tree.
Gasping for air, I pushed myself off the bed and curled up on myself at the stabbing pain in my shoulder. Groaning in pain, I reached to touch it and screamed at the shooting sharp pain.
" Lily," Mason burst through the door, and before I knew it he was perched on the bed in front of me, keenly looking around the room.
" What's wrong? Why did you scream?" He worriedly asked, while I was trying to contain yet another painful groan, and scrambled to find a way to explain myself. How?
Wincing in pain, I hugged myself " Nothing. It was just a bad dream," I meekly said, trying to hide the unbearable pain shooting through my shoulder.
" I'll get in touch with Dr Button first thing." He softly said and reached to grab my shoulders, but I didn't quite make it in time to move before he grabbed it.
Reflexively, I muffled a painful groan and buried my face in his shoulder at the feel of his hand curled on my dislocated shoulder.
" Are you in pain?" He asked a little surprised, " I'll get dressed. We are going to a hospital," His voice was resolute, and I was grateful he didn't ask any more questions.
Before I had a chance to say anything he jumped off the bed, and scurried out of the room.
Painfully slow, I shuffled out of the bed, to get changed, but I quickly discovered that I couldn't do that without screaming in pain.
" Leave that," He said, pulling the trousers out of my hand, and throwing them on the bed.
" I can't go outside in my pyjamas," I groaned when he picked me up to carry me. Unfortunately for me, it was far worse than I thought. The stabbing pain in my lower back and clavicle was just as bad.
" I can walk you know. It is just my shoulder that hurts," I said clutching his jacket, and before I even had a chance to finish that sentence, he lowered me back on the floor. I was grateful that I could still walk.
" Come on, then. How did you hurt your shoulder?" I felt the blood drain out of my body at the question, but I moved my feet to leave the room as quickly as possible, biting on my cheek to stop myself from screaming in pain.
" It doesn't matter," I grumbled, and felt his hand on my lower back, nudging me towards the front door. Oh, in the name of all saints, I thought when I felt his hand press against my back.
" Wait here. I need to get the keys," He said as he rushed towards the kitchen. Relieved, I leaned against the door. He wouldn't stop unless I would give him an answer. If there was a trait that he and Enid shared was that they were relentless when it came to getting answers, and I was a terrible liar.
" So, how did you hurt your shoulder?" Think Lily, think. I told myself as I stepped out of the door, and into a brightly lit town.
" Uhmm, soup kitchen," I said in a trembling voice, climbing down the steps as fast as I could.
Mason hummed as he opened the car door for me," Why didn't you go straight away to the hospital? Why wait? Hmm?" I scrunched my eyes at the jolt of pain, and bit on my lip hard when my back hit the seat.
" I need answers, Lily. One way or another I'm going to get them," He said rather ominously, and that was enough to make me sweat, profusely. Exactly what I needed, I thought, and tugged on the seatbelt, trying to conceal the pain as best as I could. I did very poorly since the deep lines on his forehead got deeper.
" Can we leave it for another time," I pleadingly said, sinking into my seat?
Sighing, he nodded as we slipped onto a road I hadn't had a chance to explore since I had moved to Morston.
On top of a hill, laid Alcide Memorial Hospital. I wondered who Alcide was, but that thought didn't stay with me very long since the throbbing pain in my shoulder worsened.
The journey to the hospital was short. I wasn't sure whether to be grateful or not.
When Mason jumped out of the car, and appeared on my side, to help me out, I was still at a loss Even breathing had become troublesome. Cursing under my breath, I walked beside him into the emergency area.
" Sit. I'll be right back," He said as he sauntered to the desk, to speak to one of the nurses. And not long after, a call for Dr. Joseph Button was made over the tannoy. I had always thought he was a private Dr.
" He will be here shortly," Mason said the moment he reached where I was slumped in a chair wearing nothing but pyjamas, and to make things worse, the emergency was quite crowded. His presence had gained us, quite a bit of attention.
" I'm fine. We should go home," I said as I pushed myself up,.ready to leave. As much as he enjoyed the attention, I was the polar opposite of him. The less there was, the better.
" Really," He dryly said, and reached out his hand for me to take," Then you shouldn't have a problem taking my hand," He said in a challenging tone, while I stretched my good arm to take his, but he recoiled.
" Nice try. Now, the other hand," That was something I couldn't do, even if I tried.
" Fancy seeing you here," Dr Buttons' voice broke our little contest, as he approached us with lazy steps.
" Good evening, Dr. Button," Mason said as he turned around and shook his hand.
" I'm sorry to trouble you, but Lily is hurt, and you have done a wonderful job so far," At his words, Dr. Button perked up and his bored demeanor dissipated.
" No, no trouble at all. After all, she is my most enigmatic patient. So what seems to be the trouble?" He asked shoving his hands in his pockets, and keenly studying me from head to toe.
" Shoulder injury," Mason replied, while Dr. Button leaned in to have a closer look.
" Are you in pain?" He curiously asked and felt his hand on my shoulder. Groaning at the stabbing pain, I stood up as if my ass was on fire
" Follow me," Dr Button straightened himself up, and walked ahead.
" No. You stay here," Dr. Button firmly said when Mason followed us through the room.
Glancing over my shoulder I watched Mason fall behind with a worried expression.