With hair swaddled in bandages and her forehead approximating a rainbow that ends in violet rings around her eyes, Natasha knows she’s looked better. Propped up in a hospital bed, she tries to listen to the cop asking her questions but it’s hard staying focused.
Detective Lewis asks, “Did you see anyone? Or anything out of the ordinary?”
“It’s fuzzy, but no, I didn’t see anything. I was on my way to catch a bus, meet Liz, take some pictures. I heard crying.”
Lewis frowns, “Crying?”
“In the bushes, well that’s what I thought, anyway. I was gonna keep going, ’cause I’d just had a big fight with my best friend, but then I thought hey, maybe I can help, you know? Famous last words.”
Natasha smiles ruefully and tries to shake her head but the quick movement triggers a wave of agony causing her to freeze mid wince. “Owww.”
Natasha grips the bed rail tightly for a minute to allow the pain to subside. “Okay, I gotta try to remember that the only reason I don’t feel like total crap is the heavy shit they’re pumping into me.” Her breathing is returning to normal. “Um. Where was I?”
Glancing at her notebook Lewis says, “You heard crying and were going to try to help.”
“Okay, right. So I went off the path where I thought the crying was coming from but then I couldn’t hear it anymore so I called and blundered in through the trees. Dumb, eh?”
“No”, Lewis says, “Not dumb. You were trying to help someone. That’s never dumb. Going so far of the path– now that was dumb.”
Natasha winces, “Don’t make me laugh.”
Lewis pulls a face, “Sorry. You were really lucky your friends went looking for you. If they hadn’t found you when they did you would be in much worse shape.”
“Yeah,”agrees Natasha quietly. “The doctor said.”
“That’s all for now, here’s my card, ” Lewis sets it on the night table, “In case you remember anything else. You got a pretty good thump. When you’re feeling better things might come back to you. So you’ll give me a call if you remember anything, right?”
“Sure,” Natasha smiles, dreamily watching Lewis leave. And then here comes Liz and Ethan. Natasha smiles wider, careful not to laugh because more than anything they look like the undead.
“You guys look like crap. I hope I don’t look that bad.”
“Oh Natasha, I’m so glad you’re gonna be OK.” smiles Liz through moist eyes,
“I heard you’re the only reason I’m still kicking, girl, and I want to tell you I appre.. app…b…bleh… you know.”
Liz nods, and Ethan says, “Good drugs, eh Nat?”
“Oh yeah. But I think I’m gonna…” and her eyes slide closed. A small trilling snore escapes her lips.
Ethan gives Liz a hug, and tells her, “Okay, she’s gonna live. I don’t know about you but I need sleep or coffee. Or both.”
