My eyes fluttered open and I looked up to see a cloud of doctors and nurses with bloody gloves standing around me. Where did the doctors come from? What’s wrong with me? Why was I in a hospital?

“We need more anaesthetic,” the chief announced. Holy fuck, I was waking up in surgery! I strained my eyes to look downward, and I had no nose! If I was able to, I would be screaming like an idiot right now. Sharp pain slowly crept into my face, and the burning engulfed my whole head. My nose hurt, my skull hurt, my teeth hurt. Out of the corner of my eye, a nurse was hurrying to thread a syringe full of anaesthetic into my wrist. I wanted to ask them questions about what was going on with my body, but I was shocked and couldn’t speak. I looked back at my nose and almost threw up. There was only a small bump of bone, but that was it. I was a noseless freak! Slowly, my body began to shut back down, and I drifted off to sleep again.

“Briedyn? Honey are you awake?” I peeled open my eyes again and looked up at my worried mother. All around my eyes, I could see the edges of bandage, which was wrapped completely around my head. I clumsily reached over and pushed the button to make the hospital bed rise. Juliette was sitting in a chair, rubbing tears out of her eyes. “How are you feeling?”

“I have no nose,” I stated groggily.

“What are you talking about? Of course you have a nose...”

“I woke up. In surgery. I had no nose,” I explained, wishing I had more morphine.

“Oh honey, they had to construct a new nose.” What the fuck is this broad saying? A new nose? Am I Michael fucking Jackson or something? “Your face was so brutally smashed, much of your face had to be reconstructed.” This information was too much; it was crazy. I can’t even remember why the fuck I was here? What happened? Was I in a car accident?

“Am I going to look the same?”

“Afraid not, hon. It’s going to be a surprise apparently when you get the bandages off.” My head was swimming.

“So, what happened? Where did you find me?”

“I got a call to say that you were found far behind your school, in the forested area. No one knows who did this to you. What do you remember?”

“I remember Bailey leaving for Pittston,” I sighed.

“That’s it?”

“I don’t know!” I blurt.

“Okay honey. I’m going to go get you some tea.” She hurried out of the room. I don’t even like tea. Get me a black coffee. Juliette sat nervously in her chair.

“Does it scare you to see me like this?” I ask her. She nods silently. “What would you do if I died?”

“Be sad?” she said lamely.

“Pathetic,” I chuckled, though it sounded more like heavy breathing since I couldn’t move my mouth very much, and my lungs felt restricted under my sore ribs. Juliette shrugged and smiled. I think this is the most bonding conversation we’ve ever had.

---

A/N: I love Michael Jackson no matter what anyone says.