I awoke with a twinge of pain in my arm. When my other senses returned, they were overloaded by the sounds of machines beeping in rhythm and flooding bright light shining through my eyelids, showing me a burnt orange color. I took a deep breath. Okay, James, what happened? I thought. I slowly opened my eyes, allowing the light to flood my vision, giving me a headache. Damn...I looked around the room, which was out of focus, without my glasses. That's always fun. I could easily make out a brightly painted room, with machines by the nightstand, and a chair o the opposite side. Hospital...I'm in a godforsaken hospital.!I hate these places, just what the hell happened?

I tried to think back, and it slowly returned to me, at least, up to a point.

I was dressed up in the only suit I really owned. I was going to the opera with my wonderful girlfriend, Abby. It was our 8 month anniversary, and we decided to go to the opra house where we first met. Cheesy, I know, but it's still romantic, in my tastes. I figgitted with my ties, making sure that it was aligned correctly with my vest, then i put on my coat. I raced down the stairs and took the keys from their hanger and then my trench coat from and hat from the rack. I walked to the car and my dad, raced out after me. "James! be careful, ok? They're saying the roads are slick, and some patches have black ice on them." My dad was hardly ever cautious, so when I heard the warning, a small lump formed in my throat.

The short, 20 minute drive was nothing much to me, anymore. The route was memorized and time seemed way shorter, knowing I'd get to see Abby. Snow ans dleet poured onto the windshield as I drove, my headlights hardly seemed to function, in the darkness of the rural tow she lived in. I felt the car slowly veer out of control. I sat bright lights and then...nothing...

I realized that I was now in tears and blubbering like a wuss. "Mr. Raymond?" An elderly nurse spoke, startling me with her smile "It's so wonderful to see you're awake. I'll inform your doctor, immediately."

"Ma'am, has anyone been here to see me?" I asked, feeling my heart sink.

"Well, your parents, of course," The nurse said, trying to remember, "and a girl who seems quite protective of you comes everyday until we nearly need to throw her out." That remark made me a little happier, I could imagine Abby's dark green eyes watching me as I lay there, waiting for me to wake.

"How long have I been out?" I asked the nurse again.

"Oh, well, Dearie, it's been nearly 6 months." She said in a slightly saddened tone. My heart sank again.