From up here, the landscape looks stunning with luscious green hills and mysterious valleys that rise to a string of snow-covered mountains. Winding roads connect small villages and snake past streams in a gorgeous patchwork of fields.
I’m frightened. There is something I forgot. It lurks in the distance like one of those clouds on the horizon that pile up like an angry wall, ready to unleash mayhem onto the people on the ground. Frustration grips me. What did I forget?
It can’t have been important. I’m flying. Nothing binds me to the ground. If I want, I can throw my soul to the stars or join the nearby flock of birds, gliding on invisible thermals. Swirls of clouds drift by as if invisible currents carry them. I reach out and their fine consistency kisses my skin and leaves a pleasant film of moisture on my face.
Way down I spot a coastline. Waves are pounding the rugged cliffs, creating a swirl of white foamy crowns. Oh, how much I love the coast. Maybe I am a creature of the sea? I try to inspect my body to check whether I wear a mermaid’s tail, but I can’t turn my head. Something isn’t right.
Never mind.
I want to … I can’t remember … Something isn’t right. Something heavy weighs my feet down and there is no salty spray to taste. I lick my lips. They are dry like parched earth.
“You are awake, thank God.”
I try to shoo the voice away but I can’t move my arm. I want to fly with the birds again but I can’t move.
“Go away.” My words are loud and clear in my head but my ears only register a hoarse, croaking sound. Was that me? I have to get away. It was a mistake to fly down. I should have stayed up in the sky. I try to push off the ground and soar up again where I can play with the birds and be free. No matter how hard I try, I can’t.
“Shh, calm, you are safe.”
That annoying voice is familiar, but I can’t quite remember … it would be … No. It’s not coming. Not to worry. If it’s important, it’ll come to me. Why is it so dark? The sun was here just a second ago. Where did it disappear to? I try to lift my head but I can’t move it.
What’s happening?
“Please, stay calm. I restrained you so you don’t hurt yourself.”
Restraints? I try to open my eyes but all I make out is a hazy, dark, unfamiliar room. Perhaps I’m in heaven?
“You got me worried. I was about to ring for a doctor. Everything will be okay now. I’m here to look after you.”
There is a crazy person close by who thinks I need looking after? Ha. All I need is to push off, fly up again and leave this place behind.
“Shh, calm, you’ll only hurt yourself.”
I grind my teeth. I’ve had enough of this. If this guy doesn’t watch it he’ll be the one needing looking after. The fog is lifting. I blink a few times and the shape of a man comes slowly into focus. He puts a faint smile on his face, but his sad big brown eyes tell a different story.
I’m in a strange room and no longer on the beach or in the sky. Disappointment and loss hit me so hard, I hold my breath for the next punch. I’m on a bed. Someone has tied my hands and feet to the bed frame. Without warning a shock wave of fear explodes in my head. Where am I? Who is this man? I try to wiggle out of the ties.
“Let me go. Who are you?”
“It’s me, Tom.”
“It’s-me-Tom, I don’t know you. Go away.”
“Your lawyer, Elise. Don’t you remember?”
Elise? I try the name on and let it roll off my tongue to see if it fits. Nah. It doesn’t. I need to get away from this crazy person. I need to get up, I need to pee, and I need to get out of here.
“Help,” I shout as loud as I can. To my disappointment, it’s only a croak and not loud at all.
The man comes closer.
“I restrained you because you were flailing about while you were unconscious. Let me help you.”
“Unconscious? I was flying. I was having a good time until you messed it up for me.”
The man smiles with a truckload of pity in his eyes. “You must have dreamed.” He unties the restraints from my feet and arms and helps me to sit up.
“A dream? I’m not dreaming.” I catch sight of the bandages on my hands. “Could you also take the bandages off? Please?”
“We better leave that one until the blisters heal.”
“Blisters?” This gets crazier by the minute.
“You burned your hands.”
I fear for the sanity of this guy. Not only is he a busy body and spoiled my superb flying experience, but he might also be dangerous.
“I wish you would make sense. I never burned my hands and I’ve never met you. If you don’t let me out of here, I’ll lodge a major complaint against this place.”
“Elise, please.”
I need to get through to this guy. He rakes his fingers through his brown hair as if he’s at his wit’s end. If there was any wit, to begin with.
“Stop calling me that name. I’m not Elise.”
“Who are you then?”
I stare at him. I know who I am. I am… I am… I try not to show my rising panic.
I don’t know who I am.
“I don’t know.”
“Do you know where you live?”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“Do you understand why you are here?”
“You stopped me from…” I almost said flying but I gather he’ll think I’m crazy.
