“What’s your name?"
I hesitated. "Savannah?"
I tried to sound confident, but I was just repeating what I’d heard. It sounded foreign to me. Like someone else’s name.
Nancy waited for more. I looked at the ID band around my wrist. Nancy gently covered the band with her palm. "No cheating."
I frowned at her. I couldn’t have read it anyway. The fine print was still fuzzy.
"Stone. Savannah Stone,” Nancy said. “Does that ring a bell?”
I gently shook my head.
“What's your birthday?"
I tried to answer, but it was like searching through a dark closet for a lost pair of socks. I knew the answer was in there somewhere, but damned if I could find it.
"Who's the president?"
I couldn't answer that one either.
“Do you know this gentleman?" Nancy asked, nodding to the man beside the bed.
He looked at me with hopeful blue eyes. He was good-looking. A square jaw lined with dark stubble. He had wavy, dark hair and a nice physique. By the way he was looking at me, I figured there was something between us. I hated to break his heart, but I had never seen him before in my life.
"It's okay," Nancy said. "It may take a little time for you to start firing on all cylinders. I wouldn't be alarmed just yet." She smiled, but there was concern behind her eyes.
I felt like she might have been sugarcoating things. I didn’t like thejust yetpart.
“We’re going to run through a few basic tests. Can you smile big for me?"
I didn't feel like smiling, but I did anyway.
Nancy stared at my face to make sure my smile was the same on both sides and that I wasn't drooping. I guess I passed the test because she held out her finger. "I want you to squeeze as hard as you can."
I grabbed her index finger with my left hand and squeezed.
She seemed impressed. "Good. Now your right."
I repeated the process with the other hand, and she gave a satisfied smile.
"Can you wiggle your toes for me?"
I did, and they all moved like they were supposed to.
Nancy tickled the bottom of my left foot. "Can you feel that?"
I thought the answer was pretty obvious by the way I jerked my foot away. She repeated the process on my right foot, and fortunately, I had sensation.
"Are you experiencing any dizziness or nausea?"
"No."
“All good signs,” she said with a reassuring smile. “I don't see anything out of the ordinary. I'll let Dr. Russell know that you’re awake. If he doesn't stop by today, it'll be tomorrow. Then maybe we can remove the nasogastric tube and start you on something light."
"When can I get out of here?"
She laughed. "Let's take it slow. We need to get you eating and walking. The doctor will want to run a few tests, and you'll need physical therapy to regain your strength. It goes quickly when you don't use it."
