Morning After
The first sense to respond was hearing. Registering the mechanical humming of something as of yet unknown. Her other senses slowly pulled their own weight, one by one coming online to piece together where she was. Misery finally opened her eyes, grateful at the very least for the absence of glaring sunlight. There was enough light, however. Enough to take in her setting.
A room, comfortable yet not very comforting. Even in peripheral she could see the mask that rested upon her face. The machine beside her providing a mechanical supply of oxygen to that mask to give her necessary quantity. Above that machine, a steady drip provided to an unknown substance. Perhaps only fluid. It drained out down a tube that vanished under the sheets in the region of her arm.
A hospital. And she knew exactly which one it was. Had not been her first time in this place. Her head lowered back to the pillow to close her eyes once more. She passed the time now trying simply to remember.
She had been there with the Collective. She had remembered the shadows encroaching. Zena, Maud, she knew she needed to keep hold of them so they would not be lost to the darkness. The memories of her ‘family’ flooding back, the years of misery before Misery.
And then, she was here. Had she failed? If so, why would she still be alive?
Her thoughts broke as the door to her room was opened. A figure entering, a familiar face decorated below by a crisp white coat. She moved to stand beside the bedding, at first assessing the drip and the machine before looking down to the Dwarf herself.
“Good morning.” Mia spoke in a tone of professional respect. “I know what you might be wondering. You’ve been out for about twelve hours. Your body was in a state of shock without injury. Likely the result of an acute mental stress. We see it often in Void-based attacks.”
Misery closed her eyes to take a slow breath. Maybe it was best that she didn’t remember what exactly it was that put her down.
“An’ Xerxes?” Misery inquired.
“Secured, by what I saw. I offered to take him into my care as well but it was insisted he remain at the Breach under the care of another. You, on the other hand, needed to be monitored. You’ll be pleased to know that all of your systems seem to now be back in normal ranges. Even did some labs, which also returned normal. You’re healthy as can be.”
Misery took only a minimal comfort in the reassurances. But she was not without manners. She lifted a hand from beneath her covers to offer to Mia.
“Than’ ye, Doctor. So what now, I stay here fer a few days’r..?”
Mia took the hand in both of her own, contrasting the thick, stocky grip of the Dwarf with her slender fingers. “Hardly. You recovered very well. I’m going to hold you until the afternoon if that is alright, simply to assure you have no complications given that you just recently awoke.”
“Tha’s fine.” Miz agreed, managing a weak little smile under the oxygen mask. She released Mia’s hands and dropped her arm back to the bedding. “Could ye open m’window a crack though? If ye don’t mind. I’d like ta be able ta hear tha birds, smell tha air a bit.”
Mia nodded, moving to the window and releasing a small latch before pushing it out to open. The morning spring air filled the space, giving Misery cause to lift her mask from her face and try for a fresh breath.
Mia chuckled at the silly display, moving back to the bedside and replacing that mask with a nasal one at a lower flow rate. Miz relaxed significantly in absence of such a device, her breathing steady and deep.
“Get a bit more rest, Ms. Misery.” With that, Mia gave a soft pat to Miz’ arm and departed the room, leaving the Dwarf alone once more. She didn’t have much a choice but to comply with the Doctor’s wishes at this moment. Thus, she settled back into her pillow and closed her eyes, seeking the calm of sleep once more.
[Mentions: @tanzrielle @harvee-sarah-zena @coldwall-collective @systemic-infection]
