A Fresh Start

The aftermath

When I woke up it was so bright I thought for sure that I must be dead and that this was the bright light that people always talk about when they have a death experience. I looked around the room and saw a bunch of machines beeping and flashing. I couldn't move my head around very well and when I reached up I felt a hard plastic thing around my neck. also, my mouth felt very funny and my throat felt scratchy and when I felt my mouth there was a plastic something or other in my mouth. I was starting to panic and I could feel theorizing up in me when I felt a hand Pat my arm and lean over me. well I see you're finally awake sleeping beauty, the woman said softly. I flinched away at first but her voice was so kind and sweet. it's okay dear we will get that too out of your throat shortly. all I could do was blink my eyes at her because I wasn't able to talk with the tube in my mouth. I had a million and one questions for her but, I guess they would have to wait for later. so I just shut my eyes. you just rest for a bit and I'll go get Dr Patel and let him know that you're awake, she said softly while she patted my arm and then walked out of my room. a few minutes later a gray-haired man and a white coat and tie that was covered in multicolored Easter eggs came into the room. he had a warm smile that made me feel at ease. he came over to my bed and looked in my eyes with the light and then he checked my pulse and listened to my chest with the stethoscope. after that he smiled at me and said, some Mrs Swartz do you know why you're in the hospital? I closed my eyes for a minute trying to think and then all of the images of Rico beating me flash through my mind my eyes popped open and terror was clearly written all over my face. Tears began to trickle down my face as I thought about my precious baby. I tried to speak but I couldn't say anything with the tube still in my throat. don't try to say anything Mrs Swartz I'm going to remove this too and then you can speak to the officers who have been waiting for you to wake up, he turned and spoke softly to the nurse and she turned and went out of the door. a few minutes later she came back into the room carrying a tray with various things on it. she set them down on the table by the bed and both her and the doctor slept on some rubber gloves. okay Mrs Swartz take a deep breath as I slide this tube out, I close my eyes as the doctor asked me are you ready? I nodded my head and kept my eyes, I took as deep of breath as I could. the doctor counted to three and gently slid the tube out of my throat. I swallowed when the tube was gone but my throat felt dry and scratchy. I wondered just how long that tube had been in there. I opened my eyes and Dr Patel's smiling at me. how does that feel Mrs schwartz? AJ, at cropped out barely above a whisper. Dr Patel smiled down at me, okay AJ how does that feel? a little sore, I crackled. that is to be expected here I want you to sip on this water, he said as he handed me a white Styrofoam cup with a straw sticking out of it. I took a small sip of water. it felt so cold sweating down my sore throat. AJ there are a couple of police officers who are waiting outside and they need to ask you a few questions concerning the incident that brought you to the hospital 3 days ago, Dr Patel said with concern in his voice. I nodded my head and asked him, my baby didn't survive did it? Dr Patel looked down for a minute and then looked me in the eyes before he said, no I am so sorry she was gone before you arrived in the ambulance. my eyes snapped up to him. it was a girl? I barely squeaked out. yes he replied sadly. okay I'm ready to talk to the officers, I said sadly he turned around and walked to the door and opened it and motioned for the officers to come in. when the officers walked into the room, Dr Patel left. the two male officers walk to the side of my bed. the first one was about 5 ft 11 in tall and had short black hair and he looked uncomfortable about having to be there. the other one was about 6 ft 3 in tall and had brown curly hair. I saw the second one had a wedding band on and I noticed that he looks slightly irritated. hello ma'am I am detective Baines and this is my partner detective McLane, he said trying to sound more cheerful than his face looked. hi, I said nervously. I wasn't quite sure why they needed to speak to me. do you remember what exactly happened to you that made you have to come to the hospital? detective Baines asked politely. Yes unfortunately I do, I said with sorrow in my voice. I spent the next couple of hours recounting every single detail of my attack to the detectives. I told them about how Rico had beaten me so bad that he had killed my daughter. when I had answered all of the detectives questions they excuse themselves from my room in a few minutes later my nurse came back into my room and gave me something for pain and I drifted off to sleep.