Her Death, My Revenge

Chapter 4: Someone Else’s Life

The second time I open my eyes, I hear hushed voices arguing in the background.

“It is common to be a little disoriented after a near drowning experience.” Someone says.

“But I think she recognized her name.”

“That doesn't mean she fully recalls everything.”

The words drift above me like they belong in a different room. I kept my eyes closed and listened.

“She didn't ask anything strange,” a man says. “Your daughter might just be confused from the concussion. She did hit her head after all.” he took a tired sigh. "That is a good sign, not far from a miracle. Not many people survived a hit to the head like that while also drowning.”

A pause slithered through. Before…

“Or a bad one,” a girl’s voice cuts through, in a slow suggestive tone. “Shock can do weird things.”

I recognize the voice from Natalia's memories. It was Madison. Her cousin. My fingers went tense under the blanket. I blinked, slowly opening my eyes as I looked around.

The same white ceiling and soft lights welcome me. The steady beep of the monitor beside me. I turn my head just enough to see them.

Natalia's parents. No… My parents now it seems. They sat close to the bed. Too close. Mrs Evelyn Whitmore, Natalia's mom, folds her hands tightly on her laps. Her father, Mr Damon Whitmore stood near the window, his shoulders looked stiff as his eyes fixated on me. A doctor and a nurse holding a clipboard. Madison stands a step behind them. While watching me with guarded eyes.

“There she is,” Mrs Evelyn exclaims gleefully. “Natalia?” I tried to swallow a bit of saliva, but my throat felt dry. “I’m awake,” I replied. My voice sounds strange to me. Softer, even as my throat was dry and calmer, like it never learned how to shout.

Relief floods her face as she lets out a sigh. She reaches for my hand, then hesitates like she remembers something.

“Your head, does it hurt?” her eyes dimmed as a glimmer of tears appeared in them.

“Water, please."

“Okay dear.” She muttered as her hand hastily reached for the jug beside me on the hospital bed table.

“Here sweety.” She says, bringing a cup of water to my lips. I drank like an animal stranded in the desert, thirsty for the tiniest drop of water. Like I wasn't just drowning in a sea of it a few days ago.

“Everywhere hurts,” I say as she returns the cup to the table. It was the safest answer I could give. The doctor stepped forward. “Do you know where you are?”

“A hospital?” My brows furrowed as I looked up at him.

“And your name?”

I pause for half a second. Not long enough to raise suspicion. “Natalia…” I said slowly. “Natalia Whitmore.”

My mother releases a sharp breath I didn't know she held while my father simply closes his eyes. Madison’s shoulders drop. She tries to hide it fast. But I caught the panic that went through her eyes.

“Good,” the doctor says. “That’s good. Do you remember the party?” Madison chimes in.

“Party? What party?” I asked, looking straight at her.

“Your birthday party.”

I shake my head. Slowly. Carefully. “No. I don't… Sorry I don't remember.”

My mother presses her lips together. “Its alright my dear, don't think too hard. You fell into the pool that night.”

Madison nods quickly. “You scared us. You just disappeared.”

I look at her. She had a sweet smile on her face with a look of concern. A huge contrast from the look she had given Natalia as she sank deeper into the pool.

I bent my head down, bringing a palm to my forehead as I questioned her. “How did I fall into the pool? I can't remember fully, everything seems blurry from that night.” I looked up, straight at Madison, then shook my head sideways. “It feels like I was suddenly pushed or someone was dragging me.”

The room went still. I see my parents… Natalia's parents thinking back to what might have actually happened.

Madison laughs. A light but brittle sound. “Why… Why would anyone do that? You fell after having too many drinks that night. You said you wanted to feel alive, remember?” She said it like something she wanted me to believe, her eyes were directly on me. “Being an adult for the first time. It was your birthday after all.” She tried to appear calm, but I noticed the quiet tremble her hands made.

“I don’t remember clearly,” I say. “That’s why I asked.”

My father cleared his throat. “You probably slipped. It was crowded and you were drunk. I told you to wait until you were twenty-one before taking any alcohol.”

“Right,” Madison adds. “You probably got dizzy.”

The doctor watches all of us closely. “Memory gaps might fill in later. Or they might not.”

My mother squeezes my hand softly. “Don’t push yourself too much dear.”

I nod once at her.

Madison steps closer to the edge of my bed. Leaning over, her voice low. “You don’t remember anything else?” she asks. “Nothing at all?”

I meet her eyes. “Is there something I should remember?”

Her breath quivers. She straightens quickly. “No. It's good you're okay,” she says. “I'm just concerned about you.”

The doctor checks my vitals again. “We will have to keep her overnight for more observation before she can be cleared for discharge. She should avoid stimulation so no visitors.”

“ I'm staying,” my mother stated, with no room for arguments.

“So will I,” Madison adds.

My mother hesitates. “Madison, you should rest, go home. Tomorrow you can visit.”

“I’m fine,” she insists. “I want to be here.” Her gaze flicks at me again. Sharp and searching, then she smiled at me.

I smile back. A small but empty smile. “Stay,” I say. “Mom, it's alright I want Madison with me.”

Madison freezes. Then she smiles wider. “Of course.”

The doctor leaves. My father steps out to take a call, while my mother moves to the couch, arranging a few things in the duffle bag they had brought for me.

Madison pulls a chair close to the bed. “You scared me,” she says softly. “I thought you were dead.”

I watched her fingers twist together on her lap. “I thought I was too,”

Her eyes shift fast. “What do you remember last?” she asks.

“Nothing before waking up,” I reply. “Just… darkness. Why do you keep asking me that question?”

She nods repeatedly. “Yeah. That makes sense. Nothing really. I just wanted to know if you remembered what happened at the party before you fell.”

Silence stretches between us. Madison rubs her hands together as the atmosphere becomes tense. I decided to break it.

“Where’s Justin?” I ask.

Her head snaps up.