TWENTY-SIX
“When I opened my eyes again, I could see several unfamiliar faces staring down at me. As my eyes began to focus on my surroundings, I realised that I was in a hospital bed. As I tried to move, one of the doctors placed a hand on my shoulder and told me to remain still. I could see all manner of tubes and wires emanating from machines placed around my bed, all leading directly to me. When I tried to speak, I realised that there was a plastic tube in my mouth, which seemed to pass right down into my throat. A smaller one was inserted inside one of my nostrils, which hampered my breathing.
“Before I had another chance to try and protest, I blacked out. When I came back around, my sister Jane was sitting by my bedside, and most of the tubes had been removed, except for one still
