Page 5 of The Two Last Moments

Blue Eyes smiles tentatively at me. “You’re at West Oaks County Hospital. You were in an accident. Do you remember?”

“Not really.” An accident. What kind of accident? Am I hurt? I can’t tell. Sedated must mean drugs, and that could explain the swimmy feeling in my head. Not the fun kind of swimmy though. This feeling is crap.

“I want off this ride.” My voice slurs.

“I don’t blame you. Give it a few minutes.”

“Your eyes…”

“Yes?” he asks.

“Are nice. You’re nice to…look at.”

Wow. I have zero filter apparently.

He chuckles, a breathy sound that runs over me like a caress. “Relax a bit. Have some water.” He holds up a glass for me to drink. When I’m done, he sets the glass aside, then rests his elbows on his knees, peering at me. “I’m Danny. Danny Bradley.”

“Hi, Danny.”

“What about you?”

“Me?”

I get lost trying to figure that one out. Whataboutme?

A few minutes later, the nurse is finished checking my vitals and who knows what else. I’m feeling more awake and in control, though my arms and legs are strapped to the bed like a cannibal on a true crime show. I plan out what I’m going to say.

“Sorry…if I was being weird.” I clear my throat. “I’m very chill now.”

Danny smiles. The nurse crosses her arms over the tablet, lips quirking like she’s hiding her own grin.

Sure, drug me and laugh at me when I’m a hot mess. That seems fair.

“Promise I’m better. You can untie me, right?”

“Not just yet, hon. I’m Julie. What’s your name? You didn’t come in with any ID.” She poises her finger over her computer.

I speak without thinking. “Lark.”

“Last name?”

“I…” I wait for another answer to come. But there’s nothing.

And it’s not just that. There’snothingwhere I can feel there’s supposed to besomething. Like I’m groping in a dark room, and I can’t find the light. “I don’t know my last name.”

The machine by my bed beeps faster.

“That’s okay,” Danny says. “Take your time.”

I turn to him. “Your name is Danny, but do Iknowyou?”

He and Nurse Julie exchange a glance. They’re talking silently about me, and I don’t like it. There’s a lot about this situation I don’t like.

“I remember…”

“You remember?” Danny prompts.

I trail off, not sure where I was going with that. Just that I rememberhim, though I have no idea from where.

---