Chapter 1: It's a …joke, right?
"Clara…" I can feel someone's hand cupping the apple of my cheeks. His hand rough with callouses but is filled with warmth.
"Clara…" his deep baritone voice calling my name sweetly, almost devoutly. His voice full of longing and love for the person he's calling. As if imploring…begging for something…
Until it turned dark. Screeching. Full of murderous intent.
"CLARA!!!" the voice turned mad, his hand that had been gently my cupping cheeks now gripped them tightly as if he wanted to hurt me.
Pain shot through me and I winced in pain.
No!
I don't want this.
Why…Why is this happening to me?
Who is he? Why does he want to hurt her?
"You can't leave me Clara!" the voice declared coldly, echoing left and right, haunting my ears.
Then the voice zeroed in my ears: "If you leave me, I'll ruin you Clara--"
Before the voice finished, I feel everything spiral and then suddenly—
BEEP…BEEP…BEEP
I opened my eyes and saw pure white ceiling. The soft and continuous beeping of machines hummed in my ears as I try to make sense of where I am.
I want to sit up, but I can't. My body's not listening to me. I feel numbness in every part of my body.
I scanned the room using my eyes and saw the room is extremely spacious with a terrace which shines enough sunlight in the room.
That's all I can observe since I can't move my body. I really hope someone comes in and explain to me what's happening right now.
I believe I'm in a hospital room, that I can deduce.
But why? How? I don't remember anything serious happening before I went to sleep, well, aside from my severe lack of sleep due to workload.
The last thing I remember was that I was checking test papers of my students before I went to dream land happily.
My thoughts were interrupted by the sudden opening of the door. A lady who wears a white scrub uniform entered. Definitely a nurse.
The nurse went in and went to the machines beeping. It seems that she didn't notice yet that I am awake.
"H-el-p…" I tried to call her but my voice is croaking. I feel my throat so dry that talking alone hurt.
Fortunately, my croaking voice is enough to be heard in this quiet room as the nurse turned to me.
For a brief moment, our eyes met, and I immediately saw relief flashed across her face which confuses me for a bit.
Are we…close?
"Thank God! You're awake!" the nurse exclaimed and immediately pushes the button in near the bed. While waiting she also adjust the level of the bed, so I was nearly sitting upright.
Surprisingly, a person wearing a lab coat, immediately burst in the room. Without even a minute!
I must say, the services here is pretty good!
"Hello, Mrs. Graves," the doctor introduced himself standing near the bed.
An old man, wearing spectacles, lab coat and stethoscope around his neck.
A nurse and now a doctor. It seems that I was really sent to hospital but… why?
And how? I don't remember anything!
Is there something happened to me while I'm asleep? This is vexing!
It seems that the doctor noticed the confusion in my eyes and introduced himself, "I'm Dr. Francis and I am your attending physician. Let me check your vital signs first and then I'll answer your questions, is that okay?"
I tried to nod even through my weak body and he immediately performed checks. "You're very stable. Just dehydrated and you may feel your throat hurts when you speak, so avoid it for the time being," the doctor concluded and stored away his tools.
"Do you feel any pain? Just nod or shook your head to answer if you can't talk yet. Don't force yourself."
I shook my head. There's no pain, just numbness you feel when you don't move your body for a very long time.
Doctor Francis nodded and wrote down something, "Do you know your name?"
I nodded again but this time I tried to answer him, "C-la-ra… Ever-ly." I said weakly.
Yeah, my name is Clara Everly which is confusing because he called me Mrs. Graves when he introduced himself.
I didn't think much of it before because of the situation but now I realized that's odd.
Does he, perhaps, walked in the wrong room? That must be it!
I stared up at the shocked faces of both the nurse and the doctor.
What?
Did I say something wrong?
The doctor although shocked, continued his questions, "M-Mrs. Graves… what do you think is the date today?" his voice quiet.
I stared at them, frowning in confusion. Why are they asking the date?
"I-Its November 25th… 2040," I answered honestly though baffled at their shocked expressions.
"Oh my God!" the nurse exclaimed and although feint I can also hear the doctor curse under his breath.
"Get the picture frame in Mr. Graves desk!" ordered by the doctor. "Now!"
The nurse immediately ran towards the left side of room, and I noticed that there was actually a desk, bookshelves, and cabinets in the left corner of this spacious room.
It looks like a mini office.
I saw the nurse grab the picture frame on top of the desk and brought it over.
The doctor grabbed the picture frame and held it in front of me, "Mrs. Graves… do you know… who this person is?" he asked carefully, his eyes searching mine, as if afraid of what my answer will be.
The picture frame looks simple, square-shaped with metal frame that looks like pure silver. It looks like it's a very expensive one, but what grabs my attention is the inside of the picture frame.
It was me…
…and a guy I don't recognize. Wearing bridal attires, grinning almost tearing our faces, and wearing expensive looking wedding rings which gleamed brightly in the photo.
If it's a normal wedding photo, I will cheer the couple on with all I've got but…
I looked at the both of them, grinning, "Did you photo-shopped this?" I joked. It's not even April fools, my goodness!
The doctor looked at my eyes, dead serious, "Mrs. Graves, I'm doctor, not an editor."
"It's a …joke, right?" I asked in disbelief. Is this a prank, or is someone taking a video right now?