"I do" I say, Niall's arms muffling my voice, hearing the siren coming closer ...


A face looking at me through the shattered passenger door...




A crowd staring, taking pictures or recording and whispering ...



The same face as before, leaning over me and smiling encouragingly. It's a male face, he's wearing a blue uniform and holding on to a handle above his head to keep from falling because everything is moving ...



"Welcome to the Brooklyn Hospital Center, I am Dr Benson. Can you tell me your name?" ...
Something hurts, I start crying "It will be alright Ms Klett, your persons to contact are on their way. I will give you something against the pain. It will calm you down, too. You need to rest now" ...

---

Neon lights shine through my closed eyelids. There is no sound to be heard. The smell is... sterile? I am lying and someone is holding my right hand. Slowly, I open my eyes. I try lifting my head, too, but it's so heavy. I recognise Anne sitting beside the bed I am in, her hands wrapped around mine.
"Hey" she says, softly smiling when she registers my being awake. "How are you feeling?"
"Uhm, I don't know... Damn, what did they give me?! I can't think straight and my body feels like Jell-O" My voice cracks at the end of my sentence, I am truly frustrated.
Anne laughs lightly "You do seem to be able to complain though, that's good I guess. Do you remember what happened?"
"There was this lunatic cab driver pulling in our lane. We had to put on the emergency break and someone must have driven against us. Then I was brought to the Brooklyn Hospital Center where they told me you and Max were informed and they'd give me something against the pain and to calm me down." I sum up everything I can recall, being the good girl that I am. "How long have I been out for?"
"Only an hour or so. I e-mailed your parents, you know. Your dad is already on his way here."
"Oh" I'm happy and excited to see my father again in person, but... "Is there something wrong with me?" I expect Anne to reply something like "You've just been in a car accident, what do you expect - walking out of here without a bruise?!" but she has this serious look on her face.
"I genuinely don't know. The doctors said, they might have discovered something on the MRT. At first they said they just wanted to check you thoroughly, but ... I don't know" She looked really worried.
The door opens and Max comes in, carrying a few snacks. "Oh, hey! You're awake. I'm so glad, we were worried sick about you!" He steps up to my bed "You don't know how badly I want to hug you right now, but you seem so fragile" His forehead is crinkling, turning his expression from relieved to anxious.
"It's alright, I'm fine, believe me" I try to encourage him.
He sits down to my left, grabs my hand and says "I'm positive"
Max's feelings and thoughts can be erratic from time to time. I know other people find that enormly confusing, but I've come to understand him. He's just a positive and loving person, he can't handle negativity for long. Leave it to Max to find a positive aspect in every situation or hope for a good outcome.
Opposed to that, Anne is more realistic and somewhat pessimistic. She still looks down at me majorly concerned.
I sigh deeply. Oh how I hope, Max is right and everything will be just fine. Maybe I should take a leaf out of his book and simply be happy my dad is going be here. I could show him around on campus and the city, he will be able to see my apartment - not on a screen this time - and meet my friends and my fellow students and Niall...
"How is Niall?" I burst out panicky, having totally forgotten about him. I feel so guilty and self-centered.
"Uhm this Eleanor chick is waiting outside, she said Niall sent her on 'Sophie-duty' or something. You want me to ask her in?" Max suggests.
"Yes, thanks Maxie" I smile gratefully
He gets to the door and adresses Eleanor: "Hey, you want to come in? She woke up..."
"Thankyou"
They both come in again and while Max sits down on the chair he's been in, Eleanor stands awkwardly beside him.
"Hey, are you okay" she questions formally.
"I feel alright... But the doctors will be back with further information, I think" I look towards Anne insecurely.
She reassuringly squeezes my hand and nods.
"Do you know anything about Niall?"
"Yes he's up and frisky as ever. He didn't stop asking about you, but the doctors said he mustn't leave his bed. The only way to keep him there was for me to promise looking after you. There is not much I can do for you though, I'm so sorry."
"Don't worry about it but thankyou anyways" We share shy smiles

Notes

I wanted to support her impressions with some visuals. What do you think about that?

There are some more or less obvious clues on what's to come in the next chapter(s). Anyone got any wishes about that? I know where I want to go, but maybe one of you has an idea I like better...?

Do you like it when I tell something about the minor characters, or do you want the story to be more focused on Sophie? Or Sophie and Niall, I just noticed I didn't give much inside on him yet. I'll change that

xoxo