PW RELOADED..............14

PURE WHITE

Lydia Jenkins

NATIONAL NOVEMBER WRITERS MONTH

RELOADED

FOR MY GOD AND FAMILY!

THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME THE WOMAN THAT I AM.

A SHOUT OUT TO MY INSPIRATIONS:

TED DEKKER

BRANDON SANDERSON

TERRY PRATCHETT

AND

MIKE SHAFFER

PART I

10.18.14

Sirens wailed in the distance. Red and blue lights flashed as they sped through the rain.

Drivers were often careless after the sun went down, the police knew this. It left law enforcement to

protect those who were on the road- at the mercy of lamp lights, poor vision, and drunks. Friday nights

were the worst, being the eve of every school student and career man's longed for hope- the weekend.

Rain didn't help.

A car had been forced off the highway twenty minutes ago. It had been a drunk driver, said

witnesses, who had caused the other car to swerve over the ledge, into the murky channel. The

unknown victim was trapped in their car, possibly unconscious, as it bobbed- slowing sinking into the

cold water.

***

Blood trickled down Sheile's forehead in the dim light. She heard yelling from somewhere

and...some kind of wailing. The voices were muffled. Was someone crying? Slowly she became aware

of the pain. It started in her side and coursed through Sheile's entire body, spreading out like roots of an

old oak. Or REDWOOD. Ugh. Sheile glanced down through the steering wheel bar. Water seeped

through the lining of Sheile's car doors, creating wet spots that rapidly spread. The carpet was

becoming soggy as it soaked in channel water like a sponge. It squelched as she moved her feet.

Sheile shivered and tried to lift her head. It felt so heavy! She groaned. Bracing weak arms against the

steering wheel, Sheile pushed herself up against the seat back.

She rubbed her eyes. Her hand came back red. Huh. Sheile stared at the blood without

comprehension. Her mind brushed away the evidence of injury as presently insignificant. Time to ditch

this joint! Sheile reached for the door handle.

She tugged. Nothing happened. Sheile tried again, harder. Water pressure kept the door firmly shut. It

was stuck. She was stuck. Frustrated, Sheile let out a cry and smacked the door with her palm, smearing

blood. She combed her fingers through sodden hair, spreading color with her life blood. Panic was

creeping in. Desperate tears welled in her eyes. Sheile's instincts caused her anger to flare, keeping

panic at bay.

She lashed out violently, twisting her body as she brought her legs up to kick the door.

CRACK! ...crack. Echoed a smaller noise. It was a shock to Sheile that it had worked. Her leg

spasm. Ow! Ooh, ow! No time to waste. Her eyes grew large as water flooded the cabinet. This plan...?

It was not thought through. Came a wry thought. She barely gulped a lung of air and close her eyes

before the water covered her head.

An odd calm washed over Sheile as she was enveloped by the wave. Her scrunched face relaxed

as she opened her eyes, looking around. Hands forming a steeple, Sheile dove forward. The fishes were

welcome to stay here, but not her! She was going to avoid an early, watery grave. Sheile gasped as her

head broke the surface, splashing loudly. Sheile reached shore, exhausted. Strong hands reached out

over the ledge.

They carefully hauled her up, cradling the young woman's head. She was held in the

paramedic's arms as he knelt on the wet asphalt, another laying his medic bag beside the two. A gurney

was being wheeled over. Breathing heavily, her tired eyes took in several stilt house forms glowing red

and blue as the stars shone overhead, muted. Sheile tried her voice. Nothing came out. The girl's eyes

froze as her mouth hung open. Sheile's body arched. A second later she caved, going limp. More yelling

and frantic movement. Wires were spread to monitor vitals. A hand beat against Sheile's chest. Crack.

Three ribs broke. A strong voice rang out in the night “CLEAR!”. Drrz Buzzt. “AGAIN! Clear!” Drrrz

Buzztt! Her head lay on something soft, but Sheile wasn't there anymore. She was dead to the world.

***

An eternity later her heart jumped. Sheile opened her eyes to metallic gray. Or was it silver?

Tangled, wet hair lay sprawled on damp shoulders. Everything was wet. An officer had offered his

heavy coat for Sheile. It was laid over the straps and blankets that weight her down on the gurney.

Paramedics hovered around the young woman. They were concerned, and perplexed by the girl's

revival, not to mention her apparent lack of major injury. Well, beyond dying. Sheile had flat-lined.

She was fine now.

Sheile's head was clean and bandaged. Her arm and right foot were splinted. They had also

checked for concussion and placed a white heavy plastic guard on her neck, in case of abrasion.

Sheile's foggy awareness was thankful for the IV pumping a cocktail of painkillers ans saline into her

system.

The medics were taking Sheile to the hospital. There, she would get the full work over to make

sure there weren't any internal injuries, etc. When Sheile had mumbled her request for a hot drink, she

had receive an apologetic shrug. Luxuries for the patient would have to wait until she was settled into a

hospital room. The man gave her a small heating pack for each hand. Sheile shivered, gratefully

absorbing heat for her chilled body.

***

The ambulance gave a final whup whup as they arrived at the hospital. As the paramedics

wheeled Sheile up and in, she noticed that the facility they had brought her to was high end. Can even I

afford this? So plush...so posh! Sheile's wandering eyes leveled on a very attractive young doctor. She

blushed as he met the paramedics, shaking their hands.

“She's a live one!” The older fellow told Dr. Curtis. He looked over at the silent patient. Her

face was beet-red. High fever? The girl's doe eyes peered at him through thick lashes before looking

away. Probably not. He would go easy on this little one- for a while. It was going to be so much fun

teasing her! A ghost of a smile crossed his lips. “Duly noted.” He gave the paramedic a hard pat on the

back and took the paperwork offered. “Thanks guys. Take care!” They waved and carried their bags

out.

Sheile hunched her shoulders, nosing as much face under the blanket as possible. It wasn't

much. She was trying to hide a smile. A lust-at-first-sight, flirtatious smile. Her face hadn't stopped

flaming. It was worse when his good humored eyes turned on her, piercing the young woman's heart.

They were starlight bright. It was a shade of white, tinted blue. The doctor sported a pencil,

jawline beard. Blond. His cheeks had a healthy glow, and he was tall. Sheile knew she should turn

away, but the young in this girl wanted to drown in those eyes. Her heart sighed, drinking in the sight.

He saw a smile peeking at the edge of her blankets. Dr. Curtis return it, oblivious to the young

woman's yearning. Nurse Mary came by. “Doctor?” She asked, glancing at Sheile.

“Ah. Yes. New patient. Over night stay. Here are the notes.” He handed her a sheaf of papers.

The nurse took them, scanning the page. Her eyes took in name, birthday, and listed injuries.

“Sheile Miller.”

“Yes.”

“Okay. I'll see if she's in the system. Miss?” This was directed to Sheile.

“Yes.”

“ Have you been to this hospital before?” Remembering the quality and decor of the

commons, Sheile promptly said, “No.”

“Ah. We'll need to check anyway. Medical files should be available on History-Hub.” Sheile

would have nodded with the doctor, but she couldn't. Neck brace.

***

10.22.14

Sheile was bored out of her mind! As she stared at the wall, averting her eyes from the silent

TV, Sheile's mind played tricks on her. She was sure of it. Fully awake and seemingly coherent, Sheile

saw small things shift.

Must be delirium. She decided firmly. The print on a cup doesn't change right before your eyes! And

the degree of light which her lamps shone with? Nah. Must be her. Or, perhaps the light bulbs simply

needed to be replaced. Yes. That must be the problem. Peculiar things that the general populous tend to

be superstitious about had perfectly logical explanations. Sheile nodded to herself primly as she

thought this. The girl didn't see a doctor enter, so absorbed in her line of reasoning. She was startled

when a deep, masculine voice said, “Hello.” It was him. Color rose in her cheeks. Darn it!

Dr. Curtis observed his patient's reaction with mind amusement.

“How are you today, Miss Miller?” Sheile glanced from side to side. He made her mind go

blank. She didn't like that- not one bit! Tilting her head, lips pursed, Sheile went with a safe answer.

“Fine.” He walked over to the bed as she said this, picking up her chart. Sheile looked away.

She wasn't fine. The cast on her arm and legs weren't worth the aggravation of not being about to move

either freely, or itch. She didn't itch her limbs on a normal basis, but not being able made her want to do

it! Dr. Curtis looked over at Sheile. He could tell she was doing well. Remarkable well and kicking.

But the young woman obviously felt cooped up- confined in her hospital bed, the window ten feet

away. He let the pages flip down. It was decide. Philip could spare some time for this miserable girl.

He slipped the clipboard back into the clear file-catch on the wall with a click. Suddenly he smiled,

directing it to Sheile. Odd. She tensed, nerves humming as she waited. Sheile jumped when his hands

clapped together. “Oops. Sorry-” Dr. Curtis apologized. She relaxed some, rolling a shoulder. He

tried a more gentle approach.

“How would you feel about a little adventure, Miss Miller?” Philip asked kindly, a small rise to

his voice. She stared at him for a moment before asking, “Why?” It came out like a stage whisper, firm

but quiet. Hmm. Enough with antics. Dr. Curtis was a professional. He hadn't gone to Med-School

for nothing!

“Fresh air.” He told her simply.

“Fresh-” Her voice tapered off in wonder. She turned her

face toward the window, expression filled with longing. What had it been- two days? It felt like two

weeks. “Yes.”

“Yes?”

“Yes, I will go with you.” Sheile stated, as if it was an honor bestowed upon him.

Philip's mouth twitched. “Very good.” He turned to the closet. Wedging a wheel chair out for his

patient. Bumping the door shut again, Dr. Curtis wheeled it over to her bed.

“Well?” She cocked a brow. Glancing at her casts she said dryly, “I need a little help, Blondie.”

“Oh yes. Of course!” The usage of his nickname almost passed unnoticed, so familiar was it to

the doctor. He went by many names, actually. Hey You, Dr. Phil, Blondie... His proper title was

Dr. Curtis. He decided not to comment. She would never use his nickname again, if he said anything.

Philip preferred informality, even though he generally called patients by their proper names. He was a

bit of a hypocrite in that way. Philip liked to think of himself as a deeply paradoxical man. Not a

shallow bone in his body...

Sheile tolerated a hand put behind her back as Dr. Curtis helped the young woman out of bed.

She had a goal. A cause. Nature beckoned. Sheile breathed deeply the scents that flutter by, captured by

her senses. The doctor helped Sheile onto the granite bench. It was a facet of small pebbles in dull

colors, but a great verity of size and shapes.

“Ahhh!” She sighed, drooped in the bench, head back. Her lips curled with pleasure. She didn't

even notice the doctor's presence. Sheile's brow smoothed as her chin lifted up, clear as the blue sky

overhead. He watch the girl enjoy the hospital's patient garden as though it held roses and every floral

sprout possible.

***

11.6.14

In no time at all, Sheile was free! She felt liberated!

Two days after the hospital sent her home with pills and a blessing, Sheile got a follow-up

appointment to get her leg and arm cast removed. Yes! She was triumphant! Haha! Sheile rejoiced at

the sensation of moving her hand without constraint. She cranked her wrist, stretching fingers and

popping knuckles. Yes! Her mind yelled once more. Yes! It felt so good ! The attending nurse bit the

inside of her cheek at the obvious flushing joy that shone on the girl's face. Nurse Patricia had a spiel to

deliver.

“Now,” Patricia started, getting Ms. Miller's attention. “Have you ever broken anything

before?” Sheile looked up from her hand to the nurse.

“Nope. First time! First wreck...” She pursed her lips, dark memories attempting to flood her

thoughts.

“Okay. Well, then I won't be giving you the talk in vain, right?”

“Right?” Sheile echoed, not entirely sure what the nurse meant.

“If you've been here before, you'd know the basic DON'Ts.” Sheile nodded at this. “Okay. Don't

push yourself too hard. You'll be weak for a couple weeks. Though,” She commented, shaking her

head. “We've never had anyone as cheerful and healthy recover this fast!” Sheile shrugged.

“In the genes, I guess!” She flashed a brief smile. Sheile had never been sick for long and wasn't

about to start! Patricia went on, eyes scanning the page of information she gave normal patients.

“Uh, physical therapy. You may sign up at a gym close to your apartment, or come back to a

Med Center. This is a new program, involving the community, staying local. What would you prefer,

Ms. Miller?” Sheile thought for a moment. The hospital staff were awesome....but it would be cheaper

to apply at the gym. She knew a good place! Filling the patient silence, Sheile replied, “The gym.” Her

nurse nodded, reaching for a clipboard.

“And which will you attend?”

“Hale's Haven on 7^th.” Patricia made a few notations and handed Sheile the form.

“Sign please.” Sheile took the pen offered, scribbling her best mark. She was actually quite

proud of her signature. It had evolved into something beautiful since she was twelve and indecisive

with good intentions.

“Alright!” Patricia said cheerily, clicking the pen off as Sheile returned them. “You're set. Good

to go.” She winked. Sheile smiled.

“Thanks!”

“Just stop by the reception desk on your way out to arrange a three month health review.” Sheile

nodded, ready to anything for her clean bill of health.

***

Sheile stretched, arms spread wide and high above her head. She yawned. Blinking, she took in

the unfamiliar room in a heartbeat. Her eyes widened in surprise. Huh? Where AM I? She looked

around, mildly concerned. It seemed as though she was still in the hospital. Had they moved her...in the

night? No wait. She had been discharged weeks ago! Wha- who...? WHY? Her head began to pound,

frontal lobe aching with the strain. Or medical drugs. Sheile brushed a hand through her short hair.

Fingers found a tender spot. Ouch. She winced. Okay. Not touching there anytime soon! Sheile sat

back, propping herself further up the pillows. Umm. Cozy. At least her alleged kidnappers had some

style!

THANKS 4 READING!

Look for the whole novel in 2015!