Hospital

When she woke, she was lying on a cool, smooth cement floor. Her head was pounding and she felt dizzy as she sat up to survey her surroundings.

There was a small bed against the wall with its coverings disheveled and draping. Had she been on that bed?

Looking at herself, she could feel the soft nightgown against her skin. It had a lavender floral pattern, the kind her mother used to wear. She smoothed her hair back with both hands, and wiped saliva off her cheek.

The room was stark and plain. There were no pictures, and the walls and floor were the same color. She took a deep breath and blinked her eyes hard.

A piercing scream made her jump and drew her eyes immediately to a tiny window in the door she hadn't noticed until then. Clumsily she stood and tiptoed like a child until a light switched on, sending a bright beam through the opening.

Heavy footsteps of one and then perhaps three or four people could be heard outside the door.

Daring to squint through the light, she saw three nurses hovering over a frantic young woman. They lifted her, and took her away.