Chapter 64

The next morning, Kiki opened her eyes and recognized the surroundings of a hospital. She took a deep breath and the cold rush of pure oxygen filled her lungs, but it hurt. Yes, she was wearing an oxygen mask. She took shallow breaths instead. She felt groggy and the pounding in her head wouldn't stop, so she closed her eyes.
"She has smoke inhalation. But other than that, she's going to be fine," the voice of a doctor carried throughout the room. Kiki's eyes were so heavy she couldn't open them, but she was strangely aware of the sounds of the machines beeping and the clean antiseptic smell. Yes, she was definitely in a hospital. "We'll need to keep her here for a few days until she's recovered enough to leave."
"Yes, doctor," a woman replied in a professional voice. She must have been a nurse.
"Poor thing." The doctor's voice was sympathetic. In her incoherent state, Kiki wondered why. "I have no idea where she's going to go, once she recovers. From what I heard, her house burned down to the ground. There wasn't a lot they could salvage."
Kiki sighed. Where was Prissy? She knew that she had to get out of here soon to find her cat. She just hoped that one of the neighbors would take Prissy in until she could leave.
Kiki's mind drifted to the night before. It had been Christmas Eve and she remembered making a fire in the fireplace and lighting candles. Then she made the mistake of lying down on the couch. She must have fallen asleep without replacing the fire screen. She wondered if the insurance would pay off now, and if that was really how the fire started. It could have been any number of things. But any way you slice it, she hadn't set the fire intentionally.
Mom's going to kill me, she thought to herself. Although she hadn't heard from her parents in a while, there was no doubt in Kiki's mind that her mother would have a hissy fit about the house. She wouldn't be as concerned that her daughter had almost died. Her mother had always been cold, unable to show her emotions, and her father just quietly let her mother rule the roost. Kiki pushed the thought of her parents aside for the moment, vowing to deal with them later.
She remembered lying on the couch and hearing the sound of a roaring fire- and then the sound of glass breaking-. and feeling the heat. But try as she might, she felt too disoriented and hadn't been able to open her eyes.
Then she remembered being lifted into the safety of someone's strong arms, and then the cold rush of winter air hitting her face and bare feet. Someone had told the firefighter that he would take her- another man- but the man carrying her had refused to give her up. Kiki remembered opening her eyes and seeing his mask, and then asking about Prissy. The fireman made a joke and then she remembered a female saying that her cat was okay, that it had gotten out safely. The last thing Kiki remembered was the firefighter laying her on a stretcher and then being loaded into an ambulance.
As she lie in the hospital bed trying to orient herself, she wondered who the fireman was. He had been so attentive and gentle, braving the fire to rescue her without hesitation. She made a mental note to hunt him down and thank him after she got out of the hospital. It was the least she could do. After all, he had saved her life.
"She's still unconscious," a nurse said, pulling her from her reverie. Kiki was suddenly aware that more people were in the room.
"Do you mind if we stay for a while?" Yes, it was Jocelyn. She had come, probably with Caden.
"Certainly," the nurse replied. "Let her hear your voice. I'm sure she can still hear you."
Kiki made a mental note to thank the nurse later, too.
There was shifting in the room and then the weight of someone leaning against the edge of the bed beside her. "Kiki, it's me, Jocelyn. Are you okay?" There was a pause. "Of course, you're not okay-." There were tears in her voice. "I just wanted you to know that I love you, and that I'm here and I'm not leaving you. You're not alone." Then she felt soft lips press against her forehead.
Kiki willed herself to open her eyes. She didn't want Jocelyn to worry about her. She felt a tear slide down her cheek.
"Nurse!" Jocelyn yelled. "Nurse! Come quick!"
Someone rushed into the room. "Yes?"
"A tear-." Jocelyn had tears in her voice.
"Joss?" Kiki croaked, trying to orient herself.
Jocelyn laughed through her tears. "Kiki, I'm here."
When Kiki opened her eyes, the sunshine illuminated Jocelyn's blonde wavy hair, creating a halo around her face. "You look like an angel."
Jocelyn laughed through her tears. "I can assure you that I'm not dead- and neither are you, thank goodness."
Kiki tried to sit up, but her head hurt. "My head's killing me. Could I get some ibuprofen?"
"Sure thing." A nurse suddenly came into view. "How're you feeling?"
Kiki licked her lips. "I'm thirsty and my head is killing me." Kiki's voice sounded hoarse, even to her own ears. She tried to lift her arm to her forehead, but wires connected to her arm limited her movement.
"I'll get you some water and ibuprofen." The nurse patted Kiki's hand and was about to walk away when Jocelyn stopped her.
"Will she be okay?" Tears filled Jocelyn's eyes and Caden slipped his arm around her waist for support.
Kiki secretly wished for a love like that one day. Someone who would be with her through the bad times, as well as the good.
"She's going to be fine. What she's experiencing is perfectly normal for what she's been through." The nurse looked over at Kiki and smiled. "You're lucky to be alive. Welcome back."
"The house was on fire and a fireman carried me out," Kiki took a deep breath, but found it hard to breathe. "I need to thank him."