The Passenger by Jacqueline Druga (the giving tree read aloud TXT) 📗

lips were dry. In fact, his lips felt huge and his eyes sore, like he had been crying.

He accepted the water taking a few long drinks. “Thank you,” he said. “My face feels funny.”

“You have a lot of bruising, some stitches. Heard they pulled quite a bit of glass out of your face in the ER.” She stepped back and rolled the tray cart to him. “They brought your breakfast. Are you hungry? Looks like …” she lifted the lid. “Coffee, eggs, bacon, toast and I think … this is oatmeal.”

Jonas tried to absorb how he physically felt, he knew his head hurt, but was he hungry? He tried to sit up and when he moved, every part of his body hurt. When his arms felt heavy, he was concerned until he looked down and saw he was bound with canvas straps.

“What … why? Why am I tied to the bed?”

“Last night you were pretty bad,” she said. “I wasn’t on shift, but the notes say you were violent and thrashing. They sedated you. If you’re hungry, I’ll be happy to feed you.”

“Yeah, that would be good. Thanks. I think … I think I’m fine now though.”

“I’ll talk to the doctor about those restraints,” she said, unwrapping the eating utensils.

“Maybe it isn’t a good idea to untie me.”

“Why do you say that?” she asked with a smile.

“What if I was violent because I’m a like a killer or something?”

“That’s a strange thing to say. Why?”

“I feel angry. I don’t know why. It just feels like anger.”

“I don’t know why that is. Maybe something happened before the accident. Hopefully, you’re not a killer.” She handed him the strip of bacon to take a bite.

“The accident.” Jonas took a bite. “I don’t remember it. There was a man with me. I remember him. He was in the car.”

“That’s what everyone heard.” She gave him some eggs. “They have been searching for him. All night I think.”

“Anything?”

She shook her head. “No, everyone is just hoping it’s not another nineteen-seventy-six.”

“What is that?”

“Around here it’s a legend,” she replied. “You crashed on Broke Man’s Curve. Famous for crashes. It was named this because in the fifties a man who was destitute crashed his car there on purpose.”

“But what happened in seventy-six?”

“Nothing you should really worry about. A missing passenger thing,”

“Like me?”

“Not like you. You survived.”

“Why don’t I know who I am?” he asked.

“You have a head injury, and the doctor will be in shortly to talk to you. I promise.”

She finished feeding him, Jonas didn’t really want much. He told her he had enough when his stomach started to feel queasy.

He rested his head back and closed his eyes. He was tired again. Sleeping was better than being awake, with a feeling of frustration and confusion he closed his eyes.

He had fallen asleep. Jonas was sure of it, he didn’t know for how long. The man’s voice asking, “Are you awake in there?” Caused him to open his eyes.

“Good. Good.” The man was wearing a white coat over his hospital scrubs. He lifted a light to Jonas’ eyes. “Just want to check those pupils.” He did his thing then put the light away. “How are you feeling?”

“Very sore.”

“You’ll have that. I’m Doctor Jenner. And you are our celebrity patient.”

“I’m famous?” Jonas asked.

“Well, not in the Kardashian sense, no.” he shook his head. “A stranger gets into an accident on Broke Man’s curve and lives to talk about it. That earns them celebrity status. Then again, how that is, honestly, we still can’t figure out.”

“I can’t remember it. I feel awake though. I remember the nurse feeding me. I think.”

“And that’s your first memory? Ann feeding you?”

“First clear one, yeah,” he nodded.

“You don’t remember last night?”

“No. Well, it’s foggy, but not really.”

“You have a head injury. We did another scan late last night,” Doctor Jenner said. “I wasn’t satisfied with the first one. With your behavior and all. Definitely showed some swelling. Because of that, we are going to have you stay in here a few days. Once that swelling goes down, I’m confident you’ll regain your memory. Or shortly after.”

“What if I don’t?”

Doctor Jenner shook his head. “We can’t think like that.”

“I mean, how do I know how to talk, but not who I am?”

“Head injuries are a mysterious territory. We don’t know how the brain works. So …” Jenner exhaled. “Ann, the nurse, tells me you don’t want the restraints removed because you’re worried that you’re a serial killer.”

“I don’t know who I am. I do feel really angry right now. I don’t know why, and I feel like anything can set me off.”

“How about once we find out you’re not a killer, we remove those restraints. Some mood stabilizers might help. Head injuries can cause severe mood swings.”

“Whatever you think.”

“Good. And don’t you worry about your memory,” Jenner said. “It’ll come back. Either in bits and pieces or something will set it off and bam, you’ll remember. But I’m confident you’ll remember.”

Jonas studied the doctor’s face, he glanced up quickly when he saw someone else enter the room. It was a police officer; an older man, and he was big.

“Am I interrupting?” the officer asked.

Doctor Jenner looked back. “No, Chief, we’re just talking. Come on in.”

“I was seeing how our patient was doing,” the chief said. “Blood work come back yet?”

“Not yet. Dale’s working on it. He’s doing well. We have a concussion we’re worried about,” Doctor Jenner said. “Keeping him here for a few days because of it.”

“Any memory?” the chief asked.

Jonas shook his head. “No, but I do remember the man. I remember the man in the car. I can see him. Did you find him?”

“Sorry, son,” the chief shook his head. “We did not. We’re still looking though. If he was in the car with you, we’ll find him.”

“If? If? He was,” Jonas huffed, then noticed the badge. “What is WPPD?’

“Williams Peak Police Department,” the chief answered. “You’re in Williams Peak.”

“I don’t know if I ever heard of it,” Jonas