It was exactly 6:42 in the morning when the pain hit the left side of Abby’s brain. She was stepping out of the shower and almost lost her footing from the shock of it.  Her vision went fuzzy and then just as suddenly the pain was gone. She dried herself and was combing her wet hair when a second wave of pain made it feel like her head was exploding.  “Damn,” she thought, “I’ve got a busy day today. No time for a headache.” The pain receded.  “That’s weird.” She stared at herself in the mirror as the pain again flooded back into her consciousness. She wondered where the Excedrin was.

She attempted to brush her teeth, but she could not grasp the toothbrush.  Her hands had turned into claws and she had no control over them.  She stared dumbly at her claw hands as the pain flooded back. She looked in wonder at her arms, which seemed to have no boundaries. Her body was expansive. “I am one with the universe”, she thought. “It is so peaceful, so calming. There is no end.”

She viewed her body and wondered how her immense spirit could ever fit in such a puny vehicle.  A new wave hit and lucidity returned.  Something is wrong.  I need help. What is happening?  Her world returned minus her right arm, which hung limply at her side. She stood, frozen, unsure what to do next. 

The hemorrhage in her brain was becoming more severe as the blood vessels fought to contain the flow.  The left hemisphere was beginning to shut down, and along with it the ability to understand language and the external world. The right hemisphere was busy promising connection to the universe in exchange for individual consciousness.  Somewhere in the battle, the being that was Abby realized that she had to get help or she would be lost in the netherworld forever.

The two worlds continued to pulsate in and out, each cycle taking its toll on her ability to function. Her vision was fuzzy. The air turned to molasses. Everything was slow motion. Her will was separate from her body. She listened as the various parts of her body tried to obey her.  Muscles received the command to expand or contract in order to move. They resisted the command. Abby had little control.  She was blending in with the universe.  She felt herself getting smaller as she was being absorbed.  Her mind was silent.

Then, like the final thread connected to reality, Abby knew she must get help. Where is the cell phone? She stumbled to the hall table where her cell phone was docked on the charger. She willed her right hand to pick it up, but nothing happened. She stared at her non-cooperative hand, hanging limply by her side.  Alright, then my left hand will have to do. She stared at the cell phone and saw her claw of a left hand approach it and attempt to pick it up.  The phone fell to the floor.  She got on her knees to retrieve it.  Her claw hand reached for it and pushed it against the baseboard. Now to open it. With the phone braced in this position, she forced the nail on her longest claw-finger into the small ridge that separated the flip up part of the phone. As she continued to apply pressure, her finger slowly widened the gap of space between the two parts of the phone.  All her focus was on her one finger pushing against the phone. Suddenly, it popped open and the screen lit up. Abby stared dumbly at the squiggles on the strange instrument.  There were buttons with squiggles of different shapes and even more incomprehensible lines on the lit portion. Something told her that she should know what these were.  This would save her. But how? Abby knew that there was something she could do using this thing.  The buttons were the key. But which ones to press?

She clenched the phone in her claw hand and attempted to stand. The room spun and she fell forward, phone in hand crushed under the full force of her body. The large red emergency button depressed and then released. A ringing sound tolled once.

“Nine-one-one. What is your emergency?”

Relief flowed through Abby’s being and her brain thought, “Help me. I think I am having a stroke.”

Unfortunately, her mouth actually said, “Aarguph Wahk hg okgh.”

“What? This is 9-1-1. What is your emergency?”

Abby’s heard the voice coming through a thick fog and realized she was not being understood. She spoke louder. Her mouth formed the sounds, “Heppmgh septh blnnrtz.”

“Look. This is an emergency line. If this is a prank call, you will be prosecuted.”

“Aarujhme plzzt.” Abby’s voice took on a frantic tone. She started to cry.

A second of silence seemed an eternity as Abby prayed something in her sounds had alerted the operator.

“OK. I’m assuming this is real. I’ve dispatched and ambulance and police to the GPS I’m getting from your phone. Stay on the line with me.”

A huge sigh escaped her mouth. “Mnthgu.” She heard sirens coming closer.

“Everything will be fine. They are almost there. Is your house unlocked?”

Abby sucked in a lung full of air. The key is in the flowerpot of geraniums. “Grrrruuuummmsss.”

“What? I didn’t quite get that.”

Someone was pounding on the door. Now they were hitting the door with something forceful. Probably the shoulder of a strong EMT.

Abby focused her mind on the word that would easily let them in. Her body tensed. She willed her tongue to behave and she screamed, “Ger – a – ni- ums.”

“What? Geraniums? Hey guys, are there geraniums near the door? Check for a key.”

The pounding stopped. Abby relaxed. She heard the key in the lock and then comforting hands were lifting her body and putting her in a peaceful place.

© Copyright 2025 Writing_Cheri. All rights reserved.