I Have Seen the Delusion

The chaos had settled after a long, unnerving moment as bystanders watched in horror as the vehicle they had just witnessed collide with a dump truck carrying dirt finally rolled to a stop after demonstrating its acrobatic skills across the lanes of the highway on a rainy Thursday afternoon. Rain poured hard onto the shoulders of everyone making their way to the mangled vehicle now resting on the other side of the highway. Emergency services were phoned previously during the initial collision as traffic came to a screeching halt as glass and metal flew in every direction. Through the rain pouring heavily onto the Earth, ambulances, fire trucks and police officers made their way to the violent scene.

Inside the vehicle, pressed against the steering wheel, was the body of a woman with glass shards sinking deeply into her skin, moistened by the wind blowing the rain into her car. With blood running down her face and across her peacefully closed eyelids, emergency workers did their best to free her from the compressed chamber she had found herself in.

The pressure from the steering wheel pushing up against her chest had broken all her ribs, ultimately resulting in a punctured lung. After several desperate attempts to free her without causing any more harm or creating any new injuries, paramedics were able to determine the woman’s condition as being very serious, but with a fighting chance. Up in the sky, a medical helicopter made its way to the scene, ready to escort this injured woman to a safe haven where the miracles of science and technology join together to offer life or death to any and all who seek.

Clean-up crews worked tirelessly through the rain, removing any remaining debris to suffice the impatient drivers on stand-by to reach their destinations. As traffic slowly moved through the mess, the heads of many turned towards the direction of the mangled vehicle, relieved to know they were only passing through and not tangled up in the mess that lay on the side of the highway.

After the woman had been identified as Karen E. Caruso of 112 Graham Circle, family members were immediately notified of her current situation. Needing immediate surgeries, doctor’s worked through the night to repair this broken woman’s body in order to avoid having to inform her family of her impending doom. After twelve hours of waiting, her family members were informed that the multiple surgeries had finally steadied her vitals. Although Karen had slipped into a coma, doctor’s had managed to repair her most serious injuries. Her hope for survival was grim, but the doctor’s only instilled a positive outlook since she had made it this far considering her previous situation.

Weeks had gone by as Karen stayed in her coma until one night her eyes slowly opened, adjusting to the dim light that provided ample reading light for her husband sitting to her left. On an independent level, Karen could not move a single muscle in her body, nor could she feel any pain. Confused and disoriented, it was difficult for Karen to fully understand her situation, desperately trying to make sense of her surroundings. Looking up from his book, her husband, Michael, noticed her eyes moving about and threw his book to the floor calling for the doctor. Hearing the sound of her husband’s voice triggered a flash of memory and calming wave of emotions as she finally felt the pulsating of her heart. Doctor’s came rushing in to examine Karen, excited and relieved to know their predictions were no longer as grim as they had expected.

Practically making a full recovery, Karen breezed through physical therapy, showing no signs of any kind of mental or physical decline. In fact, doctors took note of her quick healing, noticing that her more severe injuries were actually healing completely; something they had not expected. She remained in the hospital for another few weeks until the doctors were certain their findings were not in error.

One afternoon while eating lunch in the cafeteria at the hospital with her husband, Karen was trying to enjoy a sandwich that had been prepared for her. Without warning, a painful headache swooped down on Karen, forcing her to grab her head in writhing pain and screaming at the top of her lungs. Michael rushed over to her side, again shouting for help, desperately unaware of what to do for his wife. As he tried to comfort his wife, he felt the hair on his arms rise. His body began to feel light as he noticed him and his wife were floating ever so gently above the floor. Karen, completely focused on the pain, was floating above the floor with her husband holding on tight.

Bystanders in the cafeteria stood in shock as they witnessed this woman’s body floating gently above the floor and they stood frozen as her cries of pain halted their movements. Doctors rushed to Karen’s side, ready to strike her arm with a pain reliever. As they administered the medication into her arm, her body began to reject this foreign material; breaking the needle as it attempted to break her skin.

Karen’s screaming stopped suddenly as she floated back to the floor.

“Honey,” Michael said in her ear, “Are you okay?”

Looking into her eyes, Michael noticed that her dark auburn iris had now changed to a soft light blue hue, her pupils dilated to a pinpoint.

“Karen.” Michael said a little louder, “Are you okay?”

“Michael…” Karen said softly, looking to the floor.

Michael placed his hand underneath her chin and brought her face back on to his, once again staring into her soft blue eyes.

“Are you okay?” Michael said a final time.

“I’m…fine…” Karen said, pausing in between her words.

Michael pushed aside her golden brown hair, revealing an unadulterated complexion. He ran his fingers across her face, taking note that the freckles he loved so much were no longer present. Her complexion was devoid of any freckles, moles, or skin imperfections. Her skin glistened and shimmered from the sunlight peering through the skylights in the cafeteria.

Looking at Michael’s bewildered and confused expression, Karen spoke reassuringly, “Michael, I am fine.”

[to be continued…]

All the people and places depicted are fictional. Any similarity or relation to persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.