Secrets and Lies | ✔️

Chapter 39 - Enid

Ch.39 - Enid

Am I dead?

It was the first thing that went through Enid's mind when she woke up.

Only "woke up" wasn't exactly right because her body didn't seem awake, only her mind. Her eyes wouldn't open and her arms and legs refused to move and she didn't even think she was breathing on her own. She had tried to hold in a breath, but somehow it still came, pushing into her lungs with insurmountable force. Inhaling and exhaling, inhaling and exhaling to the rhythm of a consistent hum somewhere next to her ear.

And now minutes, hours, maybe even days later, nothing had changed. The constant beep of the heart monitor became a companion, lulling her to sleep when thoughts threatened to overwhelm her. The steady stream of doctors and nurses who came in to check on her, hang new bags of saline, poke her with needles or re-position her aching body were other truths she knew she could expect. And Charlie sitting next to the bedside holding her hand, a source of never-ending comfort.

For once it had been Charlie who did all the talking while all she could do was lay there and listen. Enid found their one-sided exchange unnerving. Her son wasn't convinced she could hear him, there was an uncertainty in his voice that gave him away, but he continued on despite his obvious unease at times. She wanted to squeeze his hand or at the very least wiggle her fingers, give him some kind of clue that she was there with him, but no matter how hard she tried she just wasn't able to.

Things were not looking good for her, that she could tell. The voices that whispered sympathetically above her as unseen hands maneuvered her body. The drawn-out sighs that seeped from those in charge of her care. She didn't need to see their faces to know exactly what they were thinking...that she was already gone.

A constant burn had settled in her throat but she didn't have the capacity to swallow it away. And her ribs sat fractured inside her chest from the compressions the voices said saved her life. It felt strange and scary inside this invisible world with nothing for her to do but lie there and wait for her eyes to open.

However, her dreams were vivid. When she first dreamed of her parents, something she hadn't done in years, she knew things were more serious than she'd originally thought. They didn't say anything to her, all they did was smile their familiar contented smiles, the sun round and orange as it set in a kaleidoscope of color behind them. Once it sunk below the horizon and millions of tiny stars took its place, they were gone. Enid wasn't sure what it meant. Her parents had been dead for many years, but the dream felt so real, as if she could reach out and fall into the warmth of their embrace, their arms wrapped around her, keeping her safe.

Charlie sniffled next to her and her heart dropped to her stomach.

My poor baby! I hate what this is doing to you. If I could only open my eyes and let you see I'm okay. Tell you I'm still here and not to give up on me!

She needed to warn him about Jackson...

He's not who he says he is...

She had no proof, but something inside her knew the man's motives were different than what he'd lead them all to believe. When she looked up at him standing over her after she had collapsed, she'd caught his indecision. He had contemplated not helping her, the indifference to her life written all over his face. Only she didn't understand why. Or why he'd whispered the words "Some things just fall into place" just before she'd faded off. He seemed almost happy watching suffer, to sit back as she gasped on the floor for air, clutching at her chest. But why? What had she ever done to him?

Enid had been so worried for Carter, she couldn't bear the thought of leaving her alone in the house with that man, but she felt like she'd been drugged, or that gravity had somehow increased, and she was unable to keep her eyes open...they were so heavy, until finally they closed engulfing her darkness. It wasn't until Talia had arrived at the hospital with Carter on her hip that she realized the baby was okay. And thank God! She didn't know what she would do if something had happened to that sweet girl.

Her family was hurting and there was nothing she could do to ease their pain. Enid had always been the one who kept things running smoothly. She'd operated a successful business and raised a son all on her own without any help. She was strong and in control because she had to be. But not this time. This time it had been her who had caused an upheaval. How could she do her job, how could she protect her family, if she was stuck, unseeing, in this bed?

At one point, Enid had heard Talia and Charlie talking from somewhere in the hospital room, their voices hushed so she couldn't overhear. She couldn't make out all of their words but the topic hadn't been too difficult to figure out. They weren't sure if she was going to make it. She never heard "death" or any other synonym for it, but she knew that's what they were getting at. How awful she must look if they were entertaining such a thought. She didn't like it when they talked about her, she'd much rather them talk to her, even if what they had to say wasn't something she wanted to hear. When they talked about her she felt like she was already gone. 

And she had no intention of going anywhere.

Enid heard someone enter the room and judging by the shuffling footsteps she knew it was Doctor Coburn. "Charlie," she said in her wet, raspy voice, "I wrote an order for a respiratory therapist to come in to test your mother's lung function. I'd like to try and wean her off the ventilator. See if she's ready to breathe on her own."

"That's good news, right?" Charlie's words were laced with such hope it pained her to hear them. "Once she's breathing on her own, she'll wake up?"

The doctor hesitated, her voice taking on a soothing quality that a person might use when speaking with a fragile child. "It's a step in the right direction. But Charlie, we don't know when or if she'll ever wake up on her own, or the extent of damage to her brain." They mumbled more words Enid couldn't make out--or didn't want to make out--then she heard the doctor leave the room. When Charlie took her hand again his was shaking.

Charlie Wilson, don't you dare give up on me! I am your mother and I'm running this show, whether it looks like it or not. You always said I was a stubborn woman, well you haven't even seen stubborn yet! Once I figure out how to get back to you...

How to get back to them..? That was a damn good question.

Charlie! Charlie, I'm right here with you! Why can't you hear me? I know you're here, I can feel my hand in yours. I'm aware of every word that comes out of your mouth. And I know you're scared. I'm so sorry for putting you through this. But I'll figure it out. I promise you, I'll find a way back.

Enid screamed in frustration but no sound left her lips.

Where are the spirits of those who have passed on before me? Where's the bright light telling me it's not my time? How can I be left here all alone, not knowing what to do? Trapped inside of nothingness. I have to find my way back, but I don't know how!

But not knowing and not trying were two different things. She needed to warn her family about Jackson. Something wasn't right, she'd seen it in his eyes. That man was pure evil and from the looks of it he had Charlie and Talia fooled. But not her. Only now she was here, a prisoner in a body that wouldn't do what she wanted it to do. She had to figure a way out.

Her family needed her.

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Hello and thank you for reading Secrets and Lies! If you enjoyed this chapter, please give it a vote! Thank you so much for helping this story rank #2! It was a pleasant surprise to find when I logged onto to my computer!

Enid's alive and she knows Jackson's up to no good! But how can she warn them when she's trapped in darkness?

If you're around Saturday evening, my post for the Wattpad Block Party - Winter Edition II will be live on @KellyAnneBlount 's profile page. There you will find a sneak peek to an upcoming story I'm working on. It's a rough draft of a YA horror called Of the Blood. The chapter has already changed a great deal since I sent it in, but hopefully you'll get a feel for the story and find it intriguing. I'd love for you to check it out and let me know what you think, I would appreciate the support!

I'll have the next chapter ready by Tuesday. See you then! <3