Meet Me Halfway

Strange noises I hear, yet I familiar with. Beep, Beep, Beep. Muffled voices. I hear someone say, nurse we need a new IV and reduce dosage. She's coming out of the coma. 'What the hell'...I struggle to open my eyes. There are dim lights, curtains are closed. I hear a chair being slid over the floor.

Well hello Alli, good morning. This is Dr. Emily Matson. You are in Amsterdam Hospital. You were admitted last night. Do you remember anything? Do you remember you work here? Your residency was 4 years but you accepted the position to be an attending physician...remember your party?

"yes. I have a splitting headache. What happened?" as I said trying to sit up, my mouth is like a cotton ball so dry. "wait a moment, the we will raise the bed a bit to a small sitting position." The Dr Watson stated as the nurse came to the side of the bed and pushed the bottom on the hospital bed just a bit and adjusted my pillows.

My name is Allison Stark, Alli for short. This is my first year being an attending physician her at Amsterdam Hospital in New York. I had graduated high school two years early, applied to undergraduate college to study medicine. I had options to be a pharmacist or go one to medical school. I pushed myself in all subjects. I was the youngest in my class at 19. I had to prove to myself I can do anything. Not being very tall at 5'4" ambered-colored eyes. My grandmother used to tease me when I was younger saying I had "evil devil eyes" or "having supernatural powers". We're supposed to make the best lovers. I guess if I was married or had a boyfriend. I have long brunette hair I usually keep in a messy bun. Don't know anything about make-up. Always in scrubs, But I love it. I'm pretty much healthy fit, not a body builder or anything. I have curves in all the right places. When I have time, I go to yoga classes here at the lower level of the hospital.

I entered medical school, thinking 8 years and hopefully make my residency in New York. I loved New York. The people, the weather, the traffic, everything. And best treat once a month I stop at Grays Papaya Hot Dogs for a chili cheese dog. Oh. My. God. The. Best. Hot Dogs ever! Someone always said you can pick a spot to sit down on a bench or a step and the city would go by or some crap like that. I just love winters. If you are ever there, Rockefeller Center is the place to be. It reminds me of when my parents were alive. Mom, dad, grandma and grandpa used to make the special trip there during Christmas time. Shopping, dining and of course, the walk at Rockefeller Center. Special relationships with family and friends.

Some of my thoughts used to be actually having a relationship that would last more than two dates, but who was I kidding. I only had a one-track mind 'be the best I can be, no one will stop me'. My grandmother used to tell me that on Saturdays when I did my laundry at her home in Highlands Town across the Hudson. I lost my parents in a car accident when I was 12 and went to live with my grandmother. Going back to her house just about every weekend for home cooked food.

Well, it was a good drive up there to clear your mind. Only thing was the jerk, Robert Sanchez, came to my mind whenever I crossed over to "West Point" side. I was with him during junior and senior years in high school. Not to mention 1 year of undergraduate college. Until I walked in his parents home and found out I was not the only one he was "loving". I hated myself for freezing and standing there like an idiot, thinking he would jump up and say I'm sorry I made a mistake. Instead, he smiled and said "oh, you're early". I stared at him and instantly replied "nope! right on time...and have a good life" on my way out the door. I cursed myself for not seeing it sooner. "Dumbass, dumbass, dumbass. Couldn't believe it, yeah right. Asshole, I wasted time and money on this rich kid.

Thinking of the song...

I don't always wake up in the mornin'

Pour myself a strong one

Aw, but when I get lonely I do

Your memory gets to burnin'

Lean back on the bourbon

Sure as hell can't keep leanin' on you

Looks like I'm learnin' the hard way again

It's all my fault, yeah, I dropped the ball

You're gone, and I'm gone three sheets to the wind

Thinkin' 'bout all

I've wasted on you

All of this time and all of this money

All of these sorrys' I don't owe you honey

All of these miles on this Chevy and prayers in a pew, all them days

I spent wasted on you

Wasted on you

Yeah, I swore this one'd be different

My heart wouldn't listen

To my head in these boots on my feet

Looks like I'm learnin' the hard way again

That's why I've been

My only thoughts after that ...

'No one can break me down. I know my worth and it's a beautiful thing' thank you Iggy!

Dr Emma grabs my chart off the door and announces "you have visitor, this is Detective Charlene Machado. Do you remember anything from last night?" the detective comes into view and stands over by the window. I started to panic 'what the f**k happened to me'. I started to try and sit up more and got a jolt of pain from the side of my head and ribcage area. My hands felt tight. I looked down and had bruising and my nails were tore up. Not that I ever indulged in manicures but seriously it looked like I was working at a butcher shop. Dried blood. Crap was it mine?

I felt groggy, dry mouth probably because of any medication I was given. "No, I am not sure. My memory is kind of foggy" I replied. Feeling dazed, I started to reach up and touch my head. I had a few bandages around my hands and a forehead patch.

"Try and remain calm. You were admitted last by paramedics. You have a slight concussion and several nasty bruises. It seems someone thought you were a punching bag. You put up a hell of fight. No sexual trauma or plainly no evidence of assault" Dr Emma replies. Oh yeah, that's a relief. Let's see what is next on the list, no milk, lactose intolerant, gluten free foods... oh hell no. I grew up drinking whole milk, walking barefoot around my grandparents country home. Yes, my feet got dirty. I have hardly ever get sick. I think the last time I was sick was 20 years ago. Chicken pox fifth grade. Just about the entire school got it.

I tried to sit up a bit, but the nurse that was still in the room said, "let me help you honey".

"Good morning, Miss Stark, my name is detective Charlene Machado. You were brought in last night by paramedics that were just outside the hospital. She reminded me of that detective on Law & Order, can't remember her name but could pass for a model or an actress. She had a look about her, strong and defiant almost. I wondered what her story was all about.

"Nurse can I have a cup of water or ice chips?" I asked the attending nurse. She was already walking out of the room and replied "certainly". Remembering our nurses were the best. Dealing with people and daily issues, most of them had the best work ethic and attitude.

I turned my attention to the detective that was standing by the window. "You said attacked?" I asked the Doctor and looked at the detective.

"You got a hell of a beating. I surprised you are awake this soon" the detective said. As I was sitting there thinking and it seemed like a rush of thoughts scrambling around in my head. She pulled out her notebook from her coat pocket and took a pen from her other inside pocket. Do all cops were the same type of clothing? Not this one, she had a leather jacket, worn but still in good condition and boots, like biker boots. Cool but different. I like her.

"I remember walking out after my shift, talking with some of my co-workers as we were leaving the building. I remember walking past the parking garage, heading toward the bus stop." A majority of the nurses on my shift did the ride share thing, some hospital workers had rides, some rode the bus and some walked. I love walking in this city. Well I think I still do.

I lived three blocks from the hospital, its crazy to try and buy a car just to move it three blocks twice a day. I normally worked the graveyard shift, but yesterday I worked a double shift to help cover a co-worker that was out on leave.

"So you don't park in the garage?" asked Detective Machado. "no car, I only live a short distance away and usually walk. I live three blocks away and usually walk after my shift. But I worked a double and it was pretty late so I was going to take the bus. I usually don't walk late a night. Well you know, this is New York." I said. The detective gives me a slanted smile. She starts walking toward the chair next to the bed and sits. She adjusts her jacket. I noticed she kind of remind me of this girl I met in college. She was a badass. She was taking legal courses to become an attorney. She always said she was going to be the next District Attorney and was take down a many crime lords as possible. Her name was Lorilee Clark. Always goes by Lee Clark. I remember we were at the same frat party and one of the girls there was drinking with a group of guys and suddenly passed out. One of the guys starts to pick her ups and starts to carry her up the stairs and Lee stops him. Says, "I know what you and your friends did." The guy froze and handed the passed out girl over to Lee's waiting arms. Lee and another girl help carry out the passed out girl to Lees blazer. I was shocked that no one else caught it. Someone had slipped something in the girls drink. Lee told another girl there" this is why I told you girls to wear the special nail polish that changes color if anyone has messes with your drink." Like I watch on a lot of police shows, I had no freaking idea. I heard Lee Clark was in somewhere moving up the courts possibly an assistant DA by now.

"Well, the doctor has confirmed you were not sexually assaulted" she clearly states. Bringing me out of my thoughts, I sat up straight squared my shoulders and winced a bit. "However, you sustained quite a bit of injuries. Do you remember anything of the attack? There was a reporting person that called this into 911 emergency services from a cell phone. He called in his location saying he had just left the Lucciola's Italian restaurant across the street down two blocks. Street cameras confirmed a man leaving the restaurant and see him stop in the middle of the road and turned and ran into the entrance of an alley just next to the parking garage. This is where the paramedics found you. The caller said you were and brought you straight into emergency downstairs. However, the paramedics looked for the man to get his information and he was no where to be found. Security cameras only show dark clothing." Paramedics said the guy reported he ran after the unknown perpetrator. I looked up from rubbing my hands together. I strained to remember walking past the parking garage and searched my memory...."yes".