A brightly sunlit room, early morning.
A woman sitting up in bed and leaning against pillows watches a nurse preparing to check her vital signs.
MRS MOORE: What am I?
NURSE: Oh, you're awake. You slept a long time. As far as can be readily determined, you are a human being on a planet called Earth.
Mrs M: Why am I here?
NURSE: Ah, now that's the question, isn't it? The deepest thinkers throughout history have asked that question but I doubt that the true answer has been found yet. In your particular case, however, you're here because you've been in a lengthy coma.
Mrs M: What are you?
Nurse: I'm a fellow human acting as your caregiver.
Mrs M: Why? Why can't I care for myself?
Nurse: As I said, you've been in a coma. That means that your every need had to be tended to by others.
Mrs M: Is this the real life? Is this a fantasy? The last thing I remember is saying, "Good night for now." How long was I in a coma?
Nurse: You went to sleep in the 1900s.
Mrs M: How old am I?
Nurse: 93 but you don't look a day over 72.
Mrs M: Why am I still alive?
Nurse: I guess this is another one of Life's Mysteries.
__________________________________________
...3 days later...
Nurse: A reporter from the media will visit you this afternoon to talk about your life. He has a lot of questions.
Mrs M: He'll be disappointed. I remember nothing.
Nurse: You may be surprised - he's bringing documents and images from your life that may jog your memory.
Mrs M: What's his name?
Nurse: David Mitchell.
Mrs M: How old was he when I fell into my deep sleep?
Nurse: (thinking) He wasn't born yet.
Mrs M: Oh dear.
___________________________________
...that afternoon...
David Mitchell: Good afternoon, Mrs Moore. I'm glad that you agreed to meet with me today.
Mrs M: I didn't have a choice. It's good of you to stop by but I'm afraid you're wasting your time. I have a void where my memories should be. The coma erased my past.
David: Ah, but I come bearing memory aids!
Mrs M: That's nice, dear. Tell me - do I have a husband?
David: You did, yes.
Mrs M: He died?
David: (nods) 20 years ago.
Mrs M: Did I like him?
David: Most people thought so.
Mrs M: Have I any children?
David: You did. There was a plague and many people were lost to it.
Mrs M: So I'm alone in the world?
David: You have thousands of fans who think of you often.
Mrs M: Probably just wondering if I've finally popped my clogs. Why are they fans? Was I a circus performer?
David: Not at all. You were a highly respected actor. You won multiple awards. Here, let me show you a photo montage on this view screen.
(He waves his hand and images of Mrs M onstage and in films over the years appear in the air.)
Mrs M: What is this wizardry? How is this possible?
David: What? Oh, right, you fell asleep just as technology started exploding. Must seem like wonders and miracles to you.
Mrs M: Is that me? All those pictures? Was I that woman?
David: Yes.
Mrs M: What do I look like now?
David clicks her image into the air.
Mrs M: I am not that same woman. I don't think that young one was me.
I have a feeling that the reason I remember nothing is that I'm someone else just visiting this body. But why? What would be the point of inhabiting an old, decrepit body for what may only be a few weeks or years? What would be the point?
And, what if I am that woman just waking from a coma? Why bother to come back, especially with no family or friends ...or even the ability to walk.
This is insane.
I don't want this. I don't want to be here.
__________________________________
The next day...
A brightly sunlit room, early morning.
A woman, with eyes closed, leaning against pillows doesn't watch a nurse preparing to check her vital signs.
Nurse: Good morning, Mrs Moore.
Oh, your vital signs are absent. Oh.
You didn't stay long this time Mrs M.
Good night for now.
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©Ellen Pepper 2024
