Everything was black, but her head was pounding, and her body felt too heavy to move. She opened her eyes, giving them a moment to adjust to the shadows in the room. The first thing she was able to focus on were the square white ceiling panels over her head. Somewhere behind her, something cast a soft blue glow into the darkness. Cool air shot into her nose through tubes that were strapped over her cheeks. Oxygen. Not heaven. Not hell. Hospital. She’d take it. She lay still for a moment. Aside from the pounding in her head, everything seemed okay. She wiggled the toes on her right foot, then her left. No pain. She pulled her right hand into a clumsy fist; no pain. Then she tried to move her left hand, and something on the back of it pinched. Plus, there seemed to be something warm lying on her fingers. She looked down. It was another hand. A strong, warm, slightly charred hand.
