2
DONNER
Too bright!
The light was blinding. There was pain, strange pain; from a million different places and from nowhere at the same time.
I called out for her.
A tiled ceiling swam into focus, then resolved itself into a pig-faced nurse smiling down at me.
Not Elise.
She handed me a mirror. I looked at myself. Blinked. Looked again. It was a trick. Had to be. Some kind of carnival lens, like a funhouse mirror.
My blue eyes were laced with shimmering gold flecks. My hair was an iridescent white, so bright it almost glowed. My nails were jet black.
I opened my mouth. I felt my lips move, struggling, but only a rasp emitted from my throat.
Don’t try to speak yet, not-Elise said. Rest.
She turned to go. My hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, yanking her back to me with a strength that surprised her.
Her smile vanished. It had never been real in the first place.
Is this heaven? I asked.
Way off, baby, she smirked, shaking herself free. This is New York.
I became agitated then.
After the sedative took effect, she asked questions. Name, age, occupation. Living relatives? Just my wife.
Where was I? Was there an accident? Why did I feel so strange?
She spoke in bland autopilot reassurances, telling me nothing. Which terrified me all the more.
Sleep, she said. Your body needs to recover.
From what? I wanted to know.
From being dead, she said.
Bad joke, I said, and closed my eyes.