Borrowed Hearts

It's hard to describe the darkness I found myself in.  I have never before experienced such an all encompassing or suffocating blackness.  It was cold and lonely, unlike what one would expect from Hell.  I couldn't see my own hand before my face.  Come to think of it, I couldn't feel my hand either.  None of my sense were functioning.  Sight, smell, touch, hearing... all of it.  It's as if I don't exist in the physical realm. 

Only my thoughts, my awareness seem to be functional.  But why?  Where am I?  Why am I here? Who am I?  Well, that's easy, I am Jessica Marie Kinsford, this year's Homecoming Queen at Lakeview High School, and class valedictorian.  I am the only child of my divorced parents.

My dad is Sebastian Lane Kinsford the third, the best lawyer around.  Well, almost, Mom's lawyer was better in their divorce.  She got everything, including me.  Her name is Dr. Maria Selena Ramirez, cardiologist.

So, how did I end up lost in this endless nothingness, you may ask?  I have no idea.  Last thing I remember was drinking spiked punch at my friend Amy's party.  Maybe I passed out.  Hopefully I will wake up soon.  This is starting to creep me out a bit.

Wait.  Is it getting warmer?  Oh crap!  I'm headed for hell after all!  Oh, God!  Please forgive me.  I'm sorry I got drunk!  I promise I will never do it again.  I will stop sneaking out.  I will... BEEP...  What the... BEEP...

What is that sound?  BEEP.  I'm starting here muffled voices beyond that beeping sound.  I see a brightness above me trying to overtake the darkness.  I lift my hand to shield my eyes and notice that I can feel the heaviness of it.  I smell disinfectant.  The beeping is getting louder, as are the voices.

"Looks like he's coming around, doctor." One of the voices says.  He?  Cool fingers take a hold my hand.  "Squeeze my fingers if you can hear me." She said.  I squeeze her hand as my eyes blink open and shut trying to adjust to the light.  "Good boy!"  I received a pat to my shoulder with her words.  I'm dumbfounded.  'Good boy?'  is this woman blind?  I'm one of the bustiest girls in school!  There's no way this nurse should be mistaking me for a boy!

"Let him wake up fully before calling the family.  I'd rather he be alert and talking before he receives any visitors." A male voice announced.

"Yes, Doctor."

"I'm glad to see you made it out a live, young man.  You had us worried there for a little while."  I tried to focus my eyes on the man who was speaking, but everything was still a little blurry.  I wanted to know why I was here and why they insisted on calling me guy, but I couldn't form words.  I just blinked in wonder at the man.  "You just rest for now.  It'll take some more time for you come around.  We'll be back to check on you in a little bit.  Okay?"

I couldn't answer him, but my eyes followed his blurry image, along with the nurse's, out the door.  Once I was alone, I diverted my attention to the ceiling above me.  The sound of the monitor next to my bed beeped in steady rhythm as I tried my best to try to figure out what happened to me and how I ended up in a hospital in the first place.  Surely it couldn't have been the alcohol.  I only had one drink and it wasn't really that strong!  And seriously, what is with the boy thing?

Subconsciously, I placed my hands on my chest as I mulled things over, not noticing at first that my chest was hard as a rock.  I tapped my fingers against my ribs as I thought and thought until it dawned on me...  I don't have boobs anymore!  What?!  Did that doctor cut them off?!  Why would they do that?  I felt my chest up and down but didn't feel stitches in the place I thought I would.  I felt a painful ridge of stitches under a bandage down the middle of my chest but nothing where my breasts should be.   Odd.

I ran my hands further down to my lower belly only to find that region hard as stone too.  It should be softer.  I was well built for a busty gal, but I was soft in all the right places.  There were no hard rock parts to me at all, so I am all kinds of confused.  Further down I reach only to get the shock of a lifetime.  I have a penis!!  They gave me a sex change?!!?  What the literal hell?!  I'm going to have Dad sue the pants off this outfit!  How could they do this to me?!  I'm too beautiful to be a guy.  I LIKE guys!  I don't want to be gay now.  Would I be gay?  I mean technically, I like guys so...

'Oh, for the love of all you deem holy, SHUT UP!' a very annoyed sounding male voiced demanded.

I looked around the room for the source of the voice I just heard.  No one is in the room.  So now my mind is playing tricks on me? 'God?'

"Not God.  Jason.' He responded.

'Jason? Jason who?'

'Jason Montgomery.'

'And just who are you, Jason Montgomery.  And how come I can hear your voice in my head.?'

'My head, you mean.  This is my body you are polluting with your endless rambling.'

'Your body?  What do you mean?'  There was a light knock at the door before it was pushed open by the doctor and nurse that had been there before.  This time my vision was clearer so I could read the name tag on the man's coat that read 'Dr. Jeremy Hunter – Cardiology.'  He was a tall man of modest build with dark brown hair and ebony eyes.  His Asian features made him look like he was in his twenties, though I'm sure he's older.  "I see you're a bit more alert." He said as he checked the monitor's printouts.  "Can you hear me okay?"  I nodded.  "Good.  How's the pain?  Bearable?"  I nodded again.  "Well, the surgery went as well as we hoped it would.  So far, your body isn't showing any signs of rejection, but of course we'll need to keep a close eye on that for the time being." He stated as if I had a clue what the hell he was talking about.

"Th- Thank.." my voice rasped out against my will.

"Sshh." He said.  "Don't try to talk yet.  You've intubated for a long time, so your throat is going to be quite sore for a bit.  Just let it rest, okay?"  I nodded to convey my understanding.  It's not like I was the one trying to talk anyway.  'Was that you Jason?'

'Who else?' came the sarcastic reply.

'Don't be snippy with me!' I argued back.  'I don't have clue what's going on right now.  I'm super freaked out and I just want to go back home.  I need to wake up or something.  This is all a bad dream, isn't it?'

'Chill out, will ya?  I'll tell you what happened.'

'What?  What happened?'

'I needed a new heart.  They gave me yours which means, you, or your body rather, must've died since they're not in the business of taking hearts from living people.'

"DIED!!!  Impossible.  I'm the Homecoming Queen of Lakeview High School!!!  I can't be dead!  Dying is for old people!'

'You had to have been dead for them to take your heart.'

"NO!  It can't be!'  I started sobbing.  'I'm too young to die.'

'Well,' Jason consoled.  'In a way, you're still alive.  Your heart is still beating in my chest, so...'

'My heart is beating the chest of a man!  How am I supposed to be Homecoming Queen now?' I cried hopelessly.  'I haven't even had my first kiss!'

'Overrated experience.' he argued. I'd roll my eyes, if I had any. 'I can feel your eye roll, you know.'

I guess this explains why I couldn't feel my body in that nothingness.  I wonder what happened to me.  'Hey, Jason?  Will you do something for me?'

'Maybe.  What?'

'Will you look me up and find out how I died?  Maybe help me say goodbye to my parents?'

I heard him sigh aloud which gained the attention of the physician.  "I know it's frustrating, Jason.  You probably have a lot to say, but I promise, you'll be able to get back to your singing career soon.  Patience, my boy."

'Singing?  You sing?  Wait!  You're THEE Jason Montgomery?!  The young Country Music heartthrob that's all over the radio?!'

'Guilty.' He sheepishly replied.

'Oh, my gawd!!  I'm like, your biggest fan!!  Suddenly I don't feel so bad about being in your body now.  Of course, I'd rather be under it... alive... movin' to your music, but this works too.' 

'...'

I just squealed internally.  Jason Montgomery was by far, my favorite musician.  Of all the people in the world that could have received my heart, it had to be him!  Maybe dying wasn't such a bad thing after all.  But wait... He's a famous singer.  He won't have time to look into my death.  Suddenly I felt dejected.  I guess I may never know what truly happened.

'I help you.' He interjected.

'You will?'

'Yeah.  I'd like to get to know the girl that saved my life.  I owe you at least this much.'

I smiled inwardly.  'Thanks Jason.'

'No problem.'