The walls were white and a slight smell of disinfectant stood in the air. Some people with visible injuries sat on old, worn-out chairs. One even in a wheelchair, folding his hands in his lap, possibly praying. But the running doctor had other worries than the waiting people. His newest patient, who luckily could be identified as Theobalt Müller, lapsed into cardiac arrest and he had to get the young man back. “Out of the way”, the short man was shouting to his audience.
The nurse on watch was already trying to reanimate the young man, who was brought in a few hours earlier. Apparently he was struck by lightning during the nasty thunderstorm which raged the whole day. “Please step back, I need more space to work,” the nurse said to the stocky, redheaded woman, who stood by the bed. “Bu- but my poor boy.”
“Madam, step back, or we need to remove you,” the doctor said while arriving.
With wide eyes, he examined the scene in front of him. While being an experienced doctor, he always felt a little afraid in such extreme situations.
The well-built young male nurse was still going strong, doing CPR, while the doctor held the loading defibrillation paddles. Immediately the nurse stepped back and the doctor used the defibrillator. The nurse restarted the reanimation and the medic gave the next command before another electroshock cursed through the young man. Both were working hard, while a third nurse was pumping air into Theobalts lungs. After half an hour the team, which meanwhile grew to eight people to give the first nurse a small rest, gave up.
“WHY DID YOU STOP?” the stocky mother cried. “There is still a chance. You can't give up on him” and she jumped to Theo’s bed, trying to continue CPR. It took three of the worn-out nurses and the help of the doctor to get Ms. Müller away from her son. “I am sorry, but there is nothing we can do anymore. He may live again, but after that much time, he wouldn't wake up.” the physician said. He glanced at his watch, but before he was able to call the time of death, an amplitude was shown on the monitor. “What the...” the doctor started and before he was able to react, the mother was already embracing her 22-year-old son.
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It was dark.
All-Encompassing darkness, more gloomy than the darkest, most moon- and starless night you could imagine. Somewhere in front of me, there was a light flicker. Using all my power, to get up and get out of the darkness into the light. It felt like hours before I was able to stand on my own two feet and afterward, I took a few staggering steps to the flickering patch of warmth in the cold grim darkness surrounding me.
I crawled. Using only my arms before the leaden extremities fell down. My eyes closed and I needed, I craved a few moments of rest. But I knew if I gave up now, it would be too late and I would be stranded in this eternal darkness. So I bit myself, to get the tiredness out of my system and fought to get up again. After maybe hours, I was able to take the last steps in front of a small, gray, flickering candle. But before I was able to admire the small fire, a flash of dazzling blue lightning hit the wick of the gray candle.
It took a few minutes before I was able to see again, but what was a small candle before, had become a tall oak, burning in a blue fire. I gathered my courage and held a hand in front of the burning tree, but it didn't feel hot. Squinting my eyes, I was able to look through the blinding fire and noticed that the tree was unharmed.
The leaves and branches were fully coated, but I saw a hue of green and brown, and no black as if the fire didn't consume the tree. Another flash of lightning came down, but instead of hitting the tree, it hit me directly into my chest. A burning pain spread in my chest before I lost consciousness.
A small gasp escaped my lungs and I took an even smaller breath in. Before I was able to realize what had happened, an uncomfortable weight around my chest joined the already existing pain. “I thought you were gone,” was all I was able to make out through the sobbing. Opening my eyes, I saw the person most dear to me. “Mom? What´s going on? What´s happening?” I asked, totally confused.
A few minutes later, with the help of a short, slender man in a white gown, I was able to cobble the story of the last few hours together. As far as I remember, I went out to throw my trash away, but a tree above me was hit by lightning and I got a big chunk through an electric arc right near my heart. While some neighbors were able to call an ambulance, I still fell into a short coma. Apparently I got really lucky, as the Nuremberg hospital isn't that far from my home and my heart gave out after we got there.
Realistically, I should be dead, as I couldn't be reanimated for over half an hour, but I feel fine. I feared there may be some hidden complications, as brain trauma wasn't that absurd, after being hit by lightning and being “dead” for nearly half an hour.
After my mother reassured me that she would visit me every day, she left me alone. This wasn’t unusual. After my father left us alone, my mother had to work even harder to help us through life. Rather than become mad, I was a bit content because I needed to think about what had happened and about this strange dream.
Stolen story; please report.
There was this feeling; that this dream meant something. A near-death experience, a strange dream and nothing else happens?! Trying to get up, I failed miserably, as my whole body felt numb. Before bothering a nurse, I used the plastic container near my bed and put cleaning myself off until tomorrow. I fell exhausted into the pillow, sleeping before I hit it.
I was walking through an old forest. There was nothing to see or hear for miles except trees and trees. But there was a clearing ahead and I ran for it. Around me, there were old and very high trees, which I couldn't see the top of. I stumbled around with my head in the sky, definitely out of breath after my sprint before, while in the center of the clearing was a crystal clear pond of water. Feeling the mud beneath my shoes, I only needed to take a step to the right before falling into said pond.
Getting my countenance back, I moved backwards, to get a straight look into the pond before me. It was no mere pond, but a pretty big lake I haven't been able to make out because of the fog, which obscured the rest of the lake.
Peering into it, I saw some shady figures which were moving pretty fast in the dark landscape of the lake. I tried to bend forward, to see more of the figures, but while doing so I felt dizzy and before I could react I lost my ground.
Startling awake, I nearly fell out of bed. What...? Where am I? It took me nearly a minute before I remembered what had happened yesterday. My throat is parched, WATER! was my only thought.
I reached out to the buzzer to call the night nurse, but somehow I must have thrown it out of my bed and reach. Powerless and thirsty it took me nearly everything to get the buzzer from the floor. Shivering, I pressed the button and cursed me was helplessly watching the buzzer fall to the floor again. I had no power left to try again... I needed to thirst till tomorrow and maybe die if nobody got to me fast enough.
A few hours later I awoke still as thirsty as before, but I hoped the night would end soon and I got a glistening, cold, fresh glass of water. I pictured the feeling of the glass, the texture and even the taste of water in my mind, expecting to have some of it a few minutes or hours later... I would not care anymore.
The picture was so strong, that I felt a real glass in my hand. I didn't dare to open my eyes, otherwise, I would lose this illusion. Raising my hand to my mouth I gave in to the illusion and hoped that the morning shift would take over soon and I get something to drink. BUT I felt glistening, cold and freshwater pour down my throat.
“Mr. Müller, wake up!” a voice was heard, as I rose from my sleep. “If you don't wa-” the woman started, as I pried my eyes open. “Ah, finally. I thought I needed to call the doctor again. How was your sleep? I hope you slept well, as it is already ten o´clock and you have your first ward round in a quarter of an hour.” Does she ever stop talking? I asked myself. “Sorry, I must have been exhausted after everything that happened. Do I need to go anywhere specific, or do I need to do anything for this ward round?”
As I was never in a hospital before, I was quite inexperienced with the whole process. “No, not really, but you might want to freshen up while I change your bedding.” was the answer. A bit shaky, I rose and lumbered into the small bathroom accommodated in the sick room. Luckily I didn't need to share this room, as my health insurance didn't cover a single sick room.
The hot steamy shower was exactly what I needed to wholly wake up. To really savor the warm water, I even brushed my teeth while standing there. The nurse shouted something, but I didn’t understand a thing.
Walking out of the shower with only a small towel covering my manhood I asked the young nurse if they had something to wear, as my pants and shirt got destroyed yesterday. “We have an OP-shirt for you until your mother gets you your clothes.”
“Thank you, that would help Ms.?” I was a bit disappointed by the ironic grin I got from the nurse. I hoped I could get at least a smile by showing myself this way, as I trained hard for my small sixpack.
“You can call me Carmen, Mr. Müller. By the way, did you drop your water glass last night? It is not a problem, as it is my job to clean it up, but it had to be noted down by the night shift. Also, it is surprising that you don't have a scar from where the lightning struck you. Normally you can at least see that someone was struck by lightning by the kind of scar they carry.”
“Hi Carmen, I am Theobalt, or Theo and no, I had no glass of water but I am sorry for the inconvenience. Do they get a scar? I guess I got lucky.” getting dizzy answering so many questions I climbed back into my now clean bed. “The doctor should be here any minute now. If you need anything, just push the distress button and I will be there for you.”
Asking the doctor during his round, I got no answer about my missing scar. But the good news was that I could leave the hospital two days later if I had no complications. Later that day my mum visited and brought my clothes and a small cake, her neighbors baked for me.
“Theo, I am so lucky that you are still alive. What would I have done if you didn't wake up.”
“Mum it is okay, I am fine and nothing terrible has happened.” I opened my arms to welcome her hug. This ordeal must have hurt her more than I would have expected I thought while my OP-shirt got a bit wet on my shoulder. “I love you, mum!” I whispered in her ear. Finally, she stood up and wiped away her tears.
We talked until late afternoon about my studies, our non-existent partners and living alone. At last, I got my dinner. And the hospital food was really yuck! My mother promised that she would get me something better to eat for tomorrow. Then she left and I was alone again.