Music in the Night (Logan 4)

"No, that's not my name," I said.

Her eyes widened and her eyebrows curled up.

"Oh? You remember your name?"

I thought and then shook my head.

"So how do you know it's not Lauren?" she asked.

I stared at her and then at him. He was wearing a wide, silly grin.

"I . . just . . . know," I faltered.

"Until you remember your name, that's your name," she replied dryly. "Now, Lauren," she said, pronouncing it emphatically so I would not contradict her again, "come over here and get into this." She took the shirt and pants off their hangers and handed them to me. "You should get settled in and get some sleep. Tomorrow is a big day for you."

"Yeah, the first day is always the hardest," Billy commented.

Clara turned to Billy, shooting him an angry look. He flashed another smile at me and then left quickly.

I got into the shirt and pants while she turned down my bed. The sheets smelled freshly starched and the blanket felt brand new.

"Comfortable?" she asked me as she tucked me in and arranged my pillow under my head.

"Yes, but I still ache all over. Why can't I remember what happened to me? Was I in some sort of accident? A car accident? Did I fall?"

"Tomorrow, the doctor will see you and then we'll see what can be done to help make you more comfortable," she said instead of answering my question. "In the morning,

another nurse, the head nurse, Mrs. Kleckner, will show you around and take you to breakfast. You

're going to be fine," she added.

"How long will I be here?" I asked.

She stared at me a moment.

"I don't think you'll be here as long as your grandmother thinks," she said.

"My grandmother?" I thought about the small elderly lady back at the house. "That woman was my grandmother? Why was she so angry and mean to me?"

"Never mind now," she said quickly, as if she had already told me too much. "There's plenty of time to work on your return."

"Return? From where?"

She thought a moment.

"From . . oblivion, I guess," she said. She paused and looked at me, a small smile on her lips. "Can't you remember anything about yourself? How old you are? Any member of your family? Anything?"

I closed my eyes, tried to remember and then shook my head.

"Everything is so muddled. I hear voices and see quick flashing pictures, but it's like my mind is full of bubbles that keep bursting when I try to seize one," I replied.

She laughed.

"You'll be fine," she said and patted me on the hand. "Get some sleep."

"Will I see you again?" I asked quickly as she turned and started for the door.

"No. I don't work here. I work for a doctor who has patients here," she replied from the doorway.