As I open my eyes, all I can see above me is a bright light, it's hard to focus everything seems blurry, I blink a few times to regain focus, I hear someone talking and a face comes into view. It's the face of an older woman, I don't recognise her, she smiles at me kindly and then takes her stethoscope and put it on my chest, she frowns and writes something on a clipboard, her white coat seems awfully bright. I hear a voice "Miss? Miss?" I blink and realise the woman is talking to me. I try to open my mouth to talk and nothing comes out. I move my arm and hands to make a pen and paper action, the lady hands me a blue pen and notepad. I scribble as she reads aloud "I can hear you. What's happened to me? Where am I? Who are you?" She smiles her smile warm and friendly reaching her blue eyes, her short black bobbed hair had a few streaks of grey in.

　　"Ah I can answer your questions for you. Firstly you were involved in an accident, you are very lucky to be alive, you must have a guardian angel, because you only awoke with bumps and bruises. Secondly I am Dr Espinoza a consultant here at the hospital." I scribbled again "Why can't I talk?" "We think it's shock. We'd like to keep in for a few days to see if your voice comes back if that's okay?" I lie there stunned. I scribble on the pad "I'd like to be left alone please. Oh I see! Of course I will be back around 12:00 tomorrow to see you again. Goodbye" She turned to leave putting the clipboard in a pocket at the door. I slowly get up out of bed, I find that my clothes had been put on the chair and I can't wear them as they had to cut them off me. I look at the window in the door, and see the busy ward.

　　I look around and see my jacket hanging neatly on a clothes hanger at the window, I grab the long red jacket and put it on, flinching in pain from the bruising of my accident, I grab the notepad and pen and head out of the door. I approach the desk where a young nurse sits. I write on the pad My name is Pandora. I had an accident, and I would like to discharge myself please. The nurse had a worried look on her face and said pleasantly "We don't recommend that you discharge yourself, we want to keep you in for observation for a few days" I write But you can't force me to stay, can you? The nurse smiles "No and if you want to leave you can do so." She sighs "Let me get the form" I write Thank you so very much. The nurse gets out the form and shows me where and what I need to sign as I fill in the form and get down to the bottom and scribble my signature, the nurse takes the form from me and stamps it. I turn away raising my hand goodbye when she calls out "Wait! Please. You cannot go out in a hospital gown and a coat. I have some clothes that have been left here by...." She trails off "You are welcome to look through them and help yourself to the lost property. If you'd like"

　　She opens the door to the room and inside are lots of clothes.

　　I find a top and jeans and a pair of knee high boots, hardly appropriate clothes but I am grateful for a change of clothes, they smell and look clean. I grab the notepad and write Thank you so much Nurse Philipps. I won't forget your kindness, she smiles and says "Goodbye and Good luck" as I walk through the automatic doors and hear the noise as they close behind me.

　　I walk out into the street and take a deep breath. As I breathe out a man bumps into me, as I look up I let out a surprised noise "Ow! That hurt" I catch myself. I can talk! The man stares at me, a smirk on his face, I catch him looking at me and suddenly ashamed on my victory dance I blush. I look at him for the first time properly look and my breath catches in my throat as I realise he is gorgeous. He has cropped midnight blue hair, deep green eyes, skin as flawless as china, he is taller than me and is wearing a brown leather jacket, blue shirt, jeans and smart shoes. I stutter "I-I'm Sssorry, I just discharged myself from the hospital and up until you bumped into me I couldn't speak - then I could" I look down suddenly becoming very interested in my feet. I hear him approach and suddenly he grabs my chin and tilts my head upwards so I am looking him in the eyes. "You are correct, I did bump into you, and you had just been discharged from hospital. I can see you are injured, please allow me to make it up to you and take you out to dinner, by way of an apology."

　　When he speaks he has a slight lisp, which is adorable. I blush at the thought. "I couldn't allow you to do that, it is because of you I can speak again, honestly it's fine. I have to go. I have things to sort. Thank you" I turn and run off in the opposite direction, not even so much as glancing back I run towards my house, my lungs burning. I run and run as my street comes into sight I realise I don't have any of my things with me, I just hope I can get in.

　　As I approach my front door, I knock and wait "Yes?" Comes a voice from behind the locked door "Athena, it's me Pandora, please let me in" the door opens slightly, I see Athena's face poking out of they gap. A look of recognition passed over her face and she opens the door wide and embraces me.

　　Athena isn't a member of my family, she took me on as her own when she found me sitting on her steps cold and frightened when I was 15, she tried to find my family doing everything she could but all I could say was my name, when she searched birth records it was like I never existed. But she took care of me and raised me, she never wanted me to call her mum as she wasn't my mum.

　　I called her by her given name, Athena, she was beautiful, green eyes, long straight blonde hair, and an elven nose. She looked the same as I remember her when she first found me. Funny thing is I have no actual recollection of my life before I met Athena