The Reincarnation

“What time is it?” David tried to sit up and finally succeeded. He had awakened earlier, but for a few moments couldn’t get his body to comply with his desire to sit up. It was the same helpless feeling he had when he woke for the first time; as if his energy was sapped and he was floating a few inches above his body. Eventually, his hands obeyed him, then his arms, then his torso, and finally his legs.

The nurse walked over, deftly maneuvered herself through a gap in the machines, and propped him up with some pillows. In the light, David noticed again that the nurse had bright red hair that bunched out in enticing curls from under her nurse’s cap.

“It’s about three o’clock in the afternoon, Mr. Sperling. Can I get you anything?” David noted her eyes; blue and serious, but soft and kind. Her nurse’s uniform, merely serious, contrasted with them.

“How about a sandwich?” David mused.

“I thought Dr. Persey talked to you about that, Mr. Sperling. No solids until Monday.” She sounded authoritative, but pleasant.

“Okay, okay, I thought I’d give it a shot.” David relaxed his back on the pillows, trying to calm his hunger.

“We’ll get you eating, Mr. Sperling. We’re all pulling for you, you know. You’re a regular celebrity here. How are you feeling?” David looked straight at her now. She was beautiful in her enthusiasm.

“Better, at least. I think that nap was the best so far. I can really feel myself coming together, if that makes any sense.”

“Well, you’re writing the rules on this one, Mr. Sperling. I’m glad you’re taking it like a champ.” She smiled. David found it dazzling.

“You’re glad, why’s that?” He started talking with rejuvenated interest.

“Well, Mr. Sperling, it gets very lonely working in this Lab. All the people here are...on ice, so to speak.” She looked away briefly, then turned to face David again. “You’re proof it won’t always be that way.” She came closer to the bed and touched the side of it with her hand. David wondered if she was conscious of this small, but to him significant, act.

“Well, glad to be of service. Now about that sandwich...”

“Monday, Mr. Sperling. It shouldn’t be any later than Monday. And I’ll make it myself if it makes you feel any better.”

“Thanks, I may take you up on that.” David glanced at her left hand, which was still on the bed. She was caressing the sheet underneath it.

“Can I get you anything?” The nurse repeated her original question.

“Well, not really. I was dreaming about eating and can’t seem to get it off my mind.” Looking at her hand again, he noted happily that she wore no rings of any kind.

“Well you let me know if you need anything. There’s a button right there,” she pointed. “Just push it and I’ll come in.”

“One thing...could you turn on the light? I want to do some reading.”

“Sure, I’ll leave you alone to read.” The nurse turned on the light on his bedside table, gave the bed a final soft tap, and left.

David picked up the copy of TIME, then put it down. Seeing Rolling Stone on the bottom of the stack of magazines, he carefully slid it out. Now for some real news, he thought. Flipping to the back where the charts were, he slow-wittedly recognized the bands listed there. Rock and roll, that’s what I’d like. As well as another look at that nurse. He buzzed her.

“Yes?” she said, poking her head in nearly instantaneously.

“This may seem strange, nurse, but could you bring in a radio...some music?”

“Sure,” she said, hesitating. “What would you like to hear?”

“I know,” she said determinedly, “you gave us some compact discs before you were suspended – I mean vitrified. I’ll see if I can find them.”

“Not if it’s any trouble...” he protested. But she had already left.

She was back in five minutes with the cardboard cases. She handed them to him along with a small CD player and some headphones. David marveled at the size of the CD player. It was scarcely larger than the discs it played.

“What do you want to hear?” she asked as she found an outlet for the player, then plugged the headphones in.

“This one, this one.” David’s memories came flooding back to him as he looked at the CD cases. They weren’t exactly rock and roll, but they would do just fine.

“Okay, you’re all set,” the nurse said, putting the CD in the player. “The volume control is here. Press this button to play.”

“Thanks, and by the way, what’s your name?”

“You can call me Laura, Mr. Sperling.”

“Only if you call me Dave.”

“Deal. And remember, just push the button if you need anything else...Dave.” She smiled again. Luminous.

David slipped the headphones on and thought to himself that this was what he called physical therapy. Mental therapy as well. The music started the instant he pressed play. He closed his eyes, relaxing with his hands behind his head, the movement of his arms barely painful at all.

Beethoven’s Ninth never sounded so sweet.