Chapter 15                 A Gift of Life

Somewhere deep in the cerebral cortex a neuron sparked feebly at first and then more brightly. Other neurons, energized by a pulse of energy, sparked and soon part of the brain glowed with activity. A sensation of floating developed, floating without the restraint of gravity, free of stimuli from the external world. Memories of effortless movement in the dark, silent world that Hilton’s knew during deep dives in the Caribbean Sea rekindled.

            His body seemed to evolve and he saw a boy swimming beside his mother guiding him over and around the jagged coral heads and past sharp teeth hidden in the rocks. He felt warm in her presence but his image slowly changed and he became a young man gliding beside a beautiful woman who took the form of Catherine. She took his hand as she had at their wedding and together they soared among the waving corals among the yellow and blue angel fish but a new form appeared from deep in the tangle of broken coral. It floated slowly toward him as Catherine dissolved into a rainbow of colour and disappeared with a wistful blown kiss. The tempting face of a young Bernice came into view moving closer, enticing him to frolic with her among the waving fronds of soft coral. His heart beat swiftly and the sensation of its movement within his body became a drum beating time to the sensations of his mind.

            Other figures came close; he recognized Carol and Eric further away facing toward him as he had seen silver barracuda studying his alien form when he invaded their realm. The weight of gravity strengthened pulling him toward a sandy bottom. He kicked and shot past Bernice into a school of forms he knew from business and romantic adventures but the weight increased. A last spurt brought him to the side of a graceful damselfish. Green eyes flashed and Tracy floated below buoying his sinking body with her own energy. Happiness filled him and he rested as her strength carried him past jagged coral towards a dark cave where strange creatures brushed roughly on his skin. Tactile sensations from his skin disturbed his dream and the soft comfort of the water world diminished. Tracy’s support wavered, he looked for her, and she dissolved into the dark sand with a final flick of her tail was gone.

            A new sensation entered the dream, a sound that broke the silence. It was the roar of life giving air drawn through a regulator attached to diving tanks. The weight increased as if he were wearing the equipment used for a deep dive but he was weighted too much and sank toward the deep blue of the bottomless sea below. Unable to rise panic seared through the neurons in his brain signalling violent muscle spasms in his arms and legs. One arm pinched against a sharp coral and suddenly his mind relaxed. The fierce cerebral activity quieted and the movement stopped.

            In his mind he looked around toward the surface far above. It was like seeing the sun through the water as a diver rises to the surface. First it is brightness and then a wavering light tossed in the waves above. A glowing halo surrounded a beautiful face as the light drew him higher. The sensation of rushing air diminished as new sounds penetrated the confusion and light became stronger. Other sense receivers began to overpower the brain and the dream faded. He entered a half world of unrecognized sound, taste and feeling. His eyes brought only light and dark to his reality. The condition remained for an unknown time until his mind longed to return to the deep quiet.

            His neuron activity began to slow and a peaceful quiet returned as his heart rate slowed and blood pressure dropped. It was so pleasant compared to the dramatic dreams he wanted to let go completely. Outside his physical body activity was intense as white-gowned people struggled to bring him back to this reality. They knew he was there, so close to awakening he couldn’t be allowed to let go. One person had sat by his side for several days was determined to bring him back.

            “Hilton don’t leave us,” she called and squeezed his hand. She implored him to come back as a doctor injected adrenalin. He heard a familiar voice. It sparked a new area of neurons in the front of his brain causing a flood of external stimuli to flood his mind. Awareness increased, he moved his arms, his eyes flickered and opened. The glare of lights dazzled as the loving face he knew to be Karen came into focus. He felt the warmth of her lips on his and he rejoined the world of pain and disappointment.

 “Hilton, darling, you’re awake. Thank god. We’re so worried about you,” she whispered. “You’ll be alright now.”

            “Where am I?” he said softly.

            “In the hospital in San Diego. They brought you here from Mexico.”

            “What happened, am I hurt?”

            “You were in accident, don’t worry dear, we’ll tell you all about it. Now you have to get better.”

            “You look beautiful, Karen, like an angel in that white coat. Why does my arm feel so stiff?”

            The doctors had looked on with satisfaction but now intervened saying that they wanted to run some tests and that he must be quiet for a while. He was soon asleep. Karen went for coffee and phoned home to tell everyone the news.

The end

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