All I see is black. I can only feel pain as I take each breath. I gain the strength to open my eyes. “Where am I?” I say. My throat is dry, and it hurts to speak.

I see a nearby nurse walk towards me. “Oh Miss Shelby, you’re awake! It’s alright, you’re at the hospital.” I try to sit up, worry filling my face. “But what about my restaurant?! My business!” I cough, my throat can’t take this. I need water.

The nurse looks at me with concern. “Ms. Shelby, I’m sure the firefighters did everything they could, but you need to take it easy on yourself. The smoke Inhalation made you pass out and you have several burns on your body.”

What?

I look down at my skin and can see burns on my arms. “Why can’t I feel them?”

“Ms. Shelby, it’s probably your adrenalin and the pain meds you’re on rn. They’ll take time to heal and might leave scars.” The nurse’s head turned to the right as the doctor grabbed his attention. “Oh, I’ll be back in a while. Need anything when I get back Ms. Shebly?”

“Just some water. Thanks.”

As the nurse walks away, I drift to sleep. God, it’s been a long day.

—

I’m making rounds around the restaurant as I hear a clicking sound in the kitchen. “Chef, do you hear that?” The chef looks around and shakes his head. “Not that I can hear, Boss.”

I dismiss the thought and continue my rounds.

I’m standing by the host stand when I hear yelling from the kitchen. I run back to find flames up to the ceiling. The costumers caught wind of the flame and ran out of the building. I run to find the extinguisher, but it’s not in its place. “Shit! Where is it?!” I look around to see a server just holding it and looking at me. “What are you doing? Put out the flame!”

And with that, my vision goes black.

—

I wake up sometime later, not loving the dream I had. I notice a new patient next to me, but the curtain between us doesn’t allow me to see his face.

*Ring Ring*

Is that his phone? I question. I hear him answer the call. His voice is scratchy and deep. Sounded like he needs some water too.

“Hello?” I hear him say.

“Yes, this is him… Yes, the building has been destroyed… I believe so. I hit her on the head with a fire extinguisher.”

I shift in my hospital bed in discomfort. What? Why would someone do that?

"Yes. I naturally made the fire. There shouldn’t be any traces… What? What about my money?! I didn’t burn Shelbys restaurant down for nothing!”

He… What?

I’m shaking violently, my anxiety going through the roof. He burned my restaurant down? Did he try to kill me?

“Yes sir… Of course. I always finish the job.” I hear him hanging up his phone and groan. Shortly after, I hear snores.

What in the world did I do to deserve this? Do I tell someone? Do I run?

A voice interrupted my thoughts. “Ms. Shelby, I brought you some water!”

Oh. Right.

“Thank you.”