Where?!

What happened? where am I? My mind races, struggling to regain my senses. Awareness returns... a firm but comfortable surface beneath me, the sound of someone typing on a keyboard in the next room, and the smell of Lavendar? My eyelids are heavy as I continue fighting to wake up. In the brief moment I am able to open my eyes, I see the ceiling of a soft warmly lit room with something above me. I try to open my eyes again, for longer this time and realize the ceiling is decorated with a mural of floral vines, light rays coming through the spaces inbetween. Beautiful drapping flowers hang from different parts of the vines. Most are white but some have patches of purple or pink.

As I am able to start stretching and moving some of my muscles, I begin to realize I am not in any pain... but why does that feeling seem so unfamiliar? I search my mind for lost memories while continuing to try to move and wake up the rest of my muscles. I am struck with an overwhelming brain fog that only gets worse the harder I try to search for memories.

I don't find any answers before I notice the typing in the next room has stopped and hear a gentle voice say, "It is good to see you're waking up honey, you're safe. Take your time." There is something unfamiliar but welcoming in that voice.

Able to keep my eyes open, I realize I am covered in a soft light blanket and laying on a... couch? Not quite, but it looks like something I recognize from... College? Yes... I went to college and there were pictures of this kind of funiture in one of the text books. Some older psychologist made them famous by having one in his office for his patients to lay on... Why can I remember that but not my name or where I am?

I am on the farthest side of a small simply furnished room. Next to me is a coffee table and a few chairs that match the couch. The soft light is coming from wall lights decorated to appear wrapped in vines. Each piece of funiture in this room has something small that ties it into the mural on the cieling. Gentle vines wrapping around table legs, those same flowers embroidered into the blanket ontop of me, small splashes of pink and purple all around me. The door across from me is open with more natural looking light coming from somewhere beyond what I can see. The smell of lavendar greets me again,definitely from outside that door.

"Would you like something to drink honey? I know this can be a lot to take in." An etherial and excentricly dressed woman says entering the doorway.

I have to blink a few times to process what she is saying and slowly sit up.

"We have a variety of lemonade, tea, and most options that have a little more of a kick but if there is something else that comes to mind let me know and we will see if we can hunt it down for you."

Rubbing my eyes, I respond "Coffee?" in a surprisingly raspy voice.

"Of course, honey. Is there a specific way you take your coffee? Even if you have a favorite coffee order from a shop or something, we have someone down stairs who is amazing at recreating those for our guests."

Guests... at least that explains why I don't recognize her or her voice.

"I usually just go with something sweet usually with caramel." I respond not quite able to remember much else yet.

My voice returning to normal as I speak and my stiff joints loosen and relax. The kind woman smiles and knods before leaving, soon I hear the typing of keys again. It takes me a few more minutes to regain my senses enough to start to get up. I get up slowly expecting to feel lightheaded or woozy but the feeling never comes. Looking down I realize I am wearing some comfortable sweat pants and a loose tee. I recognize the sweat pants as my favorite pair from college and the shirt from a band I like. There are memories attached to this shirt but right now they escape me.

Walking across the room is surprisingly easy considering how hard it was to wake up.

"You woke up faster than most," the kind woman greets me from her desk. "My name is Mitra, I am here to help you adjust to this new transition and get you all settled in."

Her office is set up very simply with her desk in the middle. Her computer, a simple lamp, and her oil infuser are the first things I notice. That explains the lavendar. Other small personal items are scattered across Mitra's desk. Each trinket vaguely matching her personal style, some appearing to be handmade.

Blinking away some confusion, I ask "settled in where? what transition?" Fear is starting to set in.

"Honey, you're going to want to sit down for this one."

A knock on the door on the far wall interrupts her and she hurries to the door returning with the coffee I vaguely ordered.

"They always have amazing timing. Lets go sit down and I will explain everything. Don't take a drink until you sit down by the way, it might bring back some memories and you don't want to fall or drop it." She says smiling warmly while handing over the coffee and gestering back into the room I woke up in.

Taking the drink, I decide not to question her, yet.

Sitting back down and trying a sip, they got it exactly right. My memories flood back to me. Helena Scott I cringe at the name. Helena has always set my teeth on edge. Max just Max... Scott is fine, not my favorite but it is common enough I don't actually have to associate it with my parents. Where ever they are or have been my entire life. More memories come back... starting preschool, the day the social worker came, hopping from place to place, going to college and working multiple customer service jobs, graduating, finding a career, and trying to settle down. Dark spots still cloud different parts of my memory that I just can't get back yet. Most of my childhood and how I got here still allude me.

Intense brain fog creeps into my mind as I come back to the world around me. I realize Mitra is standing right infront of me and caught my coffee as I dropped it.

She has a tablet in her hand now and laughs.

"Honey, I thought I told you to be careful."

She makes eye contact with me and her expression changes. She sets the coffee down on the table and sits in the nearest chair.

"We have a lot to go over and I have found it best to just tell you the short version and then answer your questions as you come up with them. How does that sound?"

Mitra watches me expectently but patiently. I clear my throat and knod my head. "Well dear, your time in the world of the living has come to an end and I am here to guide you through getting settled in for the next phase of your life."

She is watching my expression very intently.

I start to panic as I realize, "So wait, am I dead?!"