The Influencer

Kylie was trapped in hell. Confused and unable to escape, all she could do was lie helplessly as each nightmare passed by. First, she was a toddler again, and her mother was about to smother her and Arlie with a pillow, hoping to escape another fifteen years or so of having to be tied down by them and unable to be alone with their father. Just as she was about to black out, someone opened the door to the room behind her mother and she was saved. Next came the blistering heat. She sat screaming on the sandy ground, hands bound behind her back as the tarantula crept closer and closer to her. There was laughter all around her as she continued to scream in terror. Her father was drunk and screaming at her mother in the next nightmare, but before a reoccurrence of that fateful night could replay itself, a soft, soothing voice was cooing her into wakefulness. At first, she wasn’t even sure the voice was real. “Kylie. Kylie, sweetie, wake up. It’s me, Liz.” Just as the nurse had warned her, Kylie seemed rather out of it. Her eyes flickered partially open a few times but didn’t seem to focus on anything, and Liz wasn’t sure if she was aware of her presence or not. “Miss?” Liz turned to face an Asian woman in a white coat standing behind her, a stethoscope dangling from her neck. She extended a hand and introduced herself as Dr. Takashi Chow. The doctor’s friendly face did nothing to ease her worries. “Are you a friend of Miss Kaminski’s?” the doctor asked. “Sort of,” Liz explained. “Kylie started coming to the Safeway on North 8th Street, where I work as a cashier, a few months back. At first I’d see her only occasionally, but lately she’s been coming in a lot more often. I even gave her a ride home the other night when she came in as my shift was ending.” “I see.” “Could you tell me what the extent of her injuries is and what the prognosis looks like?” “Right now, I can’t give you a sure prognosis, but I can tell you that, unfortunately, we are dealing with a spinal injury here.” “Oh no,” Liz moaned. “Yes, it’s a very unfortunate thing,” the doctor said with empathy in her voice. “Two of the lower vertebrae in her spine are cracked, although they should heal nicely in time and fuse together. She’s strapped down to a gurney to prevent any movement on her part, which may further her injuries or delay healing time.” “Will she ever walk again?” “It’s likely that yes, she will walk, but not without assistance of some kind. She should be able to handle crutches or even canes with arm grips, but that’s probably the most she can hope for.” “That’s so sad.” “Indeed, it is. And at such a young age, too. The Arizona ID that was found on her at the time said she was only twenty-four years old.” “Arizona, huh?” Dr. Chow nodded. “Phoenix, to be exact. At least that’s what the address said. With Kylie semi-comatose right now and with fluid build-up in the brain that may cause her to suffer from amnesia for a while when she comes to, this has made it difficult to establish any connections to the girl. She has no arrest record, which is a good thing of course, but we cannot find anyone with the last name of Kaminski listed anywhere in Arizona or Oregon. And of course, we can’t say what she’ll be able to remember when she does come to, because we don’t know what she may’ve known in the first place. Meaning if she remembers having a mother with blond hair named Mary, this could really be an old schoolteacher she’s remembering. Maybe her mother is really a brunette named Kathy. Her memories could be rather jumbled. We just can’t know for sure right now, or whether or not her personality will be altered in any way.” Liz nodded dubiously. “Are there any other injuries?” “Fortunately not. Just a scattering of bumps and bruises. The fluid in the brain is draining nicely and her spine will heal as well. The main concern is what her memory will be like when she awakens and how much mobility she’ll regain.” Liz nodded again sadly. She turned back to Kylie. “Can she hear me?” “There’s no way to know for sure whether or not she can hear or understand you,” the doctor said from behind her, “though it is widely thought that yes, many comatose patients are at least somewhat aware of their surroundings.” “When do you think she’ll come around?” “Anytime now,” the doctor said. “Can I stay a while longer?” “Oh, please do. The more often you visit and give her a chance to see that someone cares about her, the better her chances are of recovery. Are you sure there isn’t anything else you could tell me about her?” Liz thought back to the previous night when she drove Kylie home. “Just that she enters contests.” “Contests?” “Yeah, online sweepstakes. I only drove her a short way home. We were only in the car for a few minutes, so we didn’t really have much time for conversation. She said that although the people were friendly, she didn’t like it here much with the cold and snow. She has a noisy apartment on North 11th Street, and that’s it. The rest is all a mystery.” The doctor’s pager went off. She pulled it from her pocket and glanced at it. “I’m sorry,” she said. Liz smiled weakly and asked how long Kylie would need to remain hospitalized. “I would think for about a week or two.” Dr. Chow pulled something from her other pocket and handed it to Liz. Liz took it and saw that it was a business card. “I’m afraid I must run now, but don’t hesitate to contact me should you have any questions or think of any other information that may help your friend.” “Thank you, Doctor.” Dr. Chow left, and once again, Liz turned to gaze down at Kylie with sadness. The girl looked so frail, as if she’d lost ten or even twenty pounds. Her breathing was so shallow that it hardly seemed like she was breathing at all, but the heart monitor beeping beside her bed indicated that she was breathing just fine. Kylie looked pale, and Liz hated to see the tubes and wires extending from her nose and chest. She looked up at the IV bottle and watched it drip into the tube that ran into Kylie’s arm. The girl’s long lashes began to flutter as she looked back down again. Kylie moaned softly, and it was barely audible. “Kylie? Kylie, honey, it’s me, Liz. You need to wake up so you can get well, and we can get to know each other. I’ve never been to Arizona before. Perhaps you can tell me about it.” A frown formed on Kylie’s face, and she began to shake her head from side to side. “It’s okay,” Liz said soothingly, patting her shoulder gently and brushing her bangs back from her damp forehead. Kylie seemed to relax. “You’re going to be just fine. I’m going to help see to that.” Kylie’s eyes suddenly snapped open. At first, she appeared fearful, but then her expression softened. Liz smiled just as Kylie’s eyes closed again. “That’s it, sweetie. Open your eyes for me. Can you do that?” Just when Liz thought Kylie’s eyes would remain closed indefinitely, they gently fluttered open again, though not all the way. It was still enough to focus on Liz. “Hi,” Liz said, still smiling. “Remember me?” Kylie tried to speak. “What’s that, sweetie?” Liz said, drawing her face closer to Kylie’s. Although it was a struggle for her, Kylie managed to speak one short sentence. “‘You answered my call,’ was all she’d say,” Liz informed her mother over the phone later on that night when she called her from a friend’s house. “Sounds like she’s still pretty out of it,” her mother said. “Maybe so, though she sure seemed like she knew what she was saying. Mom, since they can’t find anyone who knows her, do you think they would release her to me when she’s discharged?” “I don’t see why they wouldn’t, but honey, I don’t think you’re exactly equipped to care for her. You may like her and want to help her, and that’s wonderfully generous of you, but you’re looking at a responsibility that could be rather time-consuming as well as costly.” “Yeah, I know, but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.” “It’s very sweet of you to want to help her like this. It’s not, uh…” “Not like me? It’s okay, Mom, you can say it.” “Okay, it’s not like you.” “No, it isn’t,” Liz agreed. “Well then, how about if I accompany you to the hospital tomorrow and see if we can find out more information together as far as what to expect, and about Kylie herself?” Liz smiled appreciatively, though she knew her mother couldn’t see her. “That’d be nice. Thanks, Mom.” They hung up a short while later, leaving Liz’s mother with a smile on her face. She knew her daughter was a lesbian and she had no problem with that. She was even glad to see she’d found someone she truly seemed to care about. She was just dismayed that it was for a virtual stranger who was laid up in the hospital, oblivious to life around her, without hope of ever walking normally again. “Better that than no one at all, Delvina,” her husband Randy said once she filled him in on the situation. He was propped up in bed reading. “You’ve got a point there,” Delvina agreed as she slid into bed beside him with her own book. Liz and her mother arrived at the hospital just after lunchtime. They were checking in at the nurses’ station when Liz noticed Dr. Chow coming toward them. The doctor had a smile on her face, which gave Liz a spark of encouragement. “Good afternoon. How are you?” asked the doctor. “I’m fine,” Liz replied before she introduced her mother. “How is Kylie doing today?” her mother asked. “Well, Kylie is definitely progressing faster than expected. In fact, she is awake and alert.” “Really?” exclaimed Liz, hope surging through her. “Oh yes. She awoke early and even managed to eat a little something later on. The fluid in her brain has drained nicely, and while she seems coherent enough and could remember her name and where she’s from, her memory could still be a little shaky, just to warn you. I suggest you don’t say your name,” the doctor said, turning to Liz. “Let her see if she can remember it on her own.” “Okay,” said Liz as the threesome began making their way toward Kylie’s room. “Has she been able to recall any friends or relatives?” asked Delvina. The doctor’s smile dropped. “I’m afraid not. She’s told us that she has no family and no real friends either, because she only recently moved up here. The few friends that she does have are back down in Arizona.” “She’s awfully young to be without family,” said Delvina. “I agree. But when I asked her about it, she seemed unsure of what to say. I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable, although I had to wonder if she wasn’t saying anything because she didn’t remember, or because she did remember, yet found it a sore subject to discuss. She doesn’t remember the accident from what she’s told us, though she was very interested in learning about what happened. The hard part was telling her that the person who hit her was immune to any charges or punishment of any kind, being that he was a judge. This greatly upset her, even though she tried not to let it show.” “Well, can you blame her?” Liz said. “The bastard’s going to get away with it as if he were God or something.” “I agree that it isn’t at all fair,” Dr. Chow acknowledged. “She wanted information as to where the judge’s room is, but as I had to tell her, we’re not allowed to divulge that information.” Liz and her mother exchanged glances. Then the doctor asked, “Do you think there’s any way she may try to exact any form of revenge?” “I honestly couldn’t say,” said Liz. “Again, I barely know her.” “What does Kylie do?” asked Liz’s mother. “From what we gather, she enters contests, and I guess she gets by on that somehow because she does it full-time.” They reached Kylie’s room, and the doctor pushed the partially open door wider. Once Liz could see into the room, she saw Kylie staring out the window with a very sad and hopeless expression on her face. She was still strapped to the bed, with her head not much higher than her feet. She could only move her head and arms. “Hello, Miss Kaminski. You have some visitors today,” Dr. Chow announced before she left them alone. Kylie’s head turned toward the door. A look of surprise crossed her features as she studied Liz and the strange woman who now stood at her bedside. “Hi,” Liz said cheerfully as she smiled down at her, pleased to see the recognition in her eyes. “Hi,” Kylie said weakly. “Remember me?” Kylie nodded. “What’s my name?” “Liz.” Liz smiled even wider as Kylie turned to focus on the tall, slender woman next to her. The friendly-looking woman had short blond hair that appeared to be dyed and light eyes. “Hi there,” she said. “I’m Liz’s mom. How are you feeling today, sweetie?” Kylie shrugged, surprised to learn the woman was Liz’s mother, for mother and daughter bore no resemblance to each other whatsoever. “Tired. I guess you could say I’m a bit frustrated as well. They’re saying I may never walk again, and while that’s not a thrilling thing for anyone under any circumstances to hear, it’s especially upsetting when you live alone.” “We can understand that, babe,” said Liz, “but you don’t have to live alone. We’ll take you in if need be, okay?” Tears of emotion flooded Kylie’s eyes. When Delvina looked at her daughter, she was surprised to see the same tears evident in her eyes as well. “That’s so sweet of you,” Kylie said in a choked voice, “but I couldn’t possibly burden you with—” “I don’t want to hear it,” said Liz, cutting her off. “There will be no talk of you being a burden because you won’t be. I can assure you of that.” Liz’s mother studied Kylie. The girl was beautiful in ways that her own daughter was not, though she would never say so. Her eyes were large and curious, even a bit haunted, but intelligent just the same. She cleared her throat and said, “Kylie, we spoke to the doctor, and while I don’t know much about what’s happened to you, I can say that you should be able to be self-sufficient for the most part sooner than you think, based on what the doctor said. You may need wheelchairs and crutches, but you should be able to function almost as well as you did before, only with limited mobility.” “Yes, Dr. Chow told me. It’s making the transition that I’m not looking forward to. I know that we usually adapt to whatever life throws at us, but some things we just don’t adapt to as fast or as easily.” “No, we don’t,” Liz’s mother agreed. “But in time, we do.” “For now, I’ll come and visit you every chance I get,” Liz said. Kylie smiled, but only for a second. “I’d like that. Just promise me you won’t let your visits impede upon your life.” “Okay,” Liz said with a chuckle. “In the meantime, is there anything I can do for you, anything I can bring you?” Kylie looked thoughtful and almost as if she didn’t understand the question when Delvina asked if Kylie wanted them to contact anyone. “The doctor said you have friends down in Arizona.” Kylie now looked hesitant, then said, “I think it would be better if they heard from me directly once I’m out of here. Hearing from a total stranger may freak them out a bit.” Liz and her mom looked at each other for a second, then Liz said, “That’s understandable.” “Anything else, honey?” asked her mother. After a bit more hesitation, Kylie said, “Well, I have a couple of plants in my apartment.” “No problem. We could water them for you,” said Liz. “I would be very grateful if you could. They’re by the living room window.” Liz and Delvina assured her it would be taken care of, and then Delvina asked about the contests. “I hear you make a living by entering sweepstakes. How does that work exactly?” “Lately, I’ve just barely been making ends meet, though it’s kept me well enough. I’ve won everything from cash, cruises, guitars, clothes, jewelry, and food, but mostly small things like books, CDs, and DVDs, which I sell and turn into cash. I have no insurance this way, but it keeps me from having to have any set schedules or mean bosses breathing down my neck.” Liz and Delvina chuckled. Kylie raised her right arm, which wasn’t attached to the IV, and pointed to a table in the corner of the room. “My purse is there. If it remained intact, then the keys to my apartment should be in it.” Liz went over to the table and opened the small black purse. “They should be in the main compartment,” Kylie told her. A moment later, Liz pulled the keys out. “The gold key is to the apartment. The small silver one is to the mailbox in the lobby. It’s number nine.” “Would you like us to get your mail for you?” asked Delvina. “Yes, please. I would appreciate it. And help yourself to whatever cash may be in my money jar. I usually keep emergency cash in my—” “Forget it, forget it,” said Liz. “Don’t even mention it.” “Kylie, how long have you been in Klamath Falls?” asked Liz’s mother. “Just over a year.” “Do you like it?” “Well, as I told Liz, I like the people a lot better than the weather.” “Is this your first time in Oregon?” asked Liz. Kylie nodded. “Did you come to Klamath Falls by yourself?” asked Delvina. “Yes. I decided I needed a change after living in the desert all my life. So I saved for a few years, then rode up here with a friend who was on her way to Seattle. I stayed in a cheap motel for a month until I found my apartment.” “Wow, that’s quite a change, all right,” said Delvina. “It is. The apartment is a bit noisy, but it’s only three hundred dollars a month, including utilities, and that’s hard to beat anywhere.” “It is,” Liz’s mom agreed. After a few minutes, Liz and her mother could see that Kylie was getting tired, so they decided it was time to leave. “You look like you could use a nap right about now,” said Delvina. “Yeah, I suppose I could,” Kylie agreed with a yawn. “It was nice meeting you, Kylie,” Delvina added. “It was nice to meet you, too.” Kylie’s gaze came to focus on Liz. Liz smiled affectionately. “I’ll see you after I get off work tomorrow afternoon, okay, sweetheart?” Kylie nodded. Liz bent down and kissed her forehead. Kylie felt herself blush, and she even managed a tiny smile. “So what do you think?” Liz asked her mom as they exited the hospital parking lot, eager for her feedback. “Well, I can certainly see why you’re attracted to her,” said her mom. “She’s a little cutie.” “But?” “How do you know she’s into women and that she even likes you?” “I just do. How did you and Daddy know you were both straight and that you liked each other?” Delvina cracked a smile. “Well, she’s very beautiful, and I get the feeling she’s probably very bright too.” “Do you?” Delvina nodded. “Just by her vocabulary.” “She does seem rather articulate.” “I sense a strong intellect, but a more childlike personality.” “Maybe you should’ve been a shrink, Mom,” said Liz. Delvina smiled again. “It sucks that she has no insurance,” said Liz. “Yeah, it does. But the state should cover the bare necessities like the hospital stay, the wheelchair, and things like that. The only thing I don’t get is why a girl so young and all alone would come to a state she’s never been to before.” “She said she wanted a change.” “That’s a hell of a change,” Delvina pointed out. “Yeah, it is. I guess maybe she’s still out of it and doesn’t quite know all that she’s saying. I mean, I’m sure she can’t be remembering correctly about all the things she said she’s won, can she?” “That does seem like an awful lot to win. I hope she’s just mistaken or exaggerating and not lying. She seems like a very sweet girl, Liz, but she could be trying to hide something.” “And give us the keys to her apartment while she’s at it? I can’t believe she’d let us get her mail and go into her place if she were some kind of criminal, Mom.” “I’m not saying she’s a criminal. It’s her past. I really think something bad must’ve happened to her down in Arizona to drive her all the way up here to a strange place.” “So what if it did? The past is the past. It’s who she is now that matters.” Delvina pulled up alongside Kylie’s apartment building, cut the engine, and turned to face her daughter. “Then I take it you’re sure you want to do this?” Liz nodded. “Then I’ll support you however I can.” Liz smiled and hugged her mom. A few minutes later, Liz was unlocking the door to Kylie’s apartment, her mother trailing behind her. The apartment appeared neat and tidy except for a scattering of pens and papers on the table on which Kylie’s computer sat in the corner of the small living room. Thump, thump, thump… Liz and her mother looked upward. “Guess she wasn’t kidding when she said the place was noisy, the poor girl,” said Liz’s mom. As if to further confirm Kylie’s statement, music suddenly started playing from below them. “I’ll water the plants,” Delvina said, reaching for the watering pot that stood by one of the plants. Liz did a slow walkthrough of the apartment. All that stood in the bedroom was a single bed and a small, banged-up dresser. She went into the kitchenette next, then the bathroom. When she returned to the living room, her mother was watering the last of Kylie’s three plants. Delvina looked up at her daughter. “How’s it look?” Liz shrugged, hands casually tucked in the front pockets of her jeans. “Like a regular apartment, I guess. Just not much stuff in here. She doesn’t even have a TV or any furniture in the living room other than the table.” A moment later, they left, locking the door behind them. “Let’s not forget the mail,” Liz’s mom said as they headed downstairs. Liz located Kylie’s mailbox and retrieved the mail from inside. “Just a few pieces of junk mail and what looks like her electric bill.” Back in the car a minute later, Delvina noticed her daughter’s strange expression. “What is it, sweetie?” she asked. “I don’t know,” said Liz, frowning and shaking her head. “There seemed to be something different about her place. Something was off. I just can’t put my finger on what it was.”