Back To Reality – Vickie Morgan

Ellen woke up to pain. Throbbing through her back, a cruel reminder of reality. She turned her head to check the drip and discovered she was extremely weak. The bags were empty but she had no way to know when they had run out. She tried to disconnect the wires and tubes but found it impossible. She barely had the strength to move her fingers. She lay in the VR3000 drifting in and out of unconsciousness. She had no idea how to free herself from the machine or how to get help.

She was awakened by the sound of the doorbell. Someone was at her door. She tried to call out but not even a croak emerged from her parched throat. Desperation gave her strength and she flailed an arm, knocking her walking frame over with a crash. There was a momentary pause, then she could hear a voice calling her name. She identified it as Adrienne as she drifted back into unconsciousness.

When next she awoke she was in the familiar surroundings of a hospital room. She could hear Adrienne and Baz quietly consulting with the doctor.

“Are you sure she will be all right?” Adrienne was asking, concern apparent in her voice.

“She will be. It was lucky you found her when you did. Another few hours and it could have been a different story. The good news is that the last series of operations seem to have been a success. With a course of intense physiotherapy she will be as good as new.”

“What about the skin grafts?” Adrienne asked.

“Well they’re not looking too good at the moment, but that’s not surprising when you consider the extent of her dehydration. As far as I can tell they look successful.”

“Thank goodness for that. I’ve been keeping away because I knew she was sensitive about her scars and I didn’t think it would have helped to see how well I had healed. But there’s no way that I’m leaving her alone now. Would it be possible for me to take Ellen back to my house when she wakes up? I’ll hire a private nurse to look after her but I would think the last place she would want to spend more time would be a hospital.”

“There would be no problem with that. She mainly needs rest and fluids and that can be handled just as well elsewhere.”

“Thank you doctor,” Baz said, “I would never have forgiven myself if anything had happened to Ellen. I’m going to go round to her flat and dismantle that stupid machine.” From some source Ellen found the strength to shout:

“No!” For a few moments there was organised confusion as the hospital staff fussed over Ellen, then she was propped up and left to talk with her visitors. In a hoarse whisper, and with frequent sips of water, Ellen managed to explain what had happened and why the VR3000 was not to be turned off. Baz seemed doubtful that anything could be salvaged from the program but Adrienne chivvied him into calling the programmer and the designer. Ellen was left to sleep as they both went to start making their various arrangements.

Within a day Ellen was ensconced in Adrienne’s house and her VR3000 was being carefully taken apart in a workshop. Although her convalescence was slow, Ellen discovered that the doctor was right. The physiotherapy was difficult but soon she was walking without any aids. The new skin on her face was pink and shiny but the raw scars were gone and with makeup it was almost impossible to tell she had been burned. An added bonus was that she discovered in Adrienne a sympathetic and entertaining friend. Despite everything, Ellen was constantly aware of an aching void in her life that could only be filled by David. She felt as if she had lost half of herself and frequently cried when she thought she was unobserved. She was convinced there had been no way to recover the programme until the morning Adrienne burst into her room bubbling over with excitement.

“Ellen, this is so great I can hardly believe it. I wanted to surprise you, but everyone else said I had to get your permission before we went ahead.”

“My permission to do what?” Ellen asked warily.

“To bring back David.”

“What!”

“Isn’t it great?” Adrienne began characteristically striding up and down the room gesturing extravagantly as she talked. “They managed to download his personality from the VR3000 and then I found a man who had been in an accident and he was in a coma, brain dead, due to lack of oxygen to his brain. I’ve arranged to have David’s personality put into the body. The doctors have fixed everything that was wrong with the body and it’s all set up. They wanted me to check because you might have changed your mind.”

“No. I would still do anything to let David live.”

“I knew it. Well in two days time you will be reunited. Just sign this,” she heaved an enormous sigh, “I feel like Cilla Black. I just have to find a massive hat for the wedding.”

Ellen spent the next two days in a fever of anticipation. She had heard that the operation had been a complete success and that the orientation exercises and psychology tests were going well. At last the time arrived for Ellen to meet David again. Adrienne had set the scene with candlelight, soft music and a cold meal ready prepared. Hours had been spent choosing clothes and experts had primped her hair and applied her makeup. She awaited his arrival torn between fear of disappointment and anticipation of joy.

When he walked into the room she felt a sharp stab of disappointment. He now looked totally different with dark hair sprinkled with grey and lines on his face. But when he took her hand and she looked into his eyes she knew it was David. Their lips met and the familiar electricity sparked again.

“I’ve missed you so much.” Ellen told him.

“It only seems like two days to me but I’ve missed you too.”

Hardly able to believe David was actually with her again, Ellen began to tear his clothes off. She needed to be as close to him as physically possible to reassure herself that it was really him. Eagerly he helped her and they tumbled to the floor in a tangle of naked limbs.

There was nothing gentle about their lovemaking, lust and need drove them both. Ellen’s nails scored down his back as she bit his neck and aggressively thrust her tongue into his ear. He attacked her breasts, squeezing and fiercely massaging them before devouring them with his mouth. Their hands roamed over every inch of flesh until he hooked her legs over his arms and thrust into her. Ellen lifted her hips to meet every thrust, wrapping her arms around his neck to hold him close to her. He came quickly with a loud yell, then used his mouth and fingers to bring her to orgasm too. Exhausted they sprawled together on the floor.

“I was afraid you wouldn’t still want me when you saw what I really looked like,” Ellen told him.

“Funny. I was worried you might not like this body.”

“It’s still you inside and that’s who I’m in love with.”

“Same here. Have I convinced you that I still lust after you?”

“You could convince me again. I’ve been deprived for nearly a month, not just two days.”

“Be merciful woman! I need a few moments to recover.”

“Okay lazybones!” Ellen propped herself up on an elbow and looked into David’s eyes. “Seriously though, David, you haven’t really looked at me. There’s nothing wrong with your body, it’s just different that’s all. But I have so many scars and even I find some of them repulsive. And I definitely don’t look pretty anymore. I would understand if you found me a turn-off now.”

“Oh, Ellen. Do you know I was laid in hospital trying to remember what you looked like. I knew generally of course but the things I really remembered and that stuck in my mind were your beautiful eyes and your smile. Yes, that one. You stole my heart with that smile. I don’t care whether your nose is straight or if you have a double chin or pink patches of skin on your cheek. As long as you are the same person inside you are my soul mate and I will love you forever. Now how about you stop crying and we get something to eat? Then hopefully I will have recovered enough to show you just how much I love you.”

Ellen woke the next morning to find David in bed beside her. Filled with joy that she had never known she looked forward to the future enthusiastically for the first time in years. As long as she had David she knew she would never really be miserable again. Rolling over she watched him sleep for a while, then she decided to wake him.

Slipping under the covers she cupped his cock in her hands. Gently she stroked and blew on it. Gradually the wrinkles began to smooth out as it began to grow. Soon it was fully erect and Ellen slid it into her mouth. Lovingly she caressed the head with her tongue as she guided it in and out of her mouth. She held the base tight with one hand while the other roamed free over his balls and the inside of his thighs. After a while she could hear him moaning with delight but he still slept. She removed her mouth from his cock and instead began to lick along its length alternating with calling his name. She pulled the covers down so that she could see his face. At last his eyes fluttered open. She gave a last lick along the throbbing vein then plunged his cock back into her mouth. He gave a gasp of mingled surprise and pleasure. Within moments he came, filling her mouth with the sour taste of his essence, which she swallowed quickly.

“That was a very nice way to wake up. Thank you, darling.”

“It was my pleasure. Want to thank me with a kiss?” she asked teasingly.

“Um, do you mind if I wait until you clean your teeth. Unless of course you would like me to kiss your lower lips.”

“Now that’s a nice suggestion. Not this morning though, I’m still bruised from last night.”

“I would apologise but since you were rougher than me I don’t think I’ll bother.”

“I think it was pretty much fifty-fifty. What would you like to do today?”

“This is your world, what do you suggest?”

“Why don’t we go to the seaside? I used to go camping at Whitby every year when I was a kid. The fresh air will get rid of the hospital smell. Adrienne said we could use her Boxster, which I know you love driving.”

The drive to the coast was exhilarating. The roads were clear and it was one of those sharp crisp days you get in late winter. The stark sunshine gave hard edges and fantastic shadows to the barren landscape as it raced by. Ellen was so happy she kept grinning for no reason. They got a bag of fish and chips and Ellen tried to remember all her favourite haunts. In the afternoon they went for a walk along the cliff tops, arms linked together and their joined hands buried deep in David’s pocket. The tang of the sea breeze watered their eyes and whipped colour into the cheeks as they strolled along, enjoying being together again. They passed a group of boys kicking a football about and Ellen ran to kick it back to them when it escaped them. She regaled David with stories of her footballing prowess until they turned to retrace their path. Somehow the conversation led to Monty Python sketches and they attempted to recreate the ‘Ministry of Silly Walks’. By the time they reached the footballers again they were well into ‘The Life of Brian’. They were trying to remember exactly what the Romans had done for everyone when a boy went chasing after a wild pass of the ball that was heading over the cliff. He somehow managed to get a foot behind it right on the edge. Just as he turned there was a dull roar and the section of earth beneath his feet crumbled away.

Ellen raced to where he had disappeared and flung herself onto her stomach. Wriggling to the edge she peered over to see him somehow clinging to a tuft of grass. She reached down with both hands and grasped his wrist as she felt hands take hold of her ankles.

“Don’t come too close, it’s still unstable here. I’ve got his wrist so pull me back. Hurry though, I have no idea how long I can hold him.” Moments later both Ellen and the boy were pulled to safety. David crushed Ellen in his arms, oblivious to the mud coating her.

“I thought I was going to lose you again when I’d only just found you.” he said, sounding shaken. Ellen remorsefully hugged him, warmed by the love evident in his voice. They were invited back to the boy’s house to clean up and be thanked but they politely refused, wanting to be alone. When they reached Ripon, Ellen directed David to her own house, confident Adrienne would understand. They took a shower together then they went to bed. Still shaken by the danger Ellen had been in, they made love slowly and tenderly, then fell asleep together.

Ellen woke early the next morning and prowled around her flat. Apart from the empty space where the VR3000 had stood everything was exactly as she had left it. Feeling vaguely unsettled she made two mugs of tea then went to wake David.

“I think I’m getting paranoid in my old age.” she announced.

“Why? Have you seen Mulder and Scully in the kitchen.”

“No but I have this feeling I’m still in the VR3000.”

“You do? What ever makes you think that?”

“I can’t put my finger on anything definite but everything is just too convenient.”

“You’re right, you are paranoid. Just because you are happy doesn’t mean you have to be in a fantasy world. Besides we’re in your flat in Ripon, not a hotel in Italy.”

“I know that. The programme was ‘100 Beautiful Cities of Europe’. I don’t know about beautiful but Ripon technically qualifies as a city because it has a cathedral. It’s the smallest city in the UK or something like that.”

“And that’s why you think you’re still in the programme? Because Ripon is a city?” he asked incredulously.

“No. It’s lots of little things. Like how well I’ve healed and the way we had a Porsche Boxster to drive and how empty the roads were and how it hasn’t rained once and…” Ellen stopped, aware how silly it sounded once she had voiced her worries.

“Look, if it’s really bothering you just say the words to end the programme. If nothing happens you know you were wrong.”

For a moment Ellen hesitated. Then she looked around and again felt the shiver of unease. Standing up she said, “End VR3000 ‘Date’ programme.” And everything went black.