The Facility

Andrea’s Tundra slowly puttered through town. Only a few more stops and a few things left on the list. It’s a gorgeous day. Windows down, 90s music playing...

Avocados
Paper towel
Chicken thighs
Laundry soap
Capers
Romaine lett…

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The decibel level of a car crash can reach 140 dB – an airbag deploying can reach 150-170, comparable to a gunshot right beside your ear…

I could see her mouth moving… but I couldn’t hear her. I can’t see her face. I don’t know what just happened… my vision was blurred. She’s holding my hand… someone’s holding my hand…

I think she held my hand the entire time… until they medically induced a coma…

…my world went black.

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I was alone at the Facility — Brandy was out of town visiting friends, and Mistress Andrea had gone shopping in town. I was wearing a skimpy schoolgirl outfit. The camera was rolling as I seductively talked about my socks, flexing my glossy white toes toward the lens and teasing my subscribers about how sweaty and vinegary my feet get after long days at “school”.

The landline kept ringing. Who the fuck calls a landline anymore? I almost ignored it… but something made me get up and walk down the hall to Mistress’ office. Something didn’t feel right in my stomach.”

A woman’s voice, calm but urgent. “Is this… umm… the Facility? Do you know someone named Andrea Valjean? My name is Julie — I’m a paramedic. I responded to a crash involving a woman named Andrea. She’s at St. Joan of Arc right now. It’s serious. You need to get here as fast as you can.”

The world tilted.

I don’t remember getting dressed. I threw on the first things I could find — black yoga pants and a simple grey tee — and one of Brandy’s jean-jackets I found near the door. I just ran…

When I finally reached the hospital, a doctor met me in the hallway first. He spoke in that careful, professional tone they use when things are bad. Car crash. Possible head trauma. Breathing tube. They had her in a medically induced coma to check on a possible brain bleed or swelling of the brain. He let me know the situation was serious but stable for now.

Then he led me to the room.

The second I pushed the door open, my hand flew up to cover my mouth. A broken sob escaped before I could stop it.

There she was.

Mistress Andrea — my tall, commanding, impossibly beautiful Andrea — looked so small and fragile in that hospital bed. Long black hair spread across the white pillow, monitors beeping steadily, a breathing tube taped to her face, IV lines running into her arm. She was still breathtaking, even like this… but seeing her hooked up to machines shattered me.

Julie, the paramedic who had called me, was sitting quietly in a chair right beside the bed. She’d stayed with Andrea the entire time. When she saw me, she stood up immediately, her face full of compassion.

She didn’t say anything. She just walked over and pulled me into a tight, warm hug. I broke down completely against her shoulder, sobbing so hard I could barely breathe. She held me for a long moment, rubbing my back, then gently kissed the top of my head.

“I’ll give you two some privacy,” she whispered. “I’ll be right outside if you need me.”

Then she slipped out of the room, closing the door softly behind her.

I was alone with Mistress.

I crossed the room on shaky legs, kicking off my runners, my jacket, and carefully climbed into the bed beside her. I was so small next to her tall frame. I curled up tight against her side, tucked my head against her chest, and gently took her lifeless arm, draping it over me.

My bare feet with their glossy white toenails and little seashell anklet brushed against her leg as I snuggled in closer.

“Andrea, it’s Jessika,” I whispered, leaning in close. “I know you can hear me. I know you’re still in there somewhere, listening to everything I say.”

My voice cracked, and hot tears began to roll down my cheeks as the weight of my emotions finally overwhelmed me. “I…I wanted to thank you, Andrea, one last time…for everything you’ve done for me… for Brandy,” I managed to choke out between sobs, my grip on her hand tightening.

“It was you, all along, who gave me the gift of motivation, of discipline. You saw potential in me that I didn’t even see myself, and pushed me to embrace it, to become the woman I deserve to be.”

I took a shuddering breath, trying to steady myself as the memories of my time at the Facility came flooding back.

“Hell, my own parents won’t even speak to me anymore, Andrea” I continued, my voice bitter with resentment. “I guess I’m too much of an embarrassment to their precious country club circles, just because I like women, because my nose is pierced.”

“But you…you never judged me. You accepted me for who I am, and you loved me anyway. You’ve been more of a mother-figure to me than my own flesh and blood.” 

At that, I broke down completely, my shoulders shaking with the force of my sobs as I buried my face into her hospital gown, letting the tears flow freely. 

I was praying with every fiber of my being that she could hear me. 

“Mommy! I don’t want you to go… I need you. Brandy needs you!”

Jessika.

Disclaimer: All text prompts going into A.I. systems to create some of the content of this story along with requests for A.I. images appearing in this story, clearly state that everyone involved is an ADULT, above the legal age of consent.