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undress in the middle of the hospital."
    Oh, my God . I immediately flush bright red, partly because I can’t stop picturing his chest under the stretched hospital blues, but also because the possibility he’s hitting on me isn’t so alien. His face is inscrutable; mine obviously isn’t because he grins at me.
    "I suppose we should get to know each other better before I start undressing in front of you."
    "Why the hell would I want to see you naked?" I retort.
    Finn sits back and picks up his coffee, looking genuinely confused by my reaction. "Who said anything about naked? I was just offering to show you something you’re curious about."
    I tell myself he’s winding me up and nothing else. I don't think he's trying to be suggestive; he's being literal. Great, someone else who lacks social skills enters my life.
    "I don’t think I’m your type ," I mutter.
    "We’re only having coffee… Two new people with no friends."
    "I have friends!" If that’s what you could call the weird people I moved in with.
    "Really?" His look is genuine surprise. "You just said you were antisocial."
    I clamp my mouth shut, refusing to give away any further information. Something isn’t adding up. This conversation has triggered anxiety and dizziness, and since the accident, dizziness rapidly leads to unconsciousness. The fog edges into my mind.
    "Sorry, excuse me." Grabbing my bag, I slide off my seat.
    The room already darkens, and the ringing in my ears begins. Shit. I need to get out to some fresh air. I stumble past curious people and push out the nearest door into the bright autumn afternoon. Gulping in huge lungsful of air, I bend over, steadying myself against the wall as I attempt to remain upright.
    The fog engulfs ; I’ve run out of time.
    I’m there again . The tarmac is harder against my back and air temperature is colder. I open my eyes. Daylight, and the fog is thinner. Someone leans over me, calling my name and I focus on the man’s face. He looks different this time; his hair isn’t as curly and he’s not wearing a suit, but my deranged mind convinces me this is the man from the night I almost died. My hearing returns and I’m aware of the cooling sweat on my forehead. There are people around me and Finn, looking down with his hand outstretched.
     
    ****
     
    After five minutes of being the daily show for everyone outside the hospital, I struggle to my feet, refusing Finn’s offered hand. The nausea after fainting lingers as long as my embarrassment. Finn insists on taking me to the nearest nurses’ station to get checked out before I go home. There’s nothing to check out; this is the new and annoying me I have to live with.
    I side-glance him as we travel upstairs in the elevator. The guy in my memories has longer, curlier hair and I never see his face clearly in the black and white landscape of my dreams. I’m confused, I have to be; there’s no way Finn could be him.
    "Why won’t you let me help?" asks Finn , as we stand in the elevator. I rest against the metal wall, inhaling, wishing he’d let me go home. Unfortunately, other nursing staff in the car park agreed and shoved me back into the hospital.
    "You are helping. By making sure I get checked out." The edge of displeasure to my voice is palpable.
    The elevator lurches to a halt and we step out. "I think you need someone to lean on."
    "I don’t. I’m fine."
    He chuckles. "Sure thing, you’re wobbling all over."
    "It’s not far," I snap.
    We approach the double-doorway to the ward where I was told to go. God, I hope they don’t make me lie down somewhere, this is embarrassing enough. "Thanks, then."
    "Don’t you want me to come in with you?"
    "I’m fine."
    For a short moment, Finn scrutinises my face. If he touched me, I’d know… I shake the thought away; I’m being ridiculous.
    "You’re very pale."
    "I’m always pale."
    "And tetchy."
    "I’m always tetchy."
    He shifts his weight and sits on a plastic chair outside the doors. "I’ll