Confusion

Bland

The next few days were a blur. IV tubes, blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, and thermometers were all Jackie ever really saw. They even showed her where the bathroom is. Her mother sat by her side, tearstained cheeks blotched with mascara, clammy hands clutching Jackie's hands. Day in, day out, Jackie was being fussed over.
Normally, Jackie would have been enjoying this. Her mom never had any time for her at home, so seeing her grasping Jackie's hands was a strange sight. But this situation was not normal in the least. Jackie was glad when she was finally released and allowed to go home.
Being in the car with her mother was bland. She couldn't talk to her, because it was difficult for Jackie to know what she was saying. Jackie couldn't even listen to her mother talk. All she could do was frown and feel sorry for herself. And that was the worst part - feeling sorry for herself, when it could be worse. At least, that's what Jackie told herself. She might be able to hear again, once her ears healed. But the nagging thought just kept popping back into her head that her condition was permanent.
Jackie was surprised when her mother passed their street. Instead, her mom just kept on driving. Jackie was about to notify her mother, but then she realized that they were turning into the parking lot of another hospital. Her mom cheerfully opened Jackie's door, and Jackie climbed out and trudged into the doctor's office. While her mother signed in, Jackie looked at magazines. She got the sensation that someone was looking - no, staring - at her, and when she looked up, she was aware of the children and adults that kept looking at her. The hair on the back of Jackie's neck stood up, and she felt her cheeks grow red. Just then, her mother scared her half to death by tapping her on the shoulder. When she stood up, her mom gestured for her to follow.
Jackie obediently walked behind her mom, throughout the twisting corridors and winding hallways. Finally, they entered a plain white room. A young woman started saying things to Jackie's mom, who nodded. The woman turned Jackie so her back was facing her, and Jackie felt a long instrument probing around in her ear. She felt a small shift, and then her ear started hurting.
Finally, they put some earphones on Jackie's ears and instructed Jackie to go into a glass area.
Jackie leaned against the wall, bored out of her mind. All of a sudden, she heard a loud noise. Startled, she jumped up, and looked at the doctor. The woman was holding a microphone, and Jackie could hear more noises. It sounded like this: "Can.... you.... hear.... me?"