Forget

Chapter One

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Self harm trigger warning.

I remember it like it was yesterday. Waking up early to go to high school and catching the school bus, I'm not sure why but it always felt like the ride was longer than it actually was. It was one of my favorite times, I got to be with him without any bother, no class in the way, no friends. Just him and I.
That was years ago, now I catch the city bus to get to college, no one to spend time with, just myself day dreaming till I arrive. I haven't seen him in years since I moved away to another state, but six months ago I moved back to continue my studies to become an OBGYN. I didn't want to return but with loosing my dad, and my mom being diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's I had no choice since my little brother needed a legal guardian.
My name is Eliza, if I would describe myself I'd say just average all around. I never thought there was anything special about me, not back then and especially not now. Since taking classes for medical, I didn't have time to get my nails done or dress up and soon I'll be starting my internship and I know there will be even less time to do any of that stuff.
I wonder if he has changed his mind on that, he always told me how I was beautiful without any make up or getting 'dolled up.' I felt so comfortable with him, I didn't have to change my appearance for him to think I was pretty.
Lost in thought, I almost missed my stop. It was a week before I was to start my internship and the class I am in has the opportunity to take a tour of the hospital and meet the residents who will be our mentors. Honestly I was really glad that I was able to find a teaching hospital only forty minutes away by bus. I had everything ready to go while I was in Florida, I did not think I would find one here in Washington.
I looked at my watch and I still had about another 40 minutes until we were all going to meet up and I was only a five minutes walk away.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. I felt my phone vibrate and I saw I received a text from my friend Maddison.
"If you get here early meet me at the coffee shop on 6th street! Its really close to your bus stop, Im dying for the caffeine xo"
I replied a simple okay, and started walking towards the coffee shop. Maddy was right, just down the street from where I was. Walking up to the little shop I saw Maddy waving at me to hurry in as i got closer, I didn't pick up my pace.
When I walked inside the smell of fresh coffee beans hit my nose, one of the best smells there is.
"Dude! Hurry up, I need to tell you about Max!" Maddy yelled at me as I got in line.
"Ok ok, let me just get something to eat, jeez..." I yelled back.
Once it was my turn, I let the barista know I just wanted a small iced coffee and a bagel with cream cheese. I grabbed my drink and bagel and sat in the seat across from Maddy as she tapped quickly on her phone.
"What's got your panties in a bunch?" I asked taking a sip.
"Max is what! Apparently she wont be continuing the program with us. Her mom texted me saying that she is under surveillance for schizophrenia and she didn't want to tell us what was going on with her this whole time. Eliza, I feel horrible that I didn't notice anything." Maddy's voice cracked as she spoke her last sentence.
Maddison and Maxine have been friends since they were toddlers. They never made me feel like a third wheel since I recently became friends with them when I switched to the college here. I was more jealous of them if anything, I wish I could have had a friend I grew up with and know just about everything there is to know about them. Having them by my side was more than I could ask for though.
Maddison and Maxine were the complete opposite of me, happy and dressed up all the time. They knew how to use make up to look ah-mazing, they also always had their hair done to match each other, this time they were sporting a brunette balayage. While I was just over here in clothes with little to no color usually just black and my brown curly hair that I did not have anytime to fix, yet they never judge me and welcomed me to everything.
"Oh my god, I cant believe that! Are we able to visit her or something? How long is the surveillance for, also why is she under surveillance? There was no physic consultant?" I asked.
"No, there is a consult but she is under surveillance because she tried to, as her mom said, take the speaker out of her head... She cut into he scalp, trying to rip her scalp off and thats when her mom caught her when she heard her scream..." I didn't have any words to say to Maddy besides an oh my god.
"We also cant visit her until she is either released, put on medication and back home or in a mental help home."
We ended up talking a bit more on Max's situation before we moved on to brighten up the mood, but there was no double we were going to be sad for the rest of the day even week. Who knows when we will get to see our friends again or hear from her. I felt even more sadness for Maddy who was worried about her friend who was basically her sister.
We were casually talking about the residents we had heard about from previous interns, Maddy was also wanting to become an OBGYN.
"Oh shoot, we need to go, we have 15 minutes to get there and change!" Maddy said quickly as she started to get up, but thats when I heard him. I didn't move to get up as she did, all I could do was freeze and my heart began to race.
"No, I wont be able to make it tonight. I have work until nine. " I turned towards the voice, and I saw him. For the first time in years, he was standing ten feet away from me talking to his friend next to him, and then our eyes met.
Before I could stop myself, I spoke, "Riley..."