Lost Memory by Jacqueline Cortez

Chapter Twenty-Five: Alejandro

I hope Gwen has not gotten far. I run out of the reception area. But someone pulls me back by the arm. It's a young girl. A teenage girl. She is dressed in all black. Her whole face was hidden by her hoodie. She hands me a picture. She utters one word, Gwen. I look at the picture. It-It's this face. I have seen this face before. The little girl from my dream. This is her. The year printed on the picture is 1993. I was not alive in that time. How could that little girl be in my dream? Who exactly is she? Suddenly I remember something. I see the little girl again in a daydream, She is hugging a bear. I show her a plane and fly it over her head. She giggles.

"Her name is Gwen," She points at the bear with her tiny pointer finger.

"You mean your name?" She nods her head yes.

I snap back to reality. My grandpa catches me as I start to fall. I don't feel anything. A numbing feeling washes over me. This was not a dream, this really happened. That girl in the dream was younger than me but she is supposed to be older because this girl from my dreams, from that strange memory is...Gwen.

"Alejandro, can you hear me?" I hear my Grandpa call out.

"In memory...she...dream...her...Gwen," I say closing my eyes slowly. My heart beats faster. I feel a sharp pain in my head. Then instantly I hear a ringing in my ear. I lose balance and slip. The last thing I feel is cold laying on the ground realizing that this is the lost memory I overhead at my father's house in Australia. This is it. I am sure of it.

-

I wake up with a piercing headache. I try to remember what happened last night. All I remember is a strange teenage girl. She gave me something. I don't know what it was. This headache doesn't help me remember. I raise my head to look at where I am. This is not my room at my mansion. This is the room I had in my grandpa's apartment. My grandpa opens the door.

"You are awake?" I sit up as he brings me a mocha. My favorite drink. Which takes my headache away.

"What happened last night? I can't seem to remember," My curiosity becomes stronger.

"You were not feeling well, you had a high fever. You even had bruises all over your body too," Grandpa says looking uneasy.

"That is strange," I look at my arms and there aren't any bruises. I place my hand over my forehead. I don't have a fever.

"Overnight you got better. Don't worry. Grandpa will always take good care of his grandson"

"I love you, Grandpa," I say. I realized that I have never sincerely told my grandpa this because I would think it wouldn't be manly. However, sometimes words assure a person of your love for them. Actions are what show your love too but knowing how busy I always am, I never get to see him. That is why I said these words today and it made me feel warm.

"I love you too, troublemaker" I laugh.

"But what about that teenage girl?"

"You're talking nonsense"

"No, really she gave me something"

"Where is that something then?"

"That's why I asked you"

"I would have it?"

"You need some sleep you haven't come to your senses"

"Grandpa. I'm serious"

"Find the girl then I will believe you," He chuckles almost falling back in the old creaky chair in my room.