Lost Memory by Jacqueline Cortez

Chapter Twenty-Six: Gwen

"Gabriella come tu comida"

"I do not want to eat this food though," Gabriella whines.

"It is just a snack after your surgeries. It's only pudding, you rat"

"You love calling me that don't you?" Gabriella squints her eyes like she needs glasses.

"It is what you are," I roll my eyes, "Plus it's been just a few minutes since your last and final surgery, why are you already annoying me?"

"Not my fault"

"What is not your fault?"

"It is not my fault Mom, Dad, and Stefan got into the accident," Tears fall down her face. My eyes start to water. I haven't seen her for almost 10 years. It pains me that after all this time I have to see her frowning instead of smiling.

"I know it is not. I am sorry," I slightly grab her only hand that is not completely broken. I look at the uncompleted letter my mom wrote. I can't believe she's gone, my dad and my little brother, gone. The only one left is my sister. Seeing her in this position wounds my heart. She has broken both her legs and arms. Her left arm, not as much. More than when I came to the hospital. I don't think she has gotten a chance to cry it out to really let out her pain. She didn't have the time either with all these back-to-back surgeries. During all of this, I attended the funeral for my parents and my brother along with other family members. My sister couldn't make it because of the surgeries and that was for the best. It would hurt her. My family members said they wanted to see Gabriella but if they saw her it would remind her of Mom, Dad, and Stefan.

That's something I don't want her to be reminded of.

I don't want her to forget them, of course, but now is not a good time.

I have been through the pain of losing something close and this is the best way.

Gabriella is young so she should recover fast. When I was her age we didn't have medicine this advanced. I look over at Gabriella. She already fell asleep. That quick? I take a look at the food menu on the table to think of what to order for Gabriella when she wakes up. Chicken and fries. There, done. Her favorite. I sit in my chair exhausted. I couldn't fall asleep.

A while later, A nurse comes in along with a doctor.

"Hello, Miss Rio!" I never met the doctor. "My name is Jane Depriese"

"Nice to meet you"

"I'm here with good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?"

"Good news"

"Well, then good news is Gabriella is recovering quicker than you thought," I smile, "But the bad news is that we are out of the pain medicine for her condition," She says causing me to frown.