Lost Memory by Jacqueline Cortez

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Alejandro

Winter of 2027, Four months after the present time.

"Gwen," She looks up at me. She stares at me as if she's seen a ghost. Next to her was my Grandpa. He is helping her walk. She is in crutches. She is still sick. I knew I felt as if something was pulling me here when I began to climb the mountain.

"Alejandro?" My grandpa says meeting eyes with me. Gwen turns around trying to go to the opposite side of me as fast as she can. But since she is on crutches she can not go quickly. I run to her.

"Stop," I hold my hand in front of her. She falls back losing grasp of her crutches. She holds her leg tight. I hurt her again. I bend down on the ground. She doesn't meet my eyes. "Gwen, look at me." She doesn't. "Gwen Look at me," I say louder. When she looks up, she is crying. Crying softly.

"Why did you come back?" Are the first words she tells me.

One year and a half later...Fall of 2026...Present time

How is my life going? Well, I guess my life is going. After everything that has happened, that is the only answer I come up with. I disappeared like I said I would. Away from everything, away from everyone. I resigned from being a Chairman along with a cold and arrogant personality. I sold my house. I blocked out everyone from my life. Being alone, feeling unloved, scared, feeling regret, feeling anger, regret, all these emotions squished into one. It started when Gwen said those words 'Don't leave, please.' Those words she whispered to me when we were younger. She was worried about me. I told her I wouldn't go. That I am there with her. I couldn't help but leave. I couldn't deal with this in front of people, I had to deal with this on my own. Then secondly was when I finally answered one of Grandpa's calls. I can remember it like it was yesterday.

"Hello" Hi, Grandpa I want to shout joyfully.

"Alejandro," He sounds serious. Did something happen?

"Gwen is sick." Gwen? Sick?

"I don't care," I push myself to say even though I want to run to her right now."How dare you say that?" What is wrong with me? Cant I give in? It would be better if she and I could get through this together but I couldn't.

"She is the one who caused my mom's death. She causes everything. My life is falling apart because of her. I know my mom did bad things. But! She was my mom," I bring myself to say.

"It's not her fault." Your right it is not her fault. "Now come see her." I want to. "Hey! Imma At least, do that Alejandro." I can't.

"Don't call me again," I pause, "I am going to change my number so next time you call, it will be a complete stranger. From this moment forward," My heart begins to shatter, "I want nothing to do with you and her," I hang up. I become to cry my eyes out. I can't imagine how she must feel after she heard those words.

Now I wonder, How is she now? Is my grandpa taking care of her? Is she getting treated? I wondered. I wish she could just run into my arm; I wanted to wrap my arms around her like I used to. That warm hug and her looking up to me with the most beautiful smile. But I can't hold her, not anymore. The only way I can is in my dreams. I now live in Jeju Island and at night that's when all the stars come out. I would sit outside on the porch at night and that's when I would dream of Gwen. Her face began to fade from my memory slowly. Which slowly made me forget things and different memories except for that one. It haunted me that my mom would do this. How she hurt me physically and emotionally. Every day is now the same for me until now. I answer my dad's call for the first time in almost two years. I wait for him to speak.