The Search

33. Andrew

Have you ever reached a point in your life when you just couldn't take it anymore? There were so many questions in your mind that you had been chasing for answers for so long but when you had finally found the answers, you just couldn't take it anymore? When the answers were right in front of you, you were ready to burst?

Yes? No?

I couldn't get myself to care about it because that moment for me was right then. My mind had crossed its limits of tolerance. I couldn't even think anymore. I just knew that I needed to get out of there. So I climbed inside the car and just drove past there.

I later realized that I had left Henry there but at that time, I couldn't care less. I just needed to be alone.

I drove for hours without really following any direction. All I could think of was how I couldn't take it anymore. I understood Prutha completely. I could empathize with her. I knew why she needed to get away from everyone.

When I couldn't drive anymore, I stopped in the middle of nowhere and got out of the car. All that was in front of me was wide field. There were hardly any cars on the road. I took it all in and did the only thing I could; I screamed.

I screamed like I had never before. I screamed until my lungs felt like they were going to burst. I screamed until all the built up frustration left my system.

And then I cried.

To be honest, it did make me feel better. All the emotions that I had locked inside myself, they came out flowing with the tears.

What else had been there? I had lost my entire life, all my memories and I didn't even know how. Apparently my parents were not my parents and there had been a girl in my life that I had claimed to love but did not remember anymore.

What had happened to me?

When I was done crying, I drove again. I let the instincts run and decide the location for me. Instinctively, I knew where I wanted to be. I needed to clear my mind and get on terms with whatever that was happening to me and there was only one place I could think of for doing that. I had to work with whatever was left of my understanding.

A lot of things did make sense now that I knew I wasn't the person I thought I was. It would make sense that I would follow Prutha's story blindly if I was Ayden. But how in the world was I Ayden? And if I was Ayden Tennant, how had I become Andrew?

My memories were missing; I knew that for sure, but how? Why?

And where were my parents? And who were the people I thought were my parents?

As the questions clouded my mind, I regretted walking away from Henry for a second. I should have asked for the answers first. I wondered if I should get back but I couldn't be sure if Henry was still with Claire.

I continued to go in the direction I was going.

After another couple of hours of driving, I was finally there. Back in the hotel I had been staying at in New York.

I was back to meet my parents.

My thinking was clouded and apparently these people weren't even my parents. But whoever they were, I still had memories with them. I knew I felt protected when I was with them. I knew they cared for me and in these foggy situations, it was enough for me.

I knocked on the door the lady from the reception directed me towards and took in a deep breath. It was the moment of truth.

The door opened and my mother appeared in front of me. Her expressions, which were tensed, softened as soon as our eyes met.