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Chapter 21: Rose

I think I fainted at some point. When I open my eyes again, I find it difficult to make them cooperate. It feels like I haven't opened them in a long time. I rub the soft sheets of the foreign bed in between my fingers, finding the sensation soothing.

I groan, being in so much pain physically and mentally. A wineskin filled with water is placed to my lips, and I gulp it down. I eventually yank it away from the hand and guzzle down the rest.

After a while, I manage to wearily glance at the three girls who wait patiently for me to do so. I'm immediately bombarded with questions from the youngest two.

"So you really don't remember anything?"

"Your right arm and left leg is metal. How'd you lose em?"

"I read something like this in a book! Oh, how romantic would it be if some dashing man came to save you?"

I stare at them with a wide gaze. "Rosemonde. Or no, Rose for short, I guess. I don't know how I remember that."

"Sorry about my sisters, they're just excited. I'm sorry you've lost your memory. You're welcome to stay here as long as you'd like. My name's Alice, by the way," the oldest explains.

"Lilly," chirps the second oldest.

"Emily," squeaks the last.

Alice shifts uncomfortably. "You've been asleep for about four weeks."

The news doesn't seem to effect me. Doesn't make a difference. I'm still just as lost as before.

For the past few weeks, I spend most of my time sleeping. Alice said people who wake up from comas have the problem for a while, since their bodies seem to be used to sleeping. I feel like and old woman. At random times, I'll just doze off.

It's not only that. Even if I was only in a coma for a few weeks, I'm clearly suffering some kind of head injury. Even taking a few steps exhausts me. Thinking is tiring too. When I think I've grasped a memory completely, it slips away into oblivion as exhaustion takes over. But Alice, who is the main person who is nursing me back to health is patient and caring.

I might be happy here if it weren't for the small pieces of my past that I can finally grip on. One face is seared into my brain. A boy, who is probably only two years older than myself. Intense, sapphire eyes, dark hair, and a muscular build. He's laughing, and there's a sort of kindness in his eyes, but you can also see a lot of pain. A sadness that's kept hidden by that smile. He's beautiful, and I feel like I know him well, even though I don't even know his name.

After about two months of regaining my strength, I'm able to walk around town. I only doze off if I'm still too long. That's an improvement. Emily was bursting with excitement to show me all her favorite shops, while Alice and Lilly decided to shop for more clothes I can wear. I wear normal Earth Kingdom clothes, borrowed from Lilly. They're big on me, and I can infer I'm probably a little small for my age.

"Before our parents died, we used to get a treat from there every Thursday. Alice says it's too expensive now, so we only get one for special occasions," chimes Emily. Her small hand is folded into mine. I smile down at her. I haven't really talked much since I woke up.

I look around at all the strangers who busily walk around us, trying to find a familiar one. I know it's pointless, but I can't help it.

Well, the results are overwhelming. Sitting on a bench, is the boy who has the same face plastered into my brain. He's sitting with a girl and another man. He looks heartbroken and hopeless, like he's finally given up on something. The girl tries to reassure him, while the other man's gaze wanders through the crowd until it spots me. He points, but I'm already walking towards them, Emily skipping beside me. She's still holding my hand.

"I- I know you," I murmur, making the boy's head pop up.

"ROSE!" He gasps, nearly toppling me over with his embrace. Emily wanders to find Alice, finding it uncomfortable to stand there with me.

"Y- yeah! Me!" I giggle a little, excited to see that he's actually real. But he let's go, giving me a weird look.

"Yeah, I missed you. I'm so glad you aren't mad anymore. And you're alive."

I lower my gaze in disappointment. "I was mad at you? I'm sorry, I'm sure it wasn't that bad, what you did, I mean. You're not mad at me though, right?"

He raises and eyebrow. "Of course not. You're acting weird. Like REALLY weird, Rose. Like you don't remember what happened before you left."

"That's just it. I can't remember anything. I was in a coma for a long time, too."