A Part of My Memory

Zara

Another day, another failed attempt at getting my memory back.

I got out of bed and opened the wardrobe as if clothes could have magically appeared from the last time I opened it last night without thinking. Hearing faint chatter downstairs, I opened my door only to see Elliot standing on the other side, his hand raised in a fist as if he was just about to knock. My gaze lowered to the clothes he was holding that I imagined were for me.

"That for me?" I asked by way of greeting.

"Good morning to you too," he extended the clothes in my direction. "Get dressed, come eat, then we go out."

"Go out where?" I queried, taking the clothes from him.

"Shopping," was all he said before turning and heading downstairs.

I closed my door and inspected the clothes. The outfit was simple enough, a pair of tights and a plain t-shirt. It would match with the plain black takkies Elliot had gotten me when I was discharged. I got dressed and headed downstairs to join everyone for breakfast. The kitchen was spacious with a wooden floor and white walls. The counter was marbled white and designed in an L shape. In the centre of the room was a long island that extended into a table where everyone was already seated. The food hadn't been touched so I imagined they had been waiting for me.

"Morning," I greeted everyone and took the free chair at the end beside Harley.

"Did you sleep well?" Aunt Mary asked.

"Yeah, I did thanks," I answered then asked, "did you?" out of courtesy.

"Yes, thank you," She replied then held her hands out on either side of her. "Shall we?"

Harley held her hand in my direction and Uncle Harry—who sat opposite me—stretched his hand over the counter toward me. Seeing everyone holding the others' hand, I placed my one hand in Harley's, then my other in Uncle Harry's.

"Harley, would you do the honours?" Aunt Mary said then everyone bowed their heads and closed their eyes.

I followed suit.

"Lord, thank you for the food," Harley jumped into prayer. "May you bless it, and bless the awesome hands of Harley that made it. Amen."

"Amen," everyone echoed.

"You should always say Grace before eating," Harley said to me. "There are people out there who would kill for this food, especially because it was made by, the one and only, Harley."

I grinned, "you like cooking?"

"Like is an understatement, I love cooking," she emphasised. "I love cooking, and I love food. I thank the Lord for my fast metabolism and my love for sports because, with the amount I eat, I would get so big that I'd have to sit on two chairs."

Elliot cleared his throat to mask his next words, "glutton."

"I am not a glutton," Harley defended. "I just have no self-control when it comes to good food."

"Sounds a lot like gluttony to me," Elliot chimed.

"Good food," Harley highlighted. "Not all food, good food."

"Same difference."

I couldn't help but smile at their banter.

"Let's just eat, shall we?" Aunt Mary suggested.

"Fine by me," Harley said as she reached for the only pot before us. "I call this, the Harley breakfast special," she announced as she raised the pot lid. The steam rose and the smell that hit me was... overwhelmingly amazing. "Bacon, eggs, beans, sausage, cheese, tomatoes and all the breakfast essentials packed into one dish."