The Amnesiac

Sweet Release

You place your hand on the door, feeling the metallic knob turning in your hand before you even think about it.

You immediately pull your hand back, realizing you hadn't knocked.

"It's ok. Come in," Tina's soft voice says, causing Imane to quietly gasp from behind you.

You slowly open the door, revealing Tina's slim figure sitting cross-legged on her bed.

You gently step through, feeling like you were crossing the invisible boundary into her personal space as you pass through her doorway. You look around, taking in the sight of her bedroom for the first time. The emptiness of it was what surprised you the most - how blank the walls were, and how dull the colors of her bed, mattress, and streaming setup all were.

You slowly walk inside, stopping once you reach the foot of her bed. You see photos strewn around her, as well as a partially-filled photo book.

"I'm redecorating," she sighs, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger as she follows your eyes to the barren walls.

You finally look down at her, taking in all the photographs, very few of which contained people or places you remembered.

"I'm scrap-booking," she answers your silent question. "That's why..." She looks down, glancing over all the photos again.

You finally turn to her, looking her in the eyes as she looks up at you.

"I'm sorry I acted the way I did," you blurt out.

Her expression instantly shifts, but you force yourself to continue.

"I'm sorry that I didn't consider how conflicted you'd feel after seeing me practically come back from the dead. I'm sorry that I pushed you on feelings you'd kept inside for a long time. I'm sorry if I'm different than you remember. I just don't want us to be awkward anymore. I want to talk things out. Is that.... ok?"

You could barely think as you spoke, as you were too drawn in by her innocent, alluring expression. You finally tear your eyes away from her and look down at your feet.

"Is... that... ok?" She repeats. You snap your head up, feeling your chest tighten at something in her tone you could vaguely recognize, but couldn't recall. She was hunched over, her head lowered until her chin touched her chest.

"Tina?" You mutter.

She looks up, and you see a single teardrop rolling down her cheek.

"Tina!" You exclaim, moving forward. You hesitantly sit down on the edge of her bed. "What... what happened?"

"Do you have any idea how much I wanted you to say that to me... before?" Her voice trembles, but her words cut through clearly. She sniffles and wipes the falling tear from her face.

"Tina, I'm sorry I didn't-"

"No! Not then! I meant... before the accident..." She mumbles.

"...what?"

"We were just like this. Ever since we had sex for the first time, we've always been like this!" She rests her hands in her lap, no longer trying to wipe away the growing number of tears. "I hated it. How awkward I became around you, how I felt like I couldn't even talk to you. Even when we were together, lying in the same damn bed, I just couldn't!" Her face contorts as the pain of the memories floods her brain.

"..."

"And now you... you come up here, saunter inside, and tell me you want to talk!?! You're honest, open, and caring, and-! What happened!?!"