Memory Traffic

Chapter 3: The Deal

"I—I feel bad," I stumbled, "but I don't remember your name. I feel like I should, but I just... don't."

She cupped my cheek. "It's okay. It means the memory drug is working. It's Nancy."

More memories of our nights together flooded my mind when she said her name. My body flushed with remembered sensations of warm skin on skin and the scent of vanilla candles. Roaming hands and lips flashed in a flurry of images combined with the little sounds she would make when I did something she liked. I felt dizzy and unsteady.

"Whoa! Hey, Ethan, sit on the bed and take some deep breaths."

I did as she instructed, and the dizziness passed.

She handed me a hospital gown. "Here, you need to get undressed and put this on. Do you need some help?"

I shook my head, trying not to blush again.

"You can put your things in the locker over there," she said, pointing to the small locker in the corner. I was glad she left me to follow instructions as she read my chart and made some notes; I needed the time to work down my excitement.

After trading my comfortable street clothes for the awkward gown, she smiled and motioned to the bed.

I settled, and she took the wristband from the chart's clipboard and put it on my wrist. "So, Katie will set you up with an IV with a couple of medications to help flush the memory drug from your system. It'll make you sleepy, but your memory will start to come back, hopefully fully, over the next twenty-four hours. You might have intense dreams and emotions as the memories return."

My eyes burned, and my throat tightened. "Alex died," I croaked.

Her head snapped up. "What?"

"Alex. He died. I woke up beside him on the bed in a hotel room, but he was already gone. I don't know how or why or..." I trailed off, voice too strained to continue.

Nancy sat on the edge of the bed and took my hand. "Ethan, I'm so sorry."

I clung to her comforting touch, staring at the ceiling, blinking away tears. I was grateful when Katie bumped into the room with a med cart distracting me. I sniffled and shifted in the bed as Nancy moved to make room for her.

Katie worked quickly, inserting the IV expertly on the first try. Within ten minutes, orderlies asked what I wanted to eat and what other needs I might have. By the time they delivered my food, I was groggy. I ate as quickly as I could manage before succumbing to sleep.

~~~

The kitchen looked straight out of the 1970s with yellows, oranges, and avocado green colors. The smell of baking cookies wafted from the double ovens, and my mouth watered despite the danger I felt crawling through my instincts. Alex and I sat at the dark wooden table while Alex's contact bustled about the place, playing hostess. Or maybe host. It wasn't really clear to me.

"Do you want milk with your cookies?" Juno asked. "I hear it's a popular combination for humans."

Juno was a small humanoid creature from the Vega system. To look at him—it?—there wasn't anything different between him and a human other than a slight coppery sheen to his skin. It was only when you saw him naked that the differences stood out. But, since our interaction didn't dictate nudity, a fact for which I was thankful, it didn't matter.

"Yes, cold milk would be great," Alex replied. "But, we can't stay long. We must conduct our business and be on our way."

Juno slumped. "No time for a visit?" Juno prized himself on being a great "housewife" and baked cookies for guests at every opportunity. He was also obsessed with vacuuming.