Waking up as Harriet

Pancakes - Harriet POV

Harriet POV

It still hadn’t come back. My memory I mean. As far as I was concerned, my life had begun two weeks ago when I had first woken up. It was hard. People kept saying things I didn’t understand. My mum, as she tells me she is, says it is only a matter of time before everything would be back to normal. But, as I don’t know what normal is, or was, I found it very hard to imagine.

I was moved out of the hospital last week. There was no other damage to my brain other than amnesia. Amnesia, what a horrible, medical word, I liked to think of it more as a short term forgetful streak. It happened to everyone, right?

At that moment I was lying in my bed waiting for my alarm to go off. Today was my first day starting back at school. My mum was worried that people would treat me differently. But why would they? I was still the same person, it would all come back to me, right? Dr. Stansfield said that being around people I knew might bring back my memory.

Right then my alarm went off and I heaved myself out of bed, ready to face the new day. Step 1: find something to wear. As I browsed through my wardrobe, I had a sudden and very scary thought – what does Harriet wear? I had no idea!

At last I found something that I felt like wearing right at the back of the wardrobe. It was filled with jeans and hoodies and I found myself just not in the mood. I was wearing tan pumps, a not too revealing wavy skirt, a pretty creamy pink top and to top it all off, a denim jacket over the top. Happy with my appearance, I went downstairs to see my mum engrossed in cooking pancakes. She must have heard me coming as she yelled, without turning her attention away from the pancakes:

                “Harriet honey, take a seat. Pancakes will be ready in a moment.”

Take a seat? Table or breakfast bar? Which one felt right? Finally opting for the breakfast bar, I sat down and waited for her to finish. Within minutes pancakes were being laid onto two plates.

                “I hope you enjoy your first day back at school, for luck I made you your favourite, pancakes.”

My favourite? Ok. So far all I knew was, my name is Harriet and I like pancakes. Good start.

My mum turned around and placed two plates piled high of pancakes on the table. When her eyes flicked to me, they clattered onto the table, her startled look changed to a proud smile when her eyes flickered over my outfit.

                “Harriet,” she said softly, bringing her hands up to her mouth, “you look lovely dear, and the nude gloss really tops it off”

I smiled back at her, trying not to let my bemusement show on my face. All this fuss?

                “You look so….so….. I wish I could see you in a skirt more often”

Was this not what I normally wore, obviously not, I had failed at the very first hurdle. I remember the clothes I had seen in the wardrobe and the pieces started to click into place. Harriet…no me…. I never wore clothes like this normally

The rest of the meal was continued in silence but I didn’t miss the subtle proud smile my mum had plastered to her face, and the fact that I didn’t really like pancakes all that much….

 I got out of my mums car and looked about at the school that was illegidly mine. I saw people walking in, happy smailes radiating on their faces in the morning sunshine. At his moment, I had another sad thought. How many of these people did I know, how many knew what happened to me? How many even cared? Suddenly school seemed like a very scary idea.

I didn't feel like Harriet, I felt like an imposter. What was I doing in this girls life. I didn't know where I belonged.

I heard someone shouting behind me and it took me a minute to realise it was my name he was shouting. As he came closer, I could see his features more clearly. Untamed brown hair flopped messily over deep chocolate eyes. Well defined cheek bones laying home to little dimples when he smiled. He was wearing loose jeans and a t-shirt. On the t-shirt was a logo of a tounge sticking out some lips......rolling stones. I felt a momet of triumph as this memory graced me with its presence. Maybe Doc. was correct, I'd be better in no time, right?

He drew nearer and i saw his well defined arms carrying his books.

“Harriet, you look different” his face had an odd expression that I couldn’t quite read. I racked my brains to remember his name. Who wouldn’t remember a face like that.

                “Chris,” he supplied, suddenly looking downcast, “your best friend.” He said this quietly but I still heard and I felt my heart break, I thought my life was hard not remembering anything but imagine how hard it would be if one day after waking up from a three week coma, your best friend couldn’t remember anything about you.

Well that was awkward.

                “Oh yeh, from the hospital.” I knew I’d seen him before.

                “Yeh, sure,” he still couldn’t meet my eyes “ I’ll carry your books.”

                “Ok,” I replied, trying to brush off the awkward moment.

As we walked towards the school, I couldn’t help but notice the trying-not-to-stare-but-not-quite-being-able-to-help-it looks from passers-by. This was going to be a long day.

Hmm..... once again, i would really appreciate it if you commented as i need the support. Be as mean as you like, i dont care. Thankyou,

Kimi