REMINISCENT

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX: The Beginning Of The Journey (FINAL EDIT)

Ashley's POV

It was supposed to be my 4th class, but it had been canceled. The teachers were locked in some long meeting in the staff room, which meant we were free. Naturally, we gathered under the big tree at the side of the school—our spot.

Everyone was lost in their own world: phones out, books open, heads bent. The easy kind of silence. But my chest was tight, and my throat kept closing on the words I wanted to say.

"Hey, guys?" My voice came out small. No one looked up—no one except Justin.

He gave a sharp whistle, making everyone snap to attention. "Ashley wants to say something. Go on, love."

My palms grew sweaty. "Uh... I—I have something to tell everyone."

Emma tilted her head, brows furrowed. "I hope it's nothing bad."

I smiled weakly, staring down at my fingers twisting in my lap. "I've been diagnosed with PTSD."

The energy shifted immediately. Everyone sat up straighter.

"What? Why? How?" Tina asked quickly, eyes wide. "Did something happen?"

I lifted my gaze—only for it to collide with Jake's. He gave me the smallest, softest smile, but I dropped my eyes fast, focusing instead on the bark of the tree in front of me.

"A couple of years before I came here—before I even moved to this city—I was in a car accident."

"Oh no..." Emma's frown deepened.

"Don't frown so much, you look bad," Ryan muttered at her.

I couldn't help a tiny laugh. "Gosh, you two should just date already." The laughter faded as quickly as it came. I sniffed, pushing on. "Anyway... Aiden was with me."

Brandon practically choked on his spit. "Wait—what? What?! How come he's never told us? I mean, you I get. You're not exactly the open-book type, but him? Nah." He shook his head in disbelief.

"Well..." And so I told them everything.

By the time I finished, their faces mirrored the heaviness in my chest—sad, quiet, weighed down. Some eyes glistened, some just stared. It all suddenly made sense to them. I repeated that I didn't want them to treat me—or Aiden—any differently. But I already knew that was useless. Their hearts were too big.

They started spitting out ways to help him remember, to jog his memory, to fix what couldn't be fixed. I shook my head at every single one, reminding them of the risks. That only left them gloomier. And though I regretted opening up, I was still grateful they stayed composed when Aiden finally appeared. But I caught the sympathy in their eyes as I excused myself before he reached us.

By the time the final bell rang, all I wanted was to disappear. I slipped out of the gates quickly, rushing toward home before therapy. Today felt like the day I could finally unload everything in that little circle.

"Ashley!"

My steps quickened.

"Ashley, wait up!" His voice grew closer—Jake's jog closing the gap.

I sped up, jaw clenched.

"Ashley, please—" His hand caught my shoulder, pulling me to a stop.

I spun around, shoving his hand off. "What?! What do you want?" My glare burned into his ice-blue eyes.

"It doesn't have to be like this," he said, breathless, almost pleading.

"You deserve what you got," I snapped, pointing at the bandage wrapped around his hand. "Thank God it wasn't my face." I turned on my heel.