Nepenthe

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Defined as: something that can make you forget grief or suffering

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When I open my eyes, I'm not in my room anymore. I'm in a hospital bed.

I slowly sit up and I see my parents asleep in chairs beside the bed.

"Hello?" I say but they don't wake up.

"Hello!" I say louder and my dad wakes up.

His face lights up. "Jennie!" He moves my mom who sits up with a big smile too.

They run to my side and I look at them confused. They look so....the same but more tired and stressed out.

They grin widely. "Jennie! We're so happy you're okay!"

I look at them more closely. "Why....why are you both so....old?" I blink quickly. "Why am I here?"

They frown and lean closer. My dad asks, "Jennie. What are you asking?" Then he jokes, "How old are you?"

I cross my arms protectively. "I'm 18. What are you talking about?"

My dad freezes and looks at my mom who is stunned.

"Jennie this isn't a joke," he says seriously.

I shake my head. "What are you going on about?! I just graduated yesterday!"

My parents widen their eyes and their jaws drop in shock.

I feel fear overtake me. "What....what happened? What's wrong?"

He shakes his head. "Nothing. Let me and your mom go speak to the doctors okay? We'll be right back sweetie!"

My parents kiss my forehead and I hug my knees to my chest. I rest my chin on the tops of my knees and wait.

I don't get what's happening or why my parents are treating me like I'm about to break.

I rock back and forth as my mind races trying to figure out what the heck is going on.

Finally my parents come back and my mom sits on the bed. "Jennie," she starts gently. "You have lost some of your memory."

I blink. "What?! No! I just graduated! How—what do you mean?!"

She holds my hand. "Your actual age is 34."

My jaw drops. "I'm 34?!"

She nods. "Yes. You lost 16 years worth of memories."

I shake my head. "No! No! I-I'm 18! I'm not 34! I'm 18! I just got into college and I-I'm learning ice skating! It-I love ice skating! I.....I have my whole life ahead of me! I'm NOT 34!"

I press my hands to the bed and grip it tightly. "What's going on?!"

My heart is racing a mile a minute and my head feels on a the verge of a headache. "I need a mirror."

My dad opens his phone and I stare at the new iPhone before he presses the selfie button and I stare at myself.

I hold my cheek.

I.....don't look 18.

My baby fat is gone. My round face is more visible and my eyes are outlined. My jaw is more defined. I also look beautiful when I used to feel insecure about how I looked. I look lean and  athletic when I was overweight and soft.

I drop the phone and cover my hands over my face as I cry.

This....I'm not actually 18?! I'm a full grown woman?!

I don't even know what to think anymore.

I feel a hand rub against my back comfortingly and a head lean on my shoulder.

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