The Chance Effect

Chapter 6.

Atlas' POV

Hours later, I wake to a soft glow in my hospital room, the events of earlier blurred and distant. My head felt heavy, as if encased in cotton. I turn to see my parents by my bedside, their faces a mixture of relief and worry.

"You're awake, sweetheart," my mother says, her voice filled with tenderness. I try to sit up, but my body feels weak and unresponsive. My gaze shifts to my arm, where the tattoos had been. They were real, etched into my skin.

"What happened?" I managed to croak, my throat dry and scratchy.

"The doctors believe it was a reaction to the trauma and medications," my father explains, his hand gently squeezing my shoulder. I let out a shaky breath, confusion and relief mingling within me. The memories of that moment were still etched vividly in my mind, leaving me with a lingering unease.

Days eventually pass, I underwent a battery of tests, trying to understand what had caused my mind to play such tricks on me. I felt like I didn't trust myself or what I was going to do next. My friends, visited frequently, while offering support and trying to lift my spirits.

"I'm glad you guys are here," I finally say to them one day, a genuine smile breaking through the remnants of my anxiety. I need to try to understand that the people that care about me, are also living through this challenging time, not just me.

"We're family, Atlas. We'll always be here for you," Max replies, the others nod in agreement.

My mother cuts in, finally asking the question that everyone has been silently wondering, "What is the last thing you remember before the car wreck?" Only doctors had asked me this question, but I had no answer when they would ask. Memories flash in my mind as I sort through timelines of my life. The moments that lead to waking up in the hospital and what happened just before.

"The last thing I remember... was band practice at Alex's house? I think?" I say with low confidence. I notice Carter's energy shift, biting his bottom lip. Max rubs the back of his neck as he lets out a drawn out breath.

Silent glances pass between everyone, including me. What felt like a long awkward pause, I speak up to ask, "Is that right? Or..." I trail off as Max interrupts me.

"We haven't had band practice at my house since we signed with the record label..." he says as his words pierce through me.

"Record label?" I ask confused, we surely have never signed to a record label. We always practice in Alex's garage, how could we already have found a record label?

"Yes, you know this, don't you?" Alex adds to the conversation. Carter nudges him, I assume to remind him of the current situation.

"The last I knew about our band, was practicing in your garage and doing local bars on the weekends, we literally just did a gig at Molly's Pub." I try to remain calm as I explain, but feeling the confidence slip with every word. The low looks I receive from the faces in the room tell me I'm not on target.

"We haven't done a show at Molly's Pub in almost 10 years..." Carter quietly says as he slowly sits in a chair opposite of me.

"No, no." I nervously let out a faint laugh.

"That doesn't seem right..." My voice feels sharp in my throat.

"Atlas, I don't think you realize how long it has been since your last memory." My mother steps closer to my bed as she places her hand on the blanket, tears starting to form in her blue eyes. 

"Okay, let me ask you this. How old am I?" The question that I'm not ready to know the answer to.

"You're 28 years old," my dad begins, my body goes cold with each word.

"That band that you were practicing at Max's house in the garage and doing small gigs on the weekends? You know, The Notes... is now the biggest band in the world." He adds. I sit up in the bed, trying to process the words he just said. I struggle to speak as I am left shocked.

"This isn't real..." I shake my head as my hands cover my mouth. It seems like they're pulling my leg or something, but I can't fathom why they'd joke about something like this during such challenging circumstances, can they?

"That's why we have been so quiet these past few days, you're currently the most successful musician anyone knows of today." My mom says with soft eyes, a pearl like tear streaming down her face.

"You've sold out stadiums, graced stages in countless cities, amassed millions of devoted fans, dominated music charts, and even garnered awards at prestigious ceremonies..." She purses her lips as she beings to ramble. I feel my heart begin to beat in my chest, feeling my pulse in my throat and my breathing getting quicker. I swallow back a lump as I finally speak.

"Wait, so let me really understand this, we did it?" I look between my band mates with watery eyes, locking eyes with Max as he fights back a smile.

"You did it." Carter lets out a small chuckle. "You wouldn't let us give up," All of the doubts and fears that I had, all of the late nights and staying up writing songs until the sun came up, had finally paid off?

As I begin to feel the excitement creeping up my spine, I am overweighted with sadness, knowing that I can't remember the journey that brought us here. Ten years, just a stranger.

As I consume every moment, I discover a resilience within myself that I hadn't known existed. The chapters of my life will continue, each one a step towards healing and understanding, proving that even in the face of the unknown, I could find strength to face the adventure ahead.

"Visiting hours are almost over, I think you need to get some rest." My mother says as she pushes back a loose curl, kissing my forehead.

"Same time tomorrow?" I ask as they begin to gather by the door.

"Same time tomorrow."

As I lay there, drifting in and out of consciousness, a dream begins to weave its way into the fabric of my thoughts. Suddenly, I'm not in this hospital room anymore. Instead, I find myself on a stage, bathed in the warm glow of stage lights, the crowd cheering and chanting my name.

I look down and realize I'm holding a guitar, my fingers moving effortlessly over the strings, producing melodies that resonate through the air like magic. The music fills me with a sense of euphoria, every note a brushstroke on the canvas of my soul.

I glance to my left and see Max, his fingers dancing across the keys of a piano, his eyes alight with passion. Carter is on my right, his drumsticks moving with precision and power, driving the rhythm forward. And there's Alex, his bass guitar slung low as he moves with a swagger that exudes confidence.

Together, we're not just a band; we're a force of nature, our music transcending time and space. The crowd sways and sings along, lost in the intoxicating rhythm of our song.

But then, just as quickly as it began, the dream starts to fade, reality seeping back in like water through cupped hands. I find myself back in the hospital room, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting shadows on the walls.

Yet, even as I return to the confines of my hospital bed, the memory of the dream lingers. As I drift back to sleep, I hold onto that memory like a lifeline, knowing that no matter what challenges lie ahead, music will always be there to guide me through.