Encore Amour (Englot)

Chapter 11: Tuning the Past

Weeks turned into months, and Charlotte's life in London began to settle into a routine. Engfa was always nearby, ready to support her, but respectful of Charlotte's need for space. Charlotte was slowly regaining fragments of her memory, yet with each fragment, a shadow of pain seemed to follow.

One evening, Charlotte decided to use her phone for the first time since her collapse. She felt a mix of anxiety and curiosity. Engfa was in the kitchen making tea, leaving Charlotte alone in the living room. Tentatively, she unlocked her phone and started scrolling through old photos and messages.

As she delved deeper, she came across an old social media notification. With a slight hesitation, she clicked on it. The comment that greeted her was filled with venom: "You're the reason the concert was canceled! How selfish can you be?"

Charlotte's heart sank, and her breathing became erratic. Suddenly, a rush of fragmented memories hit her like a tidal wave. She remembered standing on a stage, feeling overwhelmed by the pressure, the accusations, and the weight of public opinion. The faces in her memories were blurry, but the emotions were vivid—fear, hurt, and betrayal.

Her hands started shaking, and she dropped the phone. She felt an old, familiar pain trying to resurface. The room began to spin, and she clutched her head, trying to make sense of the flashbacks.

Engfa heard the commotion and rushed in. "Charlotte, are you okay?" she asked, panic in her voice.

Charlotte looked up, her eyes filled with a mix of confusion and agony. "Engfa, I... I remember some things, but it hurts. Why does it hurt so much?"

Engfa knelt beside her, taking Charlotte's trembling hands in hers. "It's okay, Charlotte. Take deep breaths. I'm here with you."

Charlotte closed her eyes, trying to steady her breathing. "I saw an old comment. It was filled with so much hate. It brought back memories... blurry ones, but I can feel the pain."

Engfa's heart ached seeing Charlotte in such distress. "I'm so sorry you have to go through this. But remember, you're not alone. We'll face this together."

Tears streamed down Charlotte's face. "I'm scared, Engfa. What if remembering everything just brings back all the pain I've tried to escape from?"

Engfa gently wiped Charlotte's tears. "I can't promise it will be easy, but I promise you won't have to face it alone. You have your dad, your friends, and me. We all care about you deeply."

Charlotte nodded, leaning into Engfa's embrace. "Thank you. I'll try to be strong. For you, for Dad, and for myself."

As they sat there, holding each other, Charlotte knew the road ahead would be tough. But she also knew she had a support system to help her navigate through the pain and confusion. Slowly but surely, she would piece together her memories and confront the shadows of her past.

Charlotte decided to take a nap after the incident. She drifted into a restless sleep, only to wake up inside a hotel room. Engfa stood in front of her, anger blazing in her eyes.

"If you hadn't gone with Sea that day, flaunting your friendship while I sat at home, none of this would be happening! Maybe if you hadn't made me feel like I wasn't enough, we wouldn't have broken up over my jealousy!" Engfa's voice was sharp, filled with hurt.

Charlotte was confused and disoriented. "What are you talking about, Engfa? I don't remember anything."

Engfa's expression hardened. "No, Charlotte, that's not an excuse." With that, Engfa stormed out of the hotel room, leaving Charlotte behind in tears.

Suddenly, Charlotte woke up from her nightmare, her heart pounding. Engfa was by her side, rushing towards her.

"Are you okay?" Engfa asked, concern etched on her face.