Abandoned Memories

Seeking The Unknown

"Zoe, wake up!" A vague, but familiar voice spoke from a distance.

Exhaustion had definitely taken its toll on me. I couldn't even find the energy to respond or, in all honesty, respond with anything that actually made sense. The migraine I had definitely wasn't helping the situation either.

Not too long after, I heard the curtains fly open and the blinding sunlight came pouring through the window. I automatically groaned and stuffed my face into the pillow, hoping that whoever was calling my name would just leave me alone.

"We need to talk." I finally gathered that the deep voice belonged to my father as I felt him take a seat at the foot of my bed.

"Why do I have a headache?" I whined as I rolled over and put my hands over my eyes.

He went on to explain my condition again, as he had promised to do so the day before, and I proceeded to remain silent. He told me all about the journal and how I decided to make a run for it after hearing everything he had to say yesterday.

This was way too much to deal with at nine in the morning. Nevertheless, I never said a word. I merely sat up in my bed and stared at him with one eye open. For some reason, what he said rang true.

"After you left, I was worried. I couldn't stand the thought of you being out there all by yourself, so I decided to call the police. When they found you, you were passed out in the middle of the woods with the journal I gave you open next to you."

He grabbed the journal that lay on my bedside table and handed it to me. Woah. Déjà vu! I quickly pushed the thought aside.

"You also had this sentence written on one of the pages. Does it ring a bell?" He asked as he gestured to the sentence.

"The first clue lies within the deepest of trees and the darkest of your fears." I read the one sentence in my journal out loud.

I looked up at my dad in confusion. Was this supposed to mean anything? It sounded so poetic, yet it made no sense to me. I was having trouble absorbing everything all at once.

"You don't have to say anything. I know this is a lot to take in bu..." my dad started before I abruptly interrupted him.

"I believe you. I have no idea why, but I do."

He smiled slightly and I went on.

"Just because I believe you though, doesn't mean it's going to be easy for me to one hundred percent trust you. I know you're my dad and all, but that doesn't make up for the fact that you left me behind. I need my space and time."

His smile slowly faded into a frown.

"Okay Zoe. If that's what you really you want, then I'll step back, but just know that I'm going to be here every day to help you remember. I know I haven't been the best dad in the past, but I'm going to do my best to prove to you that I really have changed."

I nodded and with that he walked out, leaving me in bed to gather my thoughts. I read the sentence in my journal over and over again, trying to make sense of it. I angrily shut the journal and shifted myself off the bed. I decided to change into sweatpants and a t-shirt, seeing as my Mickey Mouse pajamas gave off the impression that I was about four and right now, I needed to be taken seriously.

Without hesitation, I grabbed my backpack and shoved my journal, flashlight and iPhone into it. I discretely packed some snacks too.

I ran down the stairs and into the living room where my dad was in his usual position in front of the television. I thought about how he had promised to change, and I asked myself if I could ever truly forgive him. Ever since he had walked out on my mom and I, I stopped trusting everyone. I guess I partially blamed him for the fact that my walls were always up, even when I was around loved ones.