Echoes of Forgotten

Tallopulo Ket Siyam

Jennie woke up slowly, her body still wrapped in the warmth of the blanket. She blinked a few times, adjusting to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. The bed felt colder than before, and it took her a second to realize why—Lisa wasn't beside her anymore.

Her heart immediately began to race, panic quickly flooding her senses. Jennie sat up abruptly, her eyes scanning the room, hoping Lisa was just somewhere nearby. But the bed was empty. She wasn't there.

Tears welled up in Jennie's eyes as fear gripped her. Did she leave? Was last night just a dream? Jennie's thoughts spiraled as she rushed out of the bedroom, her chest tightening with each step toward the living room.

As she entered the living area, her panic was momentarily halted by the smell of food. Her eyes landed on Lisa, standing in the kitchen, her back turned as she worked at the stove, casually flipping something in a pan.

Jennie stood frozen for a moment, still shaken by the wave of anxiety that had hit her. Her hands trembled as she took in the sight of Lisa, who appeared calm and collected. Lisa must have felt her presence because she turned around, her eyes immediately locking onto Jennie's.

Lisa's brow furrowed slightly when she saw the tears in Jennie's eyes, her lips pressing into a concerned line. Jennie could barely speak, her breath coming out in uneven gasps. "I—I thought you left," Jennie whispered, her voice barely audible.

Lisa's face softened instantly. She turned off the stove, abandoning her cooking, and quickly crossed the room toward Jennie. Without a word, she wrapped Jennie in a tight embrace, pulling her close.

"I'm not going anywhere," Lisa murmured softly against Jennie's hair. "I'm right here."

Jennie clung to her tightly, her body trembling as she buried her face in Lisa's shoulder. She tried to stifle the tears that were now freely falling, but the emotions overwhelmed her. "I got scared," Jennie admitted shakily. "I thought... I thought you left me again."

Lisa pulled back slightly, cupping Jennie's face in her hands, wiping away the tears gently with her thumbs. "Jennie, I'm here," she said firmly, her voice gentle but filled with resolve. "I'm not leaving, okay? I promised you I'd stay, and I meant it."

Jennie looked into Lisa's eyes, searching for any hint of hesitation, but all she saw was sincerity. Her panic slowly subsided, replaced by a sense of comfort that she hadn't felt in so long. Lisa was here, and she was staying—for real this time.

"Come here," Lisa said softly, pulling Jennie into another hug, her arms firm and reassuring. Jennie leaned into her, feeling the steady beat of Lisa's heart against her cheek.

"I'm sorry," Jennie mumbled into Lisa's shirt, still embarrassed by how emotional she'd gotten.

"You don't have to apologize," Lisa said softly, stroking Jennie's hair. "I know this is hard. But I'm not leaving you, Jennie. We're going to figure this out together, okay?"

Jennie nodded against her chest, her breathing finally evening out as the panic slowly ebbed away. Lisa's presence had always been a source of comfort, and now that she was back, Jennie felt like she could finally breathe again.

After a few moments of standing there in silence, Lisa pulled back with a small smile. "Come on," she said, tilting her head toward the kitchen. "I was making breakfast."

Jennie smiled weakly, her eyes still a little red from crying. "You didn't have to..."

"I wanted to," Lisa interrupted gently. "Now go sit down. I'll finish up."

Jennie hesitated, not wanting to let Lisa out of her sight again, but she nodded and slowly made her way to the dining table. She sat down, watching Lisa return to the stove to finish making breakfast, the smell of eggs and toast filling the room.