The invisible ink: Exposing the hidden stories in short narratives

The Shape of Forgetting

Amethyst's eyes fluttered open, and she was met with a sea of unfamiliar faces. The beeping of machines and the sterile smell of the hospital filled her senses, but her mind was a complete blank. She tried to remember how she got there, but every attempt was met with a frustrating void. Panic began to set in as she struggled to recall even the simplest details about herself.

A gentle voice spoke beside her, "Hello, Amethyst. My name is Dr. Lee. You've been in an accident, and you've suffered some memory loss. Don't worry, we're here to help you recover."

Amethyst's gaze drifted to the doctor, but her eyes felt like they were looking at a stranger. She tried to speak, but her voice came out hoarse and barely above a whisper. "W-what accident?"

Dr. Lee's expression was sympathetic. "We're not entirely sure. You were brought in with no identification, and we've been unable to locate any family or friends. But don't worry, we'll do everything we can to help you regain your memories."

As the doctor continued to speak, Amethyst's attention wandered to her own body. Her hands looked...off. The skin was a pale, almost translucent colour, and her fingers seemed too long. She tried to remember what her hands used to look like, but her mind remained stubbornly blank.

A nurse entered the room, carrying a tray with a cup of water and a small mirror. "Here, Amethyst, I brought you some water and a mirror. Sometimes, seeing our own reflection can help trigger memories."

Amethyst's heart skipped a beat as she took the mirror. Her reflection stared back, and she felt a jolt of unease. Her eyes were an unnatural shade of purple, and her skin seemed to shift and ripple like the surface of water. She tried to recall what her face used to look like, but every attempt was met with a disorienting sense of disconnection.

As the days passed, Amethyst struggled to regain her memories. She underwent countless tests and therapy sessions, but her mind remained frustratingly blank. The hospital staff was kind and supportive, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she was hiding something from them – and from herself.

One night, as she lay in bed, Amethyst felt an inexplicable tingling sensation in her fingers. She looked down to see her hands shifting, morphing into something new. Her skin turned a deep, burnished copper, and her fingers shortened, becoming more...animalistic.

A gasp escaped her lips as she realized she was changing. She was a shapeshifter.

The revelation sent her mind reeling. If she was a shapeshifter, what was her true form? And why couldn't she remember it?

As the days turned into weeks, Amethyst's transformations became more frequent. She would shift into different animals, each one feeling more natural than the last. But with every transformation, she felt a growing sense of disconnection from her human form. It was as if she was losing herself, piece by piece.

Dr. Lee and the hospital staff were baffled by her abilities, but they were determined to help her control them. They brought in experts in the field of paranormal psychology, but Amethyst knew she needed something more.

One night, as she sat in her hospital room, staring at her reflection in the mirror, Amethyst decided. She would escape the hospital and find a way to uncover her identity. The risks were high, but she couldn't shake the feeling that her memories – and her true form – were waiting for her outside those sterile walls.

With a newfound sense of determination, Amethyst began to plan her escape. She waited until the night shift, when the hospital was quietest, and then made her move. She shifted into a sleek, agile cat and slipped out of her room, padding silently down the corridors.

The cool night air hit her like a slap in the face as she emerged from the hospital. Amethyst took a deep breath, feeling the city come alive around her. She had no idea where she was going or what she would find, but she knew she had to keep moving.

As she prowled the streets, Amethyst felt a strange, primal connection to the city. She navigated alleys and rooftops with ease, her senses heightened as she searched for any clue that might lead her to her identity.

The sun was rising when Amethyst finally found herself at the outskirts of the city. She stood at the edge of a dense forest, feeling an inexplicable pull towards the trees. With a sense of trepidation, she shifted into a majestic stag and stepped into the unknown.

The forest was alive with sounds and scents, and Amethyst felt her senses come alive. She ran through the trees, feeling the wind in her mane and the sun on her back. For the first time since waking up in the hospital, she felt a sense of freedom.

As she ran, Amethyst caught glimpses of a figure in the distance. It was a woman, tall and statuesque, with skin that shimmered like the moon. The woman's eyes locked onto Amethyst, and she felt a jolt of recognition.

The woman approached, her movements fluid and ethereal. "Amethyst," she said, her voice like music. "I've been searching for you."

Amethyst's heart skipped a beat as the woman reached out and touched her forehead. Memories flooded back, like a dam breaking. She remembered her true form – a being of pure energy, capable of shifting into any shape she desired. She remembered her life, her family, and her purpose.

As the memories returned, Amethyst felt her body begin to shift. Her stag form dissolved, and she stood before the woman as her true self – a shimmering, crystalline being that pulsed with an otherworldly energy.

The woman smiled, her eyes shining with tears. "Welcome back, Amethyst. You've been lost for so long."

Amethyst's gaze locked onto the woman, and she knew that she had finally found her way home. She was no longer a stranger in her own skin, and she was ready to reclaim her place in the world. With a sense of wonder and gratitude, Amethyst reached out and took the woman's hand, ready to face whatever lay ahead.