Forgotten Secrets

Start of a Dark Mystery

Eventhough Dana stayed in my room for over two hours, we couldn't find a thing in my brain about those mysterious days. "Don't be sad Maddy, this is very very normal. We need to do this every day for a couple of weeks and maybe then, we'll find something. You just don't have to give up okay? We can do this." With these words she left my room. Why was everything so complicated? Why was my brain so idiot and let itself hide stuff somewhere deep inside of me? I got up and left the room. I needed some distraction. I was told that I couln't leave the hospital until my therapist found out about what had happened to me. First, I was really sad and angry, but as I couldn't go to school anyway, was would be the difference between being here or at home? Here I could explore a bit. Taking a walk through the hospital, observe other people. I was wearing normal clothes, jeans and a sweater, and actually I didn't look like anyone who was staying in the hospital. As I reached the entrance of the hospital, I really had the impulse to take a walk outside. I had to ask a nurse someday if I was allowed to. I turned around to explore another side of the hospital as I discovered a boy standing behind a pillar, watching me. He had dark brown, curly hair and light green eyes. He was a little taller than me and his expression showed some sadness, anger and depression. I didn't know why he was staring at me, but I just stared back. He was kind of familiar to me, maybe he went to the same school. We looked at each other until he turned away and left the hospital. I was still standing there and thinking who he might be. Suddenly, someone ran into me and asked: "Sorry, but are you looking for someone or something?" It was a nurse. I shook my head and went back to my room. Who was that boy? That question didn't get out of my head. I tunred the TV on and looked at the watch hanging above my bed. Five o'clock. What could I do until bedtime? A hospital didn't give you many options. I watched a little TV, read a book. Six o'clock. Time was obviously joking with me. Then, all of a sudden, it knocked. "Yes?" Who could that be? Seven young people entered the room and I had to think three seconds who they could be. And then I realized: It were some of my classmates! They were really the last ones I had expected.

"Hey Madelaine." They talked with lower voices and didn't look up to me. Then Jamie made a step in my direction and held up a bag. She smiled a little shy and gave me the bag. "We made some cupcakes and a card for you." The thought that they had been forced by our headteacher to do that didn't want to leave my brain. However, I smiled back and was a little, or very, happy that someone thought about me. "Thanks guys, I really didn't expect you here. Have a seat." Fortunately, my room was appointed with a small table and four chairs, and a small couch for three people. They hesitated and looked at each other, I guess they hadn't planed to stay long. But Jamie headed to the couch while thanking me, so the others followed her. "So, Madelaine, what happened to you? They told us that you had disappeared, you can't imagine how shocking that was for us. We all worried about you. And were so glad when we heard that you were in hospital." Jamie was the only one talking all the time, and I had the feeling that she was the only one who had actually worried about me. But then Chris started talking: "We thought something terrible had happened to you." The others only nodded and looked at me a little relieved that I was sitting there in front of them, healthy. "Well, I don't know what happened to me. I can't remember. My therapist says, my brain wanted to delete what happened because it shocked me or something. That's creepy believe me." My classmates looked at each other and then back to me. "Wow, that's thrilling, but whatever, the main thing is you're healthy and alive." Jamie got up and hugged me. It was the first hug I had for years from someone except my parents. Then they all got up and hugged me. I was overwhelmed. "Hey Maddy I'm sorry, but we have to go now." "No problem guys, I'm very happy you came. Thank you. And I'm sorry that I'm so unsocial at school but..." I thought about how I could end my sentence but nothing came up to my mind. "It's okay", Jamie said, "We all have our little secrets and reasons." She waved to me and then, one after the other, they left the room with a little smile at me. Although they had left about five minutes ago, I was still sitting on my bed, paralysed, and I had to give thoughts if that really had happened or not. Then I had to smile. I felt warm inside. And safe. It was a great feeling.