amnesia (5SOS/C.H)

0.5

"Good afternoon," the secretary greets Ashton, "you're here to see Mr. Hood I suppose?" Ashton nods. The secretary is wearing to much makeup, I note. It's funny how these things catch your attention when you're about to see the boy you ran away from four years ago.

I'm surprised that no one has seen us, I mean Ashton from Five Seconds Of Summer, and Harper from that drama show. But, I guess everyone is too busy with their own grief than to notice us. It's comforting to know that we're still human enough to be in a hospital lobby without screaming fans.

"Rick," the secretary calls to a male nurse who is explaining something to a crying woman. He looks over and the nurse jerks her thumb towards us. It must be some sort of hospital language, for the nurse motions for us to follow him and he departs through a door.

"Harps," Ashton squeezes my shoulder gently, "I just want you to understand-"

I look at him and he seems to know.

"I'll call the doctor in a moment." Rick, the nurse says opening the door. I walk in, clutching Ash's forearm. The walls are bland, a TV is playing football. The Australian, type. A paper covered table is next to a bed, and...

Calum is sitting on the edge of the bed wearing one of those hospital outfits. He looks up from the magazine he is so intently examining. I can see it has the band on it.

"Hey Cal," Ash says walking over, "how you doing?"

Calum shrugs and then he seems to just notice me. His puppy brown eyes widen and his hands drop the magazine. My stomach clenches. Does he remember me?

"Hi, Calum." I murmur. "It's me, Harper." The door opens behind me and I turn away from Calum wiping the tears that threaten to escape my eyes in a rampage. The doctor, Dr. Gorman, I read off of his name tag enters.

"Hello, Mr. Irwin," he pauses, and glances at Ashton.

"Don't worry, she's not a crazy fan. Or paparazzi disguised as a potted plants." I slowly digest what Ashton said. Potted plants?

"Good, my apologies. We've had to take certain security measures with an international heartthrob in our hospital." Dr. Gorman says dryly as he walks over to Calum, I keep my eyes to the floor. I never really noticed how clean hospital tiles were. There are scuff marks where I'm standing.

I guess this is the place where the ex-girlfriends of international heartthrobs have breakdowns.

"How are you doing Mr. Hood?" The doctor asks patting Calum on the back. He doesn't respond. The doctor's eyes squint.

"Mr. Irwin, Miss," he says motioning to us to follow him. We go out into the hall and into what I suppose is his office. "I've already spoken to Mr. Hood's family. The tests say there is nothing wrong with his vocals."

I glance at him confused. "But then why won't he speak?" Ashton's face is unreadable.

"It's something by choice." Dr. Gorman shuffles around some papers. I bite my lip as Ashton runs his fingers through his hair. "What I want to ask is, before this happened. Was Calum unstable in anyway?"

Ashton frowns and shakes his head. "He seemed fine." He looks down to his phone. "If you don't mind I'm going to get Luke and Michael over here."

"He seems to have the vaguest memories, if he sees a magazine with the band on it he stares at for hours. He's read some fan mail that got sneaked in and freaked out."

"But he does have amnesia?" I ask and Dr. Gorman looks at me sympathetically.

"Yes, I'm afraid so." I blink as tears leaked out.

"I'm sorry, I-I gotta go." I run out into the hall. I slow down and start walking to the ground floor. The phone in my pocket dings but I ignore it.

Calum has amnesia, he's mute for reasons unknown.

I can't help feeling like I never should have left. But, I couldn't stay.

Everything, it was too much.

That's why I was already missing before the night I left.