amnesia | editing

***

Claire and I took the lift up to the sixth floor, Ward 6 where Zann was supposed to be.

The lift doors opened and we were greeted by the smell of antisceptic.

Claire breathed in deeply.

"I love the smell! It's delicious," she commented.

I blanched.

"Delicious, C? I feel like choking! Bleh, the ventilation is bad too," I replied.

Claire pouted.

"You guys don't know how to appreciate medicine," she said.

I felt bad immediately.

"C, it's not like that, it's just-" I got cut off.

"I know, I know, Javier. Stuff about you being a decent individual just to sway my Dad and Mum into our relationship," she laughed.

I honestly didn't know what she was talking about but nodded.

Claire pulled me to Ward 6.

"Ready to play Pretend?" she whispered.

I kissed her fiercely and composed myself.

We stepped in, inches apart, and I already missed her with every single cell in my body.

I weaved my way around the curtain, to the girl who had held pieces of my heart three months ago.

Yes, that was when I started loving Claire.

I found Zann with Matt and Matthew.

Crap, why was Matthew here?

I figured that he would have told Zann about my relationship with Claire if I hadn't arrived.

"Oh, hi Javier," she said flatly.

"You 'kay?" I asked, playing concerned boyfriend.

Wow, I was getting real good at faking emotions.

"She's just drained, that's all," Matthew commented, glaring at Claire and I, who had just appeared from behind the curtain.

I glared back at him.

Matt sighed.

Zann shook her head.

The tension was so thick that I could barely breathe.

"Matthew, don't. Let's keep mum for now, hmm?" Zann asked desperately.

Matthew looked so so close to murdering me, but he nodded at Zann.

"So, Zann, what'd the doc say?" I asked.

She glanced sadly at me.

"I'm due for release next week. I wanted to be home by today," she said.

I faked sadness.

"Aww, you shouldn't," I said.

Claire remained silent.

Matthew shifted so that he was closer to Zann.

"You sure, girl?" he asked her.

She nodded.

What in the world was happening?