Reminiscent

Chapter Eight

I sit in the Uber, searching the contents of the plastic bag carefully. Inside was an iPhone with three cameras at the back. I examine it closely in surprise.

"How do you like the twelve?" The uber driver asks, his eyes looking at me through the review mirror.

"Why does a person need four cameras on a phone?" I raised a brow, my eyes wide.

I hold the side button, making the phone load. Now I have to work out what my passcode is. Suddenly the words Face ID Pops up in the screen, making the phone unlock.

Who would have thought it would be something so simple? I immediately went to my notes. There were an address and phone number for a hotel that I had written down exactly a month ago.

A hotel room already booked? I can get away from everyone. No more being treated like a wounded puppy.  I instantly dial the hotel's number, praying that who I am today and who I was six years ago are remotely similar.

"Hello, this is Halia Montgomery...I have a reservation"

"Okay, let me check that one for you" The woman starts typing. "H...a..."

"L.I.A" I finish for her.

"Sorry, we have no reservation under that name"

"Are you sure?" I furrow my brows, I then remember that I'm married and most likely changed my name. I pull my wallet from the plastic bag, where I find my drivers license. Halia Cooper. "What about reservation under Halia Cooper?"

"Oh, yes, Mrs Cooper we have been trying to contact you, your room is waiting"

I sigh in relief.

"I'll be there in an hour"

"Great, see you then" the woman ends the call.

I drop my phone to my side and redirect my eyes at my driver's license. My hair was longer and darker then it is now. My eyes wore heavy makeup and sadness. I don't recognise the girl in the picture at all. Was my marriage to Chace that miserable?

When the Uber pulls me at the hospital, I walk towards the double doors where I find Daniel exiting the hospital with his phone pressed against his ear. I twist my body around and hide behind a pole.

"I don't think, I know, if she remembers Chace, Evie or even the miscarriage she'll go—" he says.

At that moment I remember - I was able to remember.

"I'm pregnant," I told the man at the front door.

"I bet...its...a girl" he would hold my belly and say.

Then I miscarried.

"She's gone" I wept, lying in a hospital bed.

"You can't have any more pregnancies" is what the doctors would tell me soon after I lost her.

That's when the drinking started — and Chace and I would grow apart.

"This isn't the way to solve your problems" Daniel looked down at the empty bottles on the bar counter.

"What do you know!" I argued tearfully.

"I can help you" Daniel's voice was low and calm, his hands on mine.

"Don't touch me!" I screamed, pulling my hands away from him.

He sighed.

"Talk to Chace" he begged, "you can't shut him out forever"

I remember. I remember the miscarriage.

She's gone is the baby that we assumed was a girl. I found out that I can't have kids and I started drinking. I shut everyone out and Daniel tried to help me. That's how I got on that highway. I wish I could remember everything. I wish I could remember Chace and my parent's divorce but I can't.

I lean against the hospital wall in shock. Tears run down my cheeks slowly, as I began to struggle to breathe. It feels like new information being told to me for the first time. The news just hit me. I don't know what I'm more upset about; the miscarriage or not being told about it. I wonder what else they hadn't told me.

"Halia, breathe nice and slow" Daniel instructs. I do what he says. "Are you okay?"

My vision is blurred and my chest is heavy. I squeeze my eyes shut for a split second, making my tears fall from my eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I sob, "I deserved to know about Chace and the...miscarriage"

"You remember?" Daniel sighs. "look, there's a lot of things we're not going to tell you but it's just to save you pain"

"And what about Chace?" I look up at Daniel.

"Chace...is bad news" he admits.

"Bullshit! You're just hoping that I forget about Chace so you and I can..." I trial off, terrified of what just came out of my mouth.

I'm married to Chace but Daniel is in love with me. He has been since we met. How did I remember that? Horrified, I begin to walk quickly towards the Uber.

"Halia, wait" Daniel calls, "I know what you're thinking"

"Really? Because not even I know what I'm thinking" I admit.

"You're going to see Chace" Daniel assumes.

"Good idea" I scream, walking faster, "does he know?"

"It's not like that"

"You've acted on this crush, haven't you? And no one knows. Not even your brother?" I start putting together the pieces of this unsolved puzzle.

"Is that why you're going to go see him?" Daniel asks. "Halia, You and I were together before you and Chace were" he lies.

I arrive at my Uber. I turn around to face Daniel in anger before stepping foot in the car.

"Don't you fucking lie to me" I retort.

"I'm not lying–" he denies.

"That's bullshit! I was with Dean before Chace" I cry.

My eyes widen in disbelief. What did I just say? Who's Dean? It was like my mouth had a mind of its own, I wasn't controlling what I was saying, it just came out.

"You remember Dean?" His eyes widen in concern.

"Dean was my boyfriend and Chace was there when he wasn't. He protected me from the monster Dean was....you didn't act on your crush then so why do it now?" I ramble.

I don't know what I'm talking about. It's like my mouth remembers more than my brain. I'm remembering as I speak. How was Dean a monster?

"I'm not acting on it I just think you deserve better then what brother's given you over the years" Daniel sighs, turning around and begins walking back to the hospital.

"Daniel, what did Dean do?" I cry but he keeps walking.

I sigh, shutting the Uber door.

"Where to now?" The Uber driver asks.

I watch as Daniel walks l back to the hospital doors. Why does he keep lying to me?

"The hotel please" I tell her the driver, leaning my head back against the car seat.