My mother and I sit in the living room, scrolling through my phone slowly. Something about her present-day home reminds me of the house I grew up in. Maybe it was just because she's in it, I realise. When I'm with my mother, I feel a sense of comfort that I haven't felt since my accident.
When my phone beeps, I look down at the screen to find a text message.
"Randi Jamil, messaged me back" I announce.
"What did she say?" My Mum asks.
I open the message quickly and then immediately sigh in disappointment. That's all I've been doing all afternoon.
"She said she was my old manager at a coffee shop I used to work at and that she can't help me with what I'm looking for" I bury my head into my hands.
This whole day has been a complete waste of time. I messaged most of my phone contacts and every single one that has replied hasn't known anything. They're all either former co-workers, relatives I rarely ever speak to or friends who haven't seen me in years.
"It's okay" my mum assures.
"No, it's not" I retort, "this is a dead-end, just like everything else I've tried"
Suddenly my phone beeps again.
"Halia, look" she points at the text displayed across my phone.
I look down at my lap to find a message from someone named Jane.
"Call me, I'll tell you everything you need to know" I read out loud.
Me and mum hopeful exchange looks. Could this be what I'm looking for? Is it wrong to be optimistic?
"Well I'll be damned" she smiles.
"She must know something, right? Otherwise, why would she want me to call her?"
"Well, what are you waiting for baby?"
I smile, pressing on the contact before putting the call on loudspeaker. Mum and I sit patiently waiting for Jane to answer.
"Hello" the feminine voice greets quietly.
"Hello," I respond.
"Halia, hi, I'm glad you messaged me" Jane starts, "I've been wanting to talk to you since your accident"
"How do we know each other?" I get straight to the point.
"We work at the hospital together" she explains. "You're a volunteer and I'm a nurse working under Daniel Cooper"
"Are we friends?" I soften my voice.
I don't seem to have a lot of those these days.
"Good friends" she admits, "I've wanted to call you every day, Halia. I just didn't know...Daniel told us about your accident and he didn't want anyone to contact you, I'm sorry. I want to help you in any way I can"
My eyes widen. He told the people close to me not to make any contact? Why is he doing this?
"Tell me why they're doing this" I beg, "why are Daniel and Caroline so against anyone telling me about my life"
She sighs.
"They're trying to protect you"
"From what?" I raise my brows.
There's a moment of silence.
"Everything. They think the big bad world will swallow you whole. I told them you're stronger then that" she explains.
"Is that what happened to her? Present-day me?"
"I know you were better than whatever happened...I also know that Daniel and everyone else means well, Halia. They don't tend to hurt you."
"Right" I nod in disbelief.
"Look my shift is about to start but please, call me, anytime" she begs. "I miss you, Halia"
"I will, thank you" I half-smile before the Call ends.
I can't keep doing all this over the phone. If I'm going to dig deeper, I need to be in Boston. I think I've found out as much as I can by being here, now it's time to go back.
"That went well" my mother smiles.
"Yeah" I sigh, "I think I need to go back to Boston. I won't find anything being here"
My mum nods slowly. "Do whatever you need to, Halia"
"Come with me" I take her hands.
She shakes her head violently, "you know I can't do that"
We sit in silence as I drop my gaze to my shoes and nod slowly.
"It was worth a shot" I sigh before wrapping arms around her tightly. "I love you so much, Mum"
"I love you too" her voice trembles, "I can take you to the airport to send you off?"
"I'd like that" my eyes well up with tears, "God What am I going to do without you?"
"Hey, there's always FaceTime and Zoom"
I pull away from my mother and push my brows together in confusion.
"Zoom?"
***
After mum sends me off at the airport, I spend the plane ride back thinking about my life and what I have to do next to fill in the blanks. I take out my phone to review the list.
2016:
-Mum and Dad divorce.
- Mum and Hank Marry
- drop out of college
- starts dating Dean
- started volunteering at the hospital
- Meets Daniel and Chace
- breaks up with Dean
Starts dating Dean.
That's what I need to know next. Our story. I have no memory of the man that I dated for a year and that's something I have to know. So I lean back in my seat, close my eyes and cross my fingers — hoping for something, even if it's small. Just some small memory that will tell me something about that time in my life.
All I remember about Dean is how we met. The two am bathroom hookups at parties, the passion and excitement that each meeting would bring — but I don't know anything about him, other then what he looks like. When I get to Boston, I'm going to start digging up everything I can about Dean and my volunteering at the hospital, which Jane should be able to tell me.
YOU ARE READING
Reminiscent
RomanceWhen Halia Montgomery is hit by a car, she is left with a six-year gap in her memory and a group of strangers who claim to be her family. Everything that she once knew is gone, not knowing who she has become or why her family are so determined to s...
