Amnesia

Chapter twenty nine - 'please put your shirt back on'

I used so many tissues that day, that they would need to cut down a rainforest to make enough more to cover the amount I used.

I keep on getting flashbacks from yesterday and I keep on replaying scenes in my head. I was called up to read a eulogy for Maddy. I didn't even know that I was supposed to have one prepared but I still did it. I felt it would be disrespectful to refuse. All I remember is it went A little like this. Before you laugh at me you must remember that I had to wing it.

"I would like to call up Vienna to read her eulogy for Maddy" Maddy's mom announced whilst crying, I didn't blame her because I hadn't stopped crying either.

"Maddy was one of the smartest people I remember. For anyone who doesn't know, I recently had amnesia, so I didn't remember any of my friends. Maddy always thought outside the box and knew what to say, especially when I didn't and like when she was alive, I don't know what to say now. All I can say is that nothing is ever going to be the same without Maddy, because she's gone."

I don't know what happened because I was doing absolutely fine, but then lily gave me a death glare and mouthed: murderer.

"I've been told that in a way I killed Maddy and the person who said that wasn't entirely wrong. All I can do is blame myself for not trying harder to save her. I panicked and so would anyone else. I was trying to get it out of her what happened. I tried, I swear. Maddy I'm so sorry!"

At this point Adria came up to the podium with Charlotte and collected me, then seated back where I was. On the way down from the podium they both told Maddy's mom that they were sorry for their loss before taking me away.

I slumped back into my bed and groaned. I turned over and buried my head into my pillow.

It hadn't slipped my mind that Nat had promised to be at the funeral. My vision had been a blur, infested with salty tears. I hadn't seen her.

This mornings text appeared on time.

'I loved your speech.
What I love even more is that you practically took the blame for me.
Mentioning me would've been dangerous.
Not just for you, but for the lives of your friends.

I told you that you'd made a mistake a while ago,
If you think Maddy paid the price for it, you couldn't be more wrong.
You might've thought you got away with it,
I was just letting Maddy's absence sink in.

Hannah needs to go and so does Charlotte,
Get rid of them before I do...'

In a panic, I lobbed my phone at floor. It made a loud smash and a crack brought the middle of the screen. I was trembling.

Joe burst through my door. "What did you?.."
His eyes fell on my phone and he picked it up. "Who is this number?"

I shook my head in reply. "Ask Adria, I cannot deal with this today."

He walked out, closed the door and took the phone with him. "Joe!" I called behind him.
The door swung open again and Joe popped his head in. "No words to mom, okay?"
He nodded, placing his finger on his lips, then left me alone once again.

So now, if I didn't tell my friends to not hang out with me, Nat would kill them off. What a brilliant birthday this is...

I picked out a pair of denim shorts and a plain black t-shirt. I brushed my hair and teeth then descended down our staircase.

I opened the lounge door to be greeted with all of my and Adria's friends, the girls group and the boys group (including Chase 😐). My mom was sat on the sofa casually chatting to my friends as if she was their age. Joe was staring at my phone so an alarmed expression, probably not wanting to worry Adria on her birthday.

Luckily nobody noticed me, gosh, they'd be bad at sunrise parties. Or is that what this is supposed to be? Oh well...

As if I hadn't seen everyone, I raced back upstairs to see if Adria was in her room. My fists pounded her bedroom door. "Adria? Adria?" My voice got a little louder each time.

After a minute or so of me calling her name she opened the door so I could only just see her face again. "Yes?"
"Is Jordan in there again?" I rolled my eyes.
"He um... Could be." She whispered.

"Can you let me in?" I asked.
"Um..." She closed the door for a second, right on my face.

I pressed my ear the the door. "Jordan honey, please put your shirt back on, my sister and I need to talk."

I laughed at her and then laughed because she thought I couldn't hear that through the door.
He door opened again and Jordan was stood next to Adria this time. "Hey Jordan." I greeted him giggling a little.
"Hey Vienna, I'll see you both downstairs."
With that he walked past us and disappeared down the stairs.

"What is it?" Adria smiled, taking a seat on her bed.

I sat next to her and recited as much of the message I could remember. She pulled an anxious face, "where is your phone now? As soon as tomorrow rolls around we go to the police... Just, not today." She bowed her head, probably wishing she could have a regular birthday this year.
"It's not so much where my phone is, it's who my phone is with." I rubbed my temples with my palms.

Adria's eyes widened as if to ask who my phone was with. "Joe has it." I frowned, "it's in the lounge with him."
"We need to get it, now!" She exclaimed.

"That might be a problem," I furrowed my eyebrows, "I think they're planning to surprise us, all our friends are down there..."