Fallen Memories - 14
Jane stared at me, a smile frozen on her face as confusion swam in her eyes. Still suffering through the shock that engulfed me, I clamped a hand over my mouth and sat ramrod straight on the barstool.
“Sorry. What?” Jane shook her head, blinking. When I thought maybe she misunderstood, she added, “You don’t remember?”
Seeing no way around this, I shook my head slowly.
Good luck getting out of this one, Colton spoke to my thoughts, a smirk on his face.
“Not a thing,” I told Jane, figuring there was no way around it. I’d already outed my “secret.” Lines of confusion etched across Jane’s face as she tried to make sense of my words.
“That can’t be normal,” she said, drumming her fingers on the bartop again.
“No, it can’t,” I agreed, feeling the steady burn of Colton’s gaze on every inch of me. Little did Jane know, she was right on point.
“PTSD,” Jane said, after a moment of thought. “It makes sense.”
Aware of everyone around us, I gave her a look as I lowered my voice. “You think I have PTSD? Shouldn’t that have shown up earlier? I mean, it’s been three years.”
She shrugged, taking a small sip of her Sprite. “You never know. Your mind could have been dodging its course, and eventually gave into the disorder. Thus, in order to protect itself from flashbacks, erased everything about Colton.”
I bit my lip, swallowing the automatic response that sat on my tongue. A portion of said secret was safe. Jane thought I was referring to Colton himself when I’d accidentally let it slip that I couldn’t remember anything. As of now, she was still under the impression that everything else within those three years still remained intact.
I gave a sigh of relief. “You’re right. I’ve been seeing a therapist.” Psychiatrist, big difference, I thought begrudgingly.
Jane’s hands closed around her glass. “Do tell.”
“Mom thought the same thing you did. She didn’t mention PTSD or anything, but she realized I wasn’t over his...death...yet.” Colton was sitting right here next to me, and I still found it hard to force the word out. Death was a dark, unforgivable word that left an eerie feeling slinking along my skin.
Now, Jane’s ski-slope nose wrinkled. “And she decided to go en route therapist?”
“I guess she thought it was the only way. You could say I’ve been bottling up my emotions. She even dragged my dad into it.”
Jane reached out, covering my hand with her own. “Babe, he left you guys when you were seven.”
“I know.” I nodded. “But I guess everything comes into play, right?” For good measure, I threw in a weak laugh and a pathetic shrug of my shoulder. Jane gave my hand a sympathetic squeeze.
“You’re right, it does. And I’m proud of you for overcoming your troubles.” She leaned in a little closer. “Let me guess. He’s old, hairless and has spectacles the size of Texas?”
I laughed so hard I snorted, palming the bartop to steady myself.
“Close enough. His name is Dr. Gullow.”
“Gullow,” Jane said, speaking from the back of her throat in a guttural way.
I laughed again. “Janie, stop it. He’s a nice guy and he’s going to help me get better.” Still grinning, she swallowed her laughter.
YOU ARE READING
Fallen Memories: Book Two
خيال (فانتازيا)Ivy Goodwill has finally come to terms with her guardian angel. In the past few weeks, a new world has been opened up; one that Ivy was never supposed to become a part of. She learned the hard way that angels aren't always golden and that stepping i...
