Lost Memories

Chapter Ten

It was him. It was my brother. Dan is my brother. I know for sure now. He was so kind to me the first time we met. And those eyes; those unmistakable eyes. This was not my imagination. Dan is my brother, there is no question. The real question though is, will I ever see him again? Sometime when I'm not half-asleep or high on the doctor's drugs.

I sat up and hit my head against the ceiling of the glass cylinder.

Ezmerelda must have heard the thump, because she slid into the room, holding onto the door frame.

"You okay?" She asked. "I heard a thump."

"Yeah." I groaned. "I just hit my head on the glass."

"You hungry?" She asks, changing the subject. "I can get some food for you."

I feel my stomach rumble in discontentment. "Now that you mention it. Yes."

"Okay. Let me get the nurse in here to keep an eye on you. Then I'll get your breakfast."

"Great." I say sarcastically.

Ezmerelda walked out of the room and not a minute later the nurse is back. The nurse walks into the room and sits on a nearby chair, book in hand.

"So..." I start. "How's your day."

"If you are not dying don't talk to me." She makes no effort to engage in conversation.

"Okay..." I look away. I have nothing to do but wait for Ezmerelda. Why do I have to be with this nurse, and why is she so rude? I think about the different possibilities of her life that could have made her the way she is now. Maybe a loss of a loved one, like a parent or sibling. It seems like everyone I know has lost someone to the Eternal Eclipse or the monsters that came with it.

That thought lead to Dan. The thought of my brother whom I had no recollection of until my dreams and flashbacks gave enough information to seal the deal. My head has been full of so many different things that I have to remember; now it doesn't seem surreal anymore. My mind is just so blank that I can't take in the shock that should be coming to me. I guess it will come later. Maybe the machine is messing with my head; making me indifferent to extreme situations and emotions.

My stomach growls and pushes me away from my thoughts. I look at my hands and they are shaking. Must be low blood sugar. I suddenly can't wait for Ezmerelda's return.

I look at the nurse again; trying to find something that will occupy me. I try to read the back or the cover to see what it's about, but the glass makes it hard to see. I sit up, more cautious of the low ceiling, lean forward a bit and squint. I can see the cover. It says '101 things to do in your last month'.

I sit back. What does that mean? Things to do in your last months? Is she pregnant? Or is she...dying? Maybe that's why she is so cruel. She probably doesn't have anyone to spend her time with; which means she's all alone right before she dies. That's too cruel a fate. Even for someone like her. Sure I was annoyed with her, but I did wish she had a better way to live than just waiting to waste away.

Ezmerelda walked in just in time. I was starting to drown in my thoughts. She carried a platter covered with a cloth. Even with the machine sealing the room from me I could somehow smell the aroma of cooked food.

"I'm sure you're hungry, so I got eggs, bacon, yogurt, pancakes, orange juice, fresh fruit, and some coffee to keep you awake."

"Ummm...what is that? I ask, pointing to a bowl full of some sort of puffy mixture between a solid and a liquid.

"Oh, that's for me." She picked the bowl up from the tray. "It's called oatmeal. It's basically oats heated in water with some syrup flavoring."