Emberborn

Second Chance

"My... my mate?" I said to myself out loud.

He nods his head, smile still beaming. I try my hardest to look away, not wanting to feel these knots in my stomach any longer.

I have no idea what he's talking about but I want to know why he has such a huge effect on me.

I just met the guy and I can't even talk straight, let alone think.

"W-What's a m-mate?"

Damnit. Why can't I stop stuttering?

Moments pass without a response and when I finally work up the courage to look at him again, all I see is confusion written all over his face.

I quickly look down, growing very uncomfortable under his gaze, and start to play with my fingers.

He gently places his large, cool hand over mine, catching my attention. His looks at me for a while before asking me a simple question,

"What's your name?" He says slowly, almost as if he's afraid I'll break.

"I'm..."

I begin without thinking, but I couldn't finish my sentence. Then I realized, I had no clue what my name was. I furrow my brows in confusion and look away as if something in the room will give me some kind of answer.

What is my name?

I don't know my name. I have no idea who I am. I don't remember how I got here or where I came from. I don't have any recollection of anything before I woke up.

Who the hell am I?

My heart rate increases and I can feel my breaths becoming labored.

How can I not remember?

I don't even know how old I am.

What the hell is wrong with me?!

He continues to wait for an answer that I don't have, so I tell him the only thing that I do know.

"I... I don't know..." I whispered to myself.

Why can't I remember anything about myself?

"You don't know your name?" he asked.

I shook my head and buried my face in my hands.

Millions of questions filled my mind and I didn't have an answer for a single one of them. I was frustrated and confused and I felt like I haven't moved in ages. I tried so hard to think back and remember something, anything, but there was nothing there. It was like somebody erased everything from my mind and just left me behind.

"So you don't have a name? That's alright. I'll tell you what darling, I'll give you a name."

"Really?" I snapped my eyes up to his with anticipation.

He smiled and nodded his head before thinking about it. I felt myself grow excited at the idea of getting an answer to at least one of the many questions I had about myself.

Maybe this is the start of a new life for me, maybe I wasn't meant to remember anything so that I could start over.

I would happily start over if it meant seeing his face every day.

"How about Atarah?" He said moments later.

"Atarah," I said testing it on my tongue. It sounded beautiful when I said it and even better coming from his lips.

"It means crown. I thought it would be fitting since you're going to be my Queen, my Luna." He said blushing and I couldn't help but do it as well.