Amnesia

Chapter One

It was a clear, calm, lazy September morning, the day the worst week of my life began.

I was jogging with my distant cousin, Harry. It's just a typical Sunday morning for me - get up early and cram my meaningful other into the front seat of my new BMW diesel SUV. Black in both color and fuel efficiency, it was one of the many overtures my parents had given me to show the locals that they were more than just great-looking wealthy transplants from the 90210. I try to huff out a good two miles, just enough to convince myself I'm bordering on something called in shape at nineteen.

That morning, Harry came for a run, or so he claims. More than likely, to warm himself up for a bike sprint or whatever he would do for real exercise later in the day.

It was hard to believe that it hadn't been only a few weeks since the loss of his long term relationship. Now here he is, completely brainwashed.

"So, how did it go last night?" he asked, shuffling sideways beside me. "Word on the street is, Taryn had a date."

"You could call it a date..." I said, focusing on the heights of today's exercise challenge, the mountains, which weren't getting any closer fast enough for me. "You could call Hell a vacation spot too."

He winced. "Sorry I brought it up."

All run long, my head had been filled with the annoying recollection of Peter Evans. For three months Evans poked his head in my office every time he was in the hall, until he wore me down enough to ask him up for a meal on Saturday night (the ribs braised in port wine I had to put away after he bailed on me at the last minute.)

"He stood me up," I said, mid-stride. "Don't ask, because I won't go into any details."

We pulled up at our destination, a lung-clearing bray for me while David Beckham over here bobs on his toes as if he could go another loop.

"I don't know how you do it," I say, hands on hips, trying to catch my breath.

Harry chuckles, shrugging and stretching out a hamstring. "Unlike you, I actually exercise," he says. "Try it, you might find yourself enjoying it."

We both start to laugh. It was good to see the old Harry trying to peek through. It was good to hear the laughter back in his voice.

"Are you up for some tea," I ask. "I'm buying."

"Can't. Got that close friend flying in for a while. He wants to bike a bit and stuff. You know what he's like when he doesn't get his exercise."

I frown. "Somehow it's hard for me to believe that you're okay... Are you sure you don't want that tea?"

"Sorry..." he replied. "If I'm even five minutes late, he starts to see a pattern." He begins to jog back to his car. He waved, "I'll see you later." Shrugging it off, I turn my attention to the horizon.

The bay has always been one of my favorite places to just relax and enjoy. Curling waves against the bright sand, friendly neighbors, the sound of gulls and the sea air off the water. The small neighborhood just off the coast, I always pass by and admire the beautiful homes. That's what I remembered about this moment. The neighborhood just waking up. Kids practicing tricks on their Razors. Busy mother's scurrying around.

Come to think of it, someday that could be my life too.