Faded Memories | lp

Chapter One

August 30th, 2014

"Yes, Liam, I'm on my way now." I calmly mutter into my phone, which is pressed between my cheek and shoulder. The traffic is hectic trying to get into Chicago. I pass so many people I know are going to the concert. Liam said he would wait for me, so he could give me a kiss before he went on.

I don't think he'll be able to, now. I'm sure I'll be late.

"Well, drive safe, love you." He says from the other end.

"I love you, too." I smile even though he can't see it. I don't dare take my hands off the steering wheel, these Chicago drivers scare the shit out of me. Instead, I try to slide my phone down my chest as to land perfectly on my lap, but yeah, that doesn't happen.

With a series of clanks and other various face-cringing noises, I think my phone fell beside my seat.

It's fine, I'll just get it when I get to the stadium.

About a mile from the stadium, my ring tone, to the song of I Love Rock 'N Roll, rings from under the seat. Only a handful of my contacts have that song as their ringtone. It's either my mother, my brother, or my boyfriend.

My mother wouldn't call unless something awful happened. My brother wouldn't call unless to congratulate me on one of my books, or to ask for money. Liam would only call to make sure I was alright or to just say 'I love you.'

Weighing the possibilities, I figure I shouldn't wait because something terrible could've happened. One big sigh later, I take my right hand off the steering wheel and feel beneath my seat. The song keeps playing and I'm sure the person on the other end is getting annoyed.

Now I'm annoyed because I just had it and now I can hear it, but can't find it.

I swear I only took my eyes off the road for a second, but it was long enough.

I was in the right lane, where semi trucks drive, because I was preparing to get off at the next exit. When I reached below the seat, I was unaware that I took my foot off the gas pedal.

Impact from behind sent a violent jolt through my body, sending my head straight forward into the steering wheel, and that's when I blacked out.

The semi truck didn't stop after it hit her. Somehow, her car slide off the road and into the ditch beside the highway. A Good Samaritan stopped by the side of the road and called the police. The man managed to open her door, but didn't dare move her since she was unresponsive. Her head was bleeding from multiple spots, and he spotted her cracked phone in her right hand, smeared with fresh blood.

The police arrived on the scene minutes later, now that the traffic was clearing up because the concert had already started. An ambulance came soon after. She was rushed to a hospital in Chicago. Doctors went to work with stitching her up and bandaging things.

She was lucky, more or less, she only broke her right arm because it was wedged between the seats and bend at an awkward angle when she went into the ditch.

Every time Liam tried calling during costume changes or while 5 Seconds of Summer was on stage, it went straight to voicemail. Her phone took a hit. He assumed she was there at the concert, but unable to get backstage. Maybe she just turned her phone off so she could enjoy the concert.

He had no idea.

She almost died. Her forehead was bleeding and skull cracked. The doctors did their best to stop the bleeding but her brain was knocked around. They wouldn't know how severe the damage was until she woke up.

Her blue dress that Liam bought her was torn and bloody. A white hospital gown replaced it.

The doctors still didn't to know who she was, until a younger nurse recognized her. Her purse had been salvaged from the wreck but her wallet wasn't found until later that night, when they examined the wreck closer.

After the concert had ended, and fatigue was setting in for Liam, was when the hospital finally contacted him. He was there in minutes, shock and incomprehension displayed on his face. Zayn was with him, because Jo was good friends with him.

They didn't let them in to see her until about 4 o'clock AM, when she was taken out of emergency care. She was still out like a light.

He didn't even recognize her.

Her usual full and playfully colored hair was washed of blood and color. Her makeup taken off and bruises danced across her cheeks and visible skin. He covered his mouth with one hand and picked up her small hand with the other. Zayn was silent and put a hand on Liam's shoulder. Liam's brown eyes overflowed and he knelt down next to her.

"Liam, may I have a word?" The head doctor asked him out of the room.

He nodded and said to Zayn, "Watch over her."

Liam pressed his lips together to keep from screaming. The doctor explained the car crash.

"The brain cells that hold memories were damaged and she hit her head pretty hard. We can't be sure how serious they were damaged until she wakes up. When the brain is hurt, it shuts down and puts the body into a sleep-like state until it's repaired itself as far as it can. It could be hours, it could be days, we just don't know." He goes on and on but Liam is shutting down slowly.

He goes back into her room, unspeaking, and sits on the foot of her bed. His eyes rake over her for any sign of life under her skin, but finds nothing. Zayn leaves and goes back to the hotel the other boys are staying at, to tell them. Liam stays with her.

She's the best thing he's ever had, and now she could be gone. Her memories of him could be gone. He refuses to accept that, if her memories were taken from her, he will get them back.

Even if it takes a long time, he will fix this.