No Memory

Epilogue

Charlie

Anna use to tell me what it felt like to wake up on the riverbank. About how cold she was and how I held her hand and saved her life.

Me, a life saver?!

But I felt it too I suppose. When I held her hand I felt as though the world changed. I forgot what cold hands felt like. And as my hand warmed hers I knew I loved her.

When I saw her fly through the air and fall to the ground with a crack something snapped inside of me.

Something angry. I hadn't been this angry in a long time. I watch as the car driver gets out of the car. He's yelling that she ran out into the road. Someone's calling an ambulance. Danny's yelling at me to help her help Anna. I just stood looking at the driver my hands clenched in fists of rage. He's a rich man I can tell that. A young one too, probably born into the families riches. I clench my jaw as he looks at me with wild eyes. It takes my whole being not to punch him in the face.

"She's breathing!! Charlie!!!" Danny yells. I snap my attention to her and run over to Anna. Blood flows from a wound on her head. Her left arm is in an odd angle. A bruise forms on the left side of forehead. I feel my body shake as I look at her. I grab her right hand. I feel the warmth warm my cold shaking hands.

I smile. Maybe she'll wake up before the paramedics come. Only minutes pass but it feels like an eternity as I hold her hand. I wipe blood away from her beautiful sleeping face.

The medics push me out of the way to get to her. Danny finally grabs my arm as pulls me away. I look down and see blood dripping from my eyes. I close my eyes and realize I've been crying. Someone is talking to me. I look over and see Danny's mouth moving but it comes out muffled. It sounds like she's grabbing a towel. I nod.

I don't look at her directly. I keep my chin down and my eyes fixed on her shoes. I watch her feet move away. Another set of shoes walk up.

Their owner speaks.

"She should have stayed away, she shouldn't have gotten too close, and you shouldn't have gotten close to her either," The mans voice rings out clear as a bell. I look up and see the driver. I let his words sink in before I clench my blood filled fist. I get ready to punch him but he dodges. I'm caught off balance and fall forward. I get my act together and turn around. He's already gone. I look around but only see the crowd of people gathering. Questions are thrown out everywhere but no one can answer them. I walk to my car. Danny runs up to me with a towel, however the blood has mostly dried on my hands. I take it anyway and wipe off what I can.

"To the hospital?" Danny asks. I shake my head.

"How long does that flight leave?" I ask. She looks at her clock.

"Fifteen minutes," she shrugs. I open my car door. "Charlie, what are you doing?"

"I'm gunna get her fiancée," I start the car with my door still open. Danny shakes his head.

"He won't know anything, besides you wouldn't make it in time," she sighs. I look at her. I suppose she's right.

"Then to the hospital," I say.

****

Coma.

That's what they said she's was in.

A trauma induced coma.

They said that if the brain shut down a choice would have to be made.

And seeing as I was her only known associate I might have to make the call.

I called her parents......

They said I should do it.... I knew her in the end. They said I was closest. How could that be true? I knew her for four months...when she was awake at least. The accident took place last month. Now I'm the one who makes the decision.

I sit on my steps. I'm wearing old clothes and I haven't shaved in a week or two.

I get up and grab a coat. It's late fall know. I open the front door and am confronted by a cold wet breeze. Rain pours from the sky as I walk to my car. I open the door and climb in. Soon I'm on a different side of town. I see the trees and the path to the river up ahead. I turn off my car. The rain pours harder and harder as I get out. The wind whips at my face as I walk to the bridge. The metal and stone are cold as I touch the side. I walk across of the bridge and to the bank where I first found Anna.

The tall grass is brown and dead. I walk across it and right to the spot where she had laid. I slowly sit down. I close my eyes and listen to the pitter patter of the water hitting the river. The wind rustles my wet jacket and I shiver. I wonder if this is how she felt while she sat her praying for me to see her. I open my eyes and see a strange thing on the bank. It's a purple flower growing on the bank. A single purple flower. I get up and walk over to it, I crouch to get a better look. I smile as I smell the flowery wet smell. I almost pick it but I decide against it.

I close my eyes. I need to get to the hospital. I jog up the bank and across the hill. I open my car door and climb in. I start the car and buckle up. I drive quickly through the streets and to the hospital. I park my car. I shake out my hair and run to the door.

People and nurses bustle about. I push through them to her room. People don't give me odd looks. I suppose I look as desperate as they feel. The white lights might even make me look even worse. I push open her door and look in.

Her auburn hair lays on the pillow softly making a shroud around her. Her face completely healed safe for a slight scar on her forehead. Her hands at her sides, her eyes closed. I smile and sit down.

"I love you Anna," I whisper to her. I squeeze her hand hoping she will squeeze back. But nothing happens. I sigh.

I love her, do I want to do it? Do I want this to happen? Am I making the right choice? I guess it's my decision but really it's Anna's. I take in a deep breath as I hear the doctor come in. He must have saw me come in. I let out my breath.

"Have you decided?" He asks. He also doesn't to know what to do.

"I have," I look around. I keep my hand wrapped around Anna's. He nods to me to go on. I reach over and give Anna a kiss.

I turn around. The old white room is so familiar to Anna's face, her body laying in it's bed. I hear rain hit the window, reassuring me of my decision.

I open my mouth and the words come out.....

My answer comes out.