Faded Memories | lp

Chapter Ten

September 4th, 2014

The microwave dings with my lunch. I burn my mouth on the first bite but I don't care. Sonia said she would be flying over here today to talk about something. She should be here right about...

"Jo! I'm coming in!"

Now.

Sonia comes in, dressed in a little black dress and blazer. She takes her heels off at the door.

"You wanted to discuss something?" I ask, taking a bite of hot pizza. I sit on the couch and wait for Sonia to tell me what's up.

She seems giddy, "Ellen wants you on her show to talk about your books."

I immediately frown, "I don't remember anything, Sonia, I'm not doing it."

"This might be your last chance."

"How come?" I ask, sitting forward.

"If you don't get that last book published, there won't be any new buzz about you. Ellen doesn't want stars on her show that nobody likes. The buzz from your last book is already winding down." She explains.

I shake my head again, "I can't let anyone know I have amnesia. People would try to screw me over."

She stands straighter and folds her arms, "I guess I see where you're coming from, but still."

"I'm not doing it, and that's final." I say sternly.

"On a completely unrelated topic, Zayn's wedding is this Halloween and we need to get you a costume." She sighs.

"Zayn..." I trail off, letting her know I have no idea what she's talking about.

"He's in Liam's band, you guys are pretty good friends." She explains.

"Okay." I say. I finish my pizza and put my plate in the sink, along with all the over dishes I haven't washed. Sonia puts her purse down and takes her jacket off. I don't know what she's doing until she grabs a washcloth and turns on the faucet.

"You don't have to do-"

"Yes, I do, because I know you, Jo, and you won't." She says quickly. I sit on back down and turn my attention back to the TV. She finished washing and drying my dishes, but leaves them for me to put away.

"So you came all this way to tell me about Ellen?" I ask. She nods while putting her jacket on and picking up her purse.

"Do I have any friends?" I ask quieter. She thinks for a minute then says, "You're just friends with Liam's friends. I've never heard you talk about anyone before, so I don't think so." She says. Well, that's sad.

"Well, I guess I'll get back to Chicago. Bye, Jo." She says. I hear the door shut behind her. Now I have nothing to do. It's already three o'clock and the sun is beginning to lower.

How about a dip in the lake?

I find the best of my bathing suits, and by best I mean it doesn't reveal too much. There isn't really a beach on the lake except on the other side of the trailer park. All the trailers pretty much surround the lake. I find a beach towel and hang it over the railing outside.

I walk through the grass to the water's edge. There is a sign that says it's a very deep drop off, not at all like a beach. I can't see the bottom and the water's relatively clear so I step back, and dive in. It's always been a good swimmer.

The water is cold but it clears my mind, and for once it's just me. I don't have thousands of faded memories running through my brain, it's just me. I try to stay close to my dock so I don't get run over by boaters.