Forgotten

One

My breath hitches as our eyes connect. One year was not enough. I spin on my heel in the opposite direction, acutely aware of the icy rain beginning to fall from the sky. Cold drops begin to freeze me from the inside out as I continue walking rhythmically against the chilly wind. Spotting a bus shelter, I stand inside, hoping to wait the rain out.

As hard as I try I can't stop myself from peeking another glance at him, a small smile perches upon his lips and I internally force myself not to miss it. He's surrounded with a few kids we went to high school with last year - the ones who weren't picked up by colleges, they all laugh and surround him with 'welcome back' s and 'it's good to have you back' s.

I stand there quietly as an observer until Darcy turns to see me staring. She turns to undoubtedly tell the rest of the group so they can all have a good laugh. Her lips turn up in a sneer and I hurriedly look away.  I rush out of the bus shelter, before I even make it two steps off the curb there's the loud honk of a car horn and a shout before I'm pulled out of traffic.

"Hey, are you okay?" Dominic doesn't pull his arm away from my waist and looks me in the eye. There isn't even a flicker of recognition.

"I-I'm fine," I stammer out once I catch my breath. There's a moment where our breaths are synced and our eyes are locked but I clear my throat, pulling away.

"I'm Dominic," he says, offering crooked grin.

"And I...I have to go." My movements are beyond my control as I kiss him on the cheek one last time, as a goodbye that I wasn't able to say before.

And then I turn away, and this time, I don't look back.

✰ ✰ ✰

I stand in front of the tombstone, the bright daisies a stark contrast. I place the flowers into the vase left behind by some other heartbroken relative.

"Hey, Ell," My voice quivers and my trembling hands fidget nervously. "I saw Dominic today, I've heard he has amnesia and hardly remembers anything, he doesn't remember me anyway."

I take a deep breath,
"It haunts me everyday, Ell. And the worst part is that it should haunt him too. It was his fault!"

Another stuttering breath, but this one isn't mine. My head snaps to see Dominic standing there with his hands shoved into his pockets.

"What're you doing here?" I demand and he shrugs,

"Can't a person just come to the cemetery to hang?" He offers me a crooked smile that I don't return, instead, my eyes narrow.

"How long have you been standing there?"

"Not long, maybe thirty seconds." He chuckles nervously. I suck in a deep breath,

"Why're you really here?" I ask,

"I just came to return your phone. You dropped it earlier." He hands me my phone and I snatch it out of his hand.

I examine the phone for scratches and cracks,
"Thank you," I say earnestly and he nods,

"Can I get your name?" He questions and I look to the ground,

"I don't think that's a very good idea."

"Why?" I look up, meeting his piercing eyes. I search them for any sign of recognition, of the past. Something to prove that he's still the Dominic I knew, a reason to say no. And still, the only thing in them are questions and newfound wonder.

Finally, my shoulders slump and I give in,

"London, I'm London."