STAY

Forty Three

He stared at me in surprise, "Genevieve, it's me, Jared" he said slowly, as if I should know. I had no idea who he was. Genevieve he'd called me, was that my name? Why couldn't I remember my name? What the hell was going on? "Do you remember what happened?" he asked. I shook my head slowly, "who are you?" I asked. His eyes widened, "Jared, I'm Jared. Gigi, don't you recognize me?" he asked, "I don't, I don't know who you are" I said slightly panicked. "I've just called for the doctor" said the nurse looking at me curiously, she walked out quickly. He was talking again, "I'm your boyfriend, you were in an accident, on your bike, do you remember?" he asked frowning. Boyfriend? Wow, he was cute, I thought briefly. What, accident? Shit, what? I shook my head firmly, that was a mistake because it hurt! "Ouch, no, I don't ..." I murmured wincing, I looked around, finally my eyes settling on the jug of water. "Can you please?" I said pointing to it. He nodded, grabbing the cup quickly and holding the straw to my lips. I drank gratefully, my throat was so dry, I hastily gulped down the entire cup. "Would you like more?" he asked smiling, I nodded gratefully. He refilled it and held it to my lips again. "Thank you" I said exhaling. "You're welcome" he said, leaning in and kissing my forehead. The nurse walked back in then with two others. They introduced themselves to me like old friends. "Genevieve how are you feeling?" one asked pleasantly. "I'm sore" I muttered. He nodded, "do you recognize us? I'm Ethan and this is Cam, you work here, you're a nurse, you work together with us" he said. "No, no, I don't know who any of you are" I said, I was having a full blown panic attack, they glanced at one another in surprise. The one called Cam spoke then, explaining to me what had happened, while Ethan examined me. Shining a light in my eyes and listening to my chest. Feeling my pulse, he explained quietly, as he touched my wrists and ankles. Tapping my knees and elbows. My eyes widened as I listened, I was shocked. I gasped as they listed my injuries, no wonder I felt like a train wreck. All the while, the guy, Jared, was staring at me curiously. He kept rubbing my arm and stroking my hair. I subtly kept trying to pull away. "Stop it Gigi" he murmured, I ceased wriggling and let him hold my hand. "Okay, so why can't I remember who he is? I can't remember my name, who I am? What's wrong with me?" I said finally. "You've obviously have some short term amnesia, it will most likely resolve" said Ethan. "Most likely? When? How long will that take?" I asked, trying to keep the anxiety out of my voice. "It depends" he replied. "Are we talking, days, weeks, months, what??" I demanded. "It depends, it could come back today, or next week, or next month, but rest assured it will come back. There still might be some things you'll never remember, close to the date of the accident, but most likely you'll be perfectly fine" he assured me. I nodded, I lay there not really paying too much attention to the rest of what they were saying. I was trying desperately to make my brain whirl into action. Nothing. All I could remember was waking up and looking at this guy. This guy who was telling me he was my boyfriend? Trying to kiss me and hold my hand? Jesus. Suddenly two other people rushed in the room, "oh thank goodness, Genevieve, you're finally awake" said the woman. She immediately leaned over pulling me into an embrace, "ouch!!! Jesus, stop, stop, let me go! Who are you? Who are they?" I asked Jared in a panic. He was now the only familiar face. "Gigi, it's your parents" he explained calmly. She was shocked, "I'm your mother, what's going on?" she demanded. The doctors went over the explanation again, the man, my father apparently, was firing question after question. It was putting me on edge. This time I was the one squeezing Jared's hand. "This is making me anxious" I muttered, exhaling, I was in pain and trying to hold back tears. Jared suddenly spoke in a loud voice, interrupting the conversation. "I think Gigi's is just a little overwhelmed. She's also in pain, perhaps you can all continue your questions outside. Can she get something for the pain?" he directed the last question to the nurse. I sighed in relief, nodding. "I've told you pretty much everything you need to know at this point" said Ethan. "Right, well how long til we can safely move her, we'd like to take her back to New York with us" he said. I gasped, but before I could speak, "No you're not, her home is here, with me!" thundered Jared. "We are her family, she should be with us" he snapped back. "She hates it there, she belongs here in LA, with me, this is where her home is. She doesn't want to go back to New York" replied Jared. "You're not her family" said the woman, my mom, snidely. "She lives very happily with me, she's not going anywhere" Jared argued sternly, that was a surprise. I watched the back and forth until finally, I'd had enough, I promptly burst into tears. "Oh my God Genevieve, thank God" said a voice from the door. Another man and a woman walked in, I had no fucking clue who they were either!! It was like a comedy skit on SNL, hey I remembered SNL! "Oh my God, who are these people?" I groaned. Thankfully the nurse walked back in with some medication. "Okay, everyone needs to get out, now. We can talk outside, give her some space" said Jared loudly. My parents nodded reluctantly, as did the new guy. The girl however said, "I'll stay, I'm causing no trouble and I'll try and calm things down" she said. Jared gave her a tight nod and ushered them all out closing the door. The nurse gave me some pain medicine through the IV and left quickly. It started to take effect immediately thank goodness. "Genevieve, I take it you've got amnesia" she said simply. I nodded, "apparently, yes, who are you?" I asked warily. "I'm your best friend, Jamie" she said smiling warmly. I nodded. "Is he really my boyfriend?" I said inclining my head toward the window, I could see Jared through it. His face was a mask of fury, when he turned to glance into the room however, suddenly it softened and he smiled at me warmly. "Yes, he is" she said smiling. She picked up a phone sitting on the side table. "This is your phone, he's had it here since you ... came in. Just in case you woke up when he wasn't here, so you could ring him" she explained. She flicked through it finally turning and showing me the screen. "Flip through" she said. I looked at it, photos. It was of me and the guy Jared. Laughing, kissing, goofing around. Okay, so that confirmed that, I stared at myself in the photos. I looked so happy and in love. I looked up at her again, "Is the other guy your boyfriend?" I asked. She laughed then, "no, it's Jared's brother, Shannon" she said. "And, we're all friends?" I asked. "Sort of, I met them through you" she explained. "You three are all extremely close" she said grinning. I looked away from the phone to stare at her, "what do you mean?" I said curiously. "Ah nothing, I'm sure Jared will explain everything in good time" she said reassuringly. I nodded slowly. "Do I really hate New York?" I said. She nodded vigorously, "yes, you don't want to go back there, believe me. You and your parents are friendly, but, well ... you prefer them at a distance" she said carefully. I nodded, I had definitely got a certain vibe from them, maybe that was it. The door opened and they all came back in, minus the doctors. "How are you feeling?" asked Jared softly, taking my hand and kissing it. "I'm okay, I'm tired" I said wearily. I was exhausted, I felt like I'd run a marathon. "Well it's quite late, so we might leave you to get some sleep dear" said my mother. I nodded, "we'll see you in the morning" she added. She gave me a kiss on the cheek and waved as she headed to the door. "I'm so glad you're okay, sleep well Genevieve" said my father quietly, he kissed my cheek and they both left. "Are they always that awkward?" I asked Jamie. "Yes, they're very rarely in the same room together so this is strange for them, they've been divorced for years" she said gently. I nodded, their behavior totally made sense now. The nurse walked back in "Genevieve, would you like to get up and have a shower?" she asked. I looked at her alarmed, "uh, um, I don't know, I guess " I replied. "Great, I'll just get rid of some of these and we'll get you up" she said. "I'll wait outside, it's so great to see you up Gigi" said the new guy, Shannon. I nodded, "thank you" I said. He walked out closing the door. The nurse pulled closed the drapes and started to remove some of the many tubes and cords attached to me. It took her a while, finally I had only one IV left in my arm. She had taken everything else out. "I can help her" said Jared, "no! I mean, sorry, I don't know you, I couldn't possibly let you see me ..." I blurted out. He looked briefly hurt, but then nodded, "of course, what am I thinking, sorry" he said. "How about the nurse and I help" suggested Jamie cheerfully. I nodded, "I'm okay, I'm sure I'll be able to ... move" I said wincing as I tried to sit up. Without warning he slipped his arms under my knees and behind me, scooping me up gently off the bed. I gasped, "relax, let me at least do this" he said as he walked to the bathroom. He set me down on my feet, "can you stand?" he asked. I felt slightly unsteady, so I held onto his arms tightly. I looked up, "I think I'll be okay" I said nodding. He kissed my cheek, "I'm so glad you're awake baby" he said. I nodded, not really sure what to say. Luckily Jamie and the nurse appeared and grasped my arm, "I can take over from here" she said. "Thanks" I murmured as he stepped back. "I'll be waiting outside" he said closing the door behind him. I sat on the chair wincing from the pain of moving. My ribs hurt and my arm and shoulder were killing me. It took ages to wash, first Jamie did my hair, then they made me stand up and helped wash my body. I looked down at the bruises and shuddered, yellow and purple blooms all over. "You'll be back to normal in no time" said Jamie drying me off. I put on a fresh gown and slowly made my way back into the room. Jared stood up to help settle me back into bed. "I swear her hair grew 5 inches while she was asleep, I don't know how you cope having to wash it Genevieve, my arms would kill me" said Jamie laughing. "She's lucky, sometimes she gets me to do it, 'my arms get tired please?' she says" said Jared laughing. "You lazy thing" she laughed. I listened curiously to their conversation, it was strange listening to him talk about me so intimately. "You okay?" he asked. I nodded, "I'm sore" I said sighing. "I'll grab something for you now" said the nurse, she had just finished reconnecting the line. I sat back, feeling exhausted. "You tired?" he asked. I nodded, "I just want to go to sleep and wake up and remember my life" I said sadly. "I know, but you're awake and your memory will come back, maybe not today but soon" he replied. I nodded, soon I thought, but how long was soon?