Take A Deep Breath

Chapter 4

"Ok, Amber. How about we start off with some simple questions, like, do you remember your birth date?"

The doctor who has introduced himself as Dr. Sanders smiles artificially and I want to crawl into my blankets. I don't want to answer this. Can't they see that? If I really have just woken up, then shouldn't they give me some alone time?

"I..." I start to answer, but several pairs of numbers swirl in my head and I can't settle on just one.

"Take your time" he says quietly, watching me. Studying.

Months join the numbers and I feel my brain go into overdrive. I don't know anything. I can't remember anything. It's all too complicated and I need time to wrap my head around it.

"The...twenty...twenty fifth? Of..." I squeeze my eyes shut and force myself to think. When was the last time I had a birthday? How old am I? Being asleep for two years means I must have missed out on a lot. I only have one memory, of how my darkness came to me, but still months float around in my head and it's making me dizzy.

"Of...?" He urges me on encouragingly.
"Ma...March?"

He doesn't respond.

"May? Yes, May"

His smile widens and I can't help but return one. The 25th of May. One of the only confident statements in my memory bank, one of the only things I can recall.

"Ok, that's a good start. Do you remember your full name?"

This stumps me. I know my name is Amber, presumedly, since Mrs.Clover and him keep calling me that. I try to force myself to squeeze out a last name, but instead of things swirling in my head like before, I go blank.

"I...I don't know. Is Mrs.Clover related to me?" I ask.

He sighs but tries to hide it.

"Yes. Do you know in what way?"

I look down at my lap. I don't have any memories of her, but I could easily guess.

"She's my mum, isn't she?"

He nods sadly and I sigh again.

"So my name is Amber Clover, born on the 25th of May. I had a diving accident and have been in a coma for two years."
His face lights up.

"Tell me about the accident."

"Well...its the only thing I remember..."

He smiles brightly.
"It's common that amnesia sufferers remember most of their accident beforehand. Continue"

I take a deep breath and shut my eyes.
"I...ok...so I think I planned to spend the weekend with my friends. Two of them. One guy, One girl. We went cliff diving, on the rocks near...near...a forest. Yes. The guy went first, showing off by doing a backflip. He was fine. We had tested the waters before hand and so had several other people who had done it before us. I wanted to go next. I had a perfect run up and executed a perfect dive. I remember feeling the cool water surround me and I remember floating after jumping, just enjoying and reflecting on the time we were having . Then, harsh waves crashed down and I remember getting hit on the head. Then there was only darkness"

He stays silent.
"Do you remember their names?" he asks eventually.

I smile.
"I think so. Is it...are they..Saffron and...and...Cadence?"
He nods, obviously excited.

"Before we go further into testing I'd like to bring them in to see if you remember anything else"

Panic immediately fills me, but I force it down by swallowin slowly. Saffron and Cadence. Cadence and Saffron. Saffron. A blurry figure of a memory swirls in my head. Blonde, average height and perfect skin. Pale. Cadence.Light brown hair that sweeps over his eyes. Tanned. Tall.

"Did they miss me?" a twinge of desperation is clear in my tone.
He turns around.

"We'll just have to see, won't we?"