Sting :||: Michael Clifford

Don't react when I tell you

Carly's POV

"The crash must have affected a part of his brain because some of his memory is gone."

"What can he remember?" I ask. 

"He remembers his friends, that he's in a band, his parents, where he's from. The only thing he can't seem to remember is you." I feel my heart sink. 

"I-I don't understand. How can he remember everything but me?" 

"All we know is this could be linked to the fact that you were the last person he saw before the crash occurred. It's most likely that his brain is just trying to block out the trauma."

"Will his- Will I ever come back to him?" I can feel tears staring to run down my face.

"In most cases, yes. It could take days, months, or maybe even years."

"So what can we do?" Luke asks. He can tell that I clearly can't ask anything right now. "what can we do to help remember her?"

"You can try and jog his memory by showing picture, videos, or important life events. It might help." 

"Thank you." The doctor smiles and then walks away. I turn and face Luke. 

"I can't do this." I say as he pulls me into a hug. 

"Yes you can. You're strong, both of you are. You'll get through this." I push him off me. 

"You don't understand. My boyfriend doesn't know who the fuck I am. He doesn't remember anything about me! He can't even remember my damn name. I'm going home." I brush past him and walk away. I can't stand to look at these stupid hospital walls for one more second. I bump into someone, knocking me to the ground. "Shit, I'm sorry I-"

"It's okay Carly." I look up to see Calum standing there with his hand held out. I grab it and he pulls me up. "You look rough, you okay?"

"I was actually just on my way out."

"Are you two okay? Luke texted me and-"

"I'm fine." My eyes start to water again. 

"You don't look fine? What happened?"

" Can you just take me home or something. I can't be here." 

"I can do that." I flash him a quick smile and we walk to the exit. We get to his car and I get in the passenger side. He starts the car and pulls out of the parking lot. 

"My parents are going to kill me once they find out I crashed my car."

"Do you wanna stay at my place? Just so you don't have to feel the wrath of them right now."

"I'd like that, thanks." We pull into his driveway and we both get out of the car. We walk up to the front door and he opens it. He walks in first and I shut the door behind me. 

"Is that you Calum?" His mom asks.

"Yeah mom, it's me and Carly." He responds. I then see her walk out of the kitchen and over to us. 

"Oh my god honey, what happened to you?" She asks me.

"I was in a car accident, but I'm okay." 

"Do your parents know?"

"No and that's why I'm here." 

"Okay, well you can stay for as long as you need. You can take Mali's old room since she moved out." 

"Thank you Mrs. Hood."

"Don't be so polite, you can call me Joy." I smile. 

"I can show her up to her room." 

"Okay. Dinner will be ready soon." We both smile and head upstairs. We walk into Mali's old room and sit on the bed that's still there. 

"Do you want to talk about it?" Asks Calum. 

"I was in a car crash, what more is there-"

"I know that Michael was with you. Is he okay?"

"He's fine. He broke his leg and-" I start to cry again. 

"He what?" He asks while rubbing circles on my back.

"He can't remember me. I walked into his room and he asked me who I was." I put my hand over my mouth and cried even harder, if that was even possible. He pulls me into a tight hug and I cry on his shoulder. It feels as though my heart is slowly breaking inside me. I've known him since the first day of freshman year and now days before our senior year, we get in an accident and he can't remember who I am.

_______________

Three days later

_______________

I lay in bed for the third day in a row. I haven't eaten or slept in days. All I can think about is Michael and the crash. Every time I shut my eyes, all I can see is his smile and then the truck coming towards us. I heard a knock on the door and then feel a dip in the bed. 

"I think you should go and see him." Calum says. I sit up and look at him. 

"How can I possibly see him knowing he doesn't know who I am?"

"The more you see him and the more you talk to him, the faster he'll remember. I know this is hard and I know-"

"You don't know anything Calum. You don't know how I'm feeling and you don't-"

"But I can see it. You haven't been eating or sleeping and I know that because my room is right next to yours and I can hear you crying every night. It hurts to see you like this and it hurts to know that I can't do anything, but there is something you can do. You can go to his house and help him remember."

"How can I help him remember something when I'm the thing his mind is making him forget?"

"By sharing what you guys had. Show him you love him and show him that no matter what, that you're here for him." 

"You're right. I need to take a shower and then we can go." I remove the covers from my body and walk out of my room.