Reminiscent

Chapter Six

After seeing Daniel at the hospital, I decided to write a list of all people that I didn't know, yet was supposed to. At the top of my list was Hank — The man married to my mum in this present day. Not only do I not remember him at all but I've only seen him once since my accident.

I walk towards the house slowly, swinging my fist against the wooden door. I intend to fill in the gaps from the beginning, every single last one of them. When the door creeps open slowly, I find Hank on the other side.

"Halia" the sixty-something-year-old man widens his green eyes. "What are you...does someone know you're here?"

I shake my head "I found your business card in my hospital stuff"

"Yeah, I left it with the nurses," he tells me.

"Why?" I soften my gaze at the man.

"You may not remember me, Halia but you're my kid too"

My heart drops to my gut.

"What happened with mum? Why did she leave?" I ask him.

"We were together almost six years...married for two" he begins, taking a seat at the kitchen table. "When we told you kids about the affair, you disowned her...you haven't spoken in four years"

"I don't believe that" I admit, dropping into the seat across from him.

"You said that you could never forgive her for what she did to your father" Hank continues.

"Hey, you're in the wrong here too. You knew she was married and had kids and you still-"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm a horrible person, we've been this speech already"

"We have?" I cock a brow.

"only a million times"

"Why do you consider me your kid? It doesn't sound like we're close at all" I point out.

He smiles.

"You really don't remember me?"

I look at him. Giving it my absolute all to remember his face. I study every wrinkle, every spot and line but no matter how hard I try, all I see is an elderly man.

"I'm sorry. I don't" I shrug.

"I was your professor in college" he announces. "Before you dropped out."

"Professor Grant" I greeted him every day but that particular day, I was at a coffee shop with my mother.

"I'm sorry, I'm so rude, professor Grant, this is my mother" I introduced.

"You were going to be a nurse" Hank goes on.

And just like that, I'm brought back to the present.

"Wait, I dropped out?" My eyes widen.

Why would I do that? The plan was to always be a nurse. Why didn't I become a nurse?

"Soon after you found out about the affair," his eyes filled with guilt. "Instead of getting your degree, you started volunteering at the hospital"

I run my fingers through my hair in disbelief. This can't be true.

"Do you know where Mum is? Or do you have a phone number or something?" I beg, trying to contain myself.

How can the closest person in my life — my own mother — be a complete stranger?

"No, I'm afraid, I haven't heard from her at all in three years" Hank admits.

"Okay, thanks, Hank" I stand up from my seat, "you've been the most helpful"

With that, I walk towards the front door. Suddenly, Hank jumps up from his seat quickly.

"I'll do anything to make up for what I've done," he tells me, his voice filled with sorrow and guilt.

"I forgive you, Hank, take care" I half-smile, pushing the door open slowly.

"Check your apartment, I'm sure there's something there" he calls.

I nod, waving him goodbye.

I cross the quiet road quickly where I take a seat at the bus stop. It doesn't take a genius to work out that I'm being lied to by everyone in my life. I think the only people who have been telling me the truth are Hank and Chace, everyone else has been lying all along. Why? I don't know. Maybe to change me or maybe to save me pain, either way, I don't like being lied to.

I shake my head, jumping up from the bus stop and continue marching down the sidewalk. I need answers from someone I trust. Maybe Hanks right and my apartment is the place to go next. After all, where better place to get clues about my life than my own apartment?

I hail the first cab I see and head straight to my apartment.

——————————————

Hi all,

I hope everyone is enjoying this book so far. I've been editing and rewriting this book to the best of my abilities, unfortunately, it can be quite  time consuming so apologies if I miss an update. I'm adding new subplots and have had to change the order of most of the events in this book so the book flows better.

Please let me know your thoughts so far and dong forget to vote.

Thank you

Happy reading!!

Rose :)