Reminiscent

Chapter Eighteen

I sit on the plane quietly, on my way to Atlanta, Georgia to see my mother. It's been weeks since my accident and my memories are coming back to me faster than anyone could have predicted. When the plane lands, I walk through the airport with my phone pressed against my ear.

"Hello...hello...who is this?" She greets me.

"Mum" I flinch at the sound of my shaking voice.

"...Halia?" My mother gasps

"I uh just got in from Boston. I'm in Atlanta, Mum and I think we need to talk" I admit, "I need you...can we meet somewhere?"

The sound of my mother sobbing fills my ears.

"Oh, Halia, thank you...Yes, of course we can meet. Where are you now?"

"At the airport"

"Okay, catch a cab to The Florence East Restaurant, I'll meet you there" she weeps.

My stomach knots as I'm forced to listen to my mothers tears. How could have present day me do this to her?

I nod "okay I'll see you there"

***

As soon as I step foot in the restaurant, I search the crowd for the woman that I've missed so dearly.

"Mum!" I cry once I spot the woman. I immediately ran up to my mum and give her a hug, "we need to talk"

"Whats changed Halia?" Her eyes are wide and voice is shaky, "I mean, the last time I saw you...you hated me"

"Mum, I was hit by a car a few weeks ago and I can't remember...much of the last six years" I explain, "I came here to ask you for your help. I need to remember and if I can't then I need someone to be honest about what happened to my life"

"God, Halia" she sobs, "this isn't some kind of game is it? To see if I've changed? Some way for you to test me?"

I shake my head violently.

"No, Mum" I sniff, "this isn't a joke or some kind of prank, I don't know who I am anymore"

There's a moment of silence whilst my mother processes what I have explained.

"You...really can't remember anything?" she asks.

"My memories are coming back slowly. Anything that I can't remember, I've been asking other people but I don't know who's lying to me. I feel like everyone is. I need to know the truth about my life" I explain.

She nods slowly as taking a seat at the nearby table, I sit across from her slowly.

"What have you been told about me?" Mum wonders.

I shrug.

"I know that you cheated on dad with my college professor, you left my dad, married Hank then disappeared"

She nods slowly.

"Disappeared" she scoffs. "So what do you need to know?"

"I need you to tell me about my life" I beg, "well the parts you were there for. Hank told me the stuff about you and him but I don't know anything about me. Like why the hell am I in therapy over some guy?"

"No one told you what happened with Dean?" She furrows her brows.

"So you know what happened then?" My eyes widen.

"Of course, I do" she sighs. "Why won't anyone tell you?"

I shrug, shaking my head slowly.

"Daniel thinks it's better if I remember everything on my own" I explain.