Can you Remember? #Wattys2016

Chapter 2: What Happened?

UPDATED:  12/10/18

"...car wreck...amnesia... possible slight concussion. . ."

"...how long? . . . will she be okay?"

"...not sure... keep an eye on her."

Hearing bits and pieces of the conversation going on, I realize that I must be coming out of my dark hole on again. My eyes flutter open, and I see my parents and the doctor talking while the other three people are sitting in chairs against the wall sleeping. I look around the room and see many monitors with wires that are all connected to me in various places monitoring my vitals. Trying to lift my arms up, I let out a small whimper of pain because my body aches all over. The adults stop their conversation, hearing me, and the doctor excuses himself and leaves the room gently closing the door behind him.

"Mom...dad...where I am? What happened?" I asked them still very confused of the situation at hand.

"You're in the hospital, but you're all right except for a broken arm, broken leg, and a bit of amnesia. You've been out for about a week or so, so the doctor believes you were in a slight coma. He also said your breaks are minor and that he can remove your casts before they discharge you from the hospital," my mother replied looking at me with concerned eyes.

"Amnesia?" I whimper out a bit frightened. How much did I forget? And what the hell happened to me? How did all of this shit happen to me?

"The doctor said that you probably forgot the last seven months since you do not recognize Sage, James, and Ann," my father said pointing to each person in turn. "You are lucky that you didn't forget anymore." He looks at my mother with a sad look in his eyes. She turns to look at the sleeping form of the person called Sage and shakes her head in sympathy. I watch as she walks over to him and brushes the hair from his face and lets out more tears. Why did she feel such pity over this boy? Don't get me wrong, I don't want her pity either, but I'm her daughter; she should be concerned with what's wrong with me.

"What happened to me?" I asked them trying to figure out what happened, why I was in such pain, and why I do not remember. It was time I get to the bottom of this. I've been wondering what the hell's going on since I woke up briefly that first time. They exchanged a look before my mom turned to face me. She walks back over to me and takes my hand in between hers and rubs her thumb over my hand. It's a gesture I haven't seen her do since my grandmother died. Something must be terribly wrong.

"Last week, in the morning, you went for a drive with Sage, James, and Ann along an icy road. You and Sage were taking turns driving to prepare for your upcoming drivers' tests, and it was Sage's turn. An eighteen wheeler was driving on the road and happened to slip into the other lane because he lost control of the vehicle after hitting a patch of ice. It hit James's truck and tossed y'all into the nearby ditch. You guys were stuck out there for a hour until someone drove along and saw ya'll. They found y'all freezing and thought you were dead because you were so blue. Y'all were down the roads a way as if Ann and Sage tried to get you and James to a hospital but ran out of energy. The driver of the eighteen wheeler is currently in an induced coma to try and recover, but he's lucky to be alive right now. Your friends weren't unconscious like you, but they do have some broken bones and their memory seems to be fine," my mother told me silently crying as she did so. Her bottom lip wobbled, and her hands trembled. My father took her in his arms as she started to sob again, burying her head into his shoulder. He rubbed her back in soothing circles trying to calm her down. Although I don't get along well with my parents, I still don't like seeing my mother cry. It made me feel guilty even though I know nothing is my fault.

"Wait," I called out to them with my brain hurting from trying to wrap my mind around the situation. "How do I know those people?"

"Sage is, or was, your boyfriend, and James is his brother and Ann is his girlfriend."

"What!" I tried to shout out, but I was suddenly having trouble speaking. My throat was dry and wasn't used to being loud again. "I have a boyfriend?"

"Yes, but you only started dating him five months ago, so that's why you don't remember him," my mother sputtered out before sobbing loudly this time. It was beginning to annoy me. She kept crying over this random boy like he was her own sun. I don't want to see her crying over this; it was a waste of tears. My father, sensing my discomfort, took her out of the room so that she could compose herself, and her crying eventually woke up the guy she called James. Once they were out of the room, he came over and sat down on the edge of my hospital bed.

He has his hands folded in his lap and looks down at them before looking up at me. I could tell he was trying to formulate his thoughts into a coherent sentence, but he looked as awful as I feel. "You really don't remember do you?" he asked me his eyes pleading desperately for me to prove him wrong. All he wants is for me to say no to help his brother. It wasn't genuine concern for me.

"I'm sorry, but I don't. My parents said that I'm friends with you guys and that I'm dating your brother, but I don't remember or know you. Sorry to let you down," I reluctantly told him. He seemed like a pretty decent guy, and I didn't really want to let him down; I mean he does care for his family. It's not my concern though about what happens to them now. I don't know them.

"Well, we'll be here for you to give help if you need it. Even if you don't remember us, we remember you and all the memories we have with you. Just keep this in mind: Sage will not give up on you. He's going to try the hardest to help you get your memory back and get back together with you. Just try to give us a chance even though you have no memory of us." He got up off the bed and came to give me a hug. It was awkward, and I didn't hug him back. I don't like when people I don't know hug me. People touching me always weirds me out, and only people close to me get the gift of hugs. He gave me another look and then turned back to where the other two were and fell back asleep next to Ann with his arms wrapping protectively around her waist.

I looked up at the ceiling of the hospital room and let out a sigh. Bringing my hands up to my eyes, I felt small tears coming out of my eyes. Sniffling, I thought to myself, 'What happened to me? What am I not getting?' I need to find out what happened in the months I can't remember. How am I supposed to know what all has happened? I just don't want anything to be more different than it already is. My gut is telling me that I'm in for a rude awakening, but I don't feel like battling that shit right now. I rather just sleep and hope it gets rid of the pounding in my skull.

Pulling the blanket over my head, I cast one last glance at the three people before shutting myself off from them. I want to be alone and don't want them here with me. It's easier to be alone and mourn for the things I don't know that I've lost.