Page 135 of Amnesia

I was imagining things. With a small shake, I turned back to leave.

“He loves Sadie. Not you.”

I whirled around when she spoke again, rushed to the bed, leaned over her, and pressed my face close to hers. No reaction at all.

An eerie feeling stole over me, and my stomach began to tremble. “He does love me,” I whisper-yelled at her. “I am Sadie. Why don’t you wake up and tell everyone that!”

Maintaining her rigid position, her eyes still wide and doll-like, her hand shot out and grabbed my wrist. Nothing else about her moved.

“You aren’t Sadie,” she said, her voice sort of like a moan. The stiff position of her mouth barely changed. “Not her.”

Shuddering, I snatched my arm out of her grasp and stumbled back, falling onto my butt. Instantly, I surged up and stared at her, chest heaving. “I am!” I yelled. “I am Sadie.”

She didn’t move or reply; she just lay there like a wax figure, as if she hadn’t spoken at all.

I whirled around and rushed from the room. She was faking! I knew it! And I’d felt sorry for her. How dare she try and play me—play us all this way?

“She’s awake!” I shrieked, rushing into the hall. “She’s faking!”

Dr. Beck came from around the counter, followed closely by a few nurses. Eddie rushed to my side.

“She’s awake!” I demanded again, pointing at the door.

Doctors and nurses ran into the room. Even the officer stationed at the door went inside.

“What happened?” Eddie implored, looking me over for injury.

“She grabbed me,” I said. “And she…” My voice trailed away. Eddie was watching me, encouraging me to finish.

He loves Sadie. Not you. You aren’t Sadie.

Her words suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks. I stumbled back, my knees suddenly weak.

“Amnesia…” Eddie worried, catching me by the arms, supporting all my weight. “What happened in there?” he asked again, lifting me into his arms.

I pressed my face into his chest. Tears squeezed out from the corners and ran crookedly down my face. Why would she say something so horrible to me? Hadn’t she already taken enough?

Now she wanted to take my identity. My future.

Dr. Beck came back out into the hall, a frown darkening his features.

“Well?” I demanded.

“I’m sorry, but her condition is unchanged. Are you sure she became responsive?”

“She grabbed me!” I insisted. “She spoke!”

“What did she say?” Eddie asked, concerned.

I looked up into his blue eyes, his patient, caring face. I knew he told me it didn’t matter who I was… but what if it did? What if I told him what Widow West said and it changed everything?

Worse yet, what if she was lying, trying one last time to hurt me, and I really was Sadie, just like I remembered?

So many unknowns.

“I…” I glanced at Dr. Beck. He too was waiting for an answer. “I couldn’t understand what she said. It was more like moaning.”

Yes, I lied. But hadn’t I earned the right to lie if it meant protecting myself?

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