Page 74 of Amnesia

The sense of loss I felt plagued me. I didn’t know where to turn or even what to think. I thought I had the answers, but instead, I just had more questions.

Who is she? Where did she come from? Who does she belong to?

I stopped walking and flopped back against a hard, cold wall. The back of my head hit the blocks, and my eyes drifted to the stark white ceiling with fluorescent lighting.

After today, I couldn’t fool myself anymore. I couldn’t convince myself or anyone else. The hope I had was shattered; only mysteries remained.

This wasn’t the girl I lost long ago. This wasn’t a second chance.

My body skidded down the wall as my legs gave out. I slid until my ass hit the floor, and I rested my elbows on my knees.

Everyone told me. I was warned, cautioned, even pleaded with. Sometimes the only thing your ears hear is the words whispered by your heart. Sometimes the only truth you want to hear is a beautiful lie.

Amnesia wasn’t the girl I lost, and I wasn’t sure where that left me or how it made me feel.

I was numb, so numb. And so incredibly tired.

I sat there in the quiet corridor for an unknown amount of time, my head in my hands, my heart in my throat. Images of the way she looked as life drained out of her body, gasping for breath as welts disfigured her skin. I recalled how she clutched onto me in the ambulance, how her body relaxed the instant she realized I had no intention of putting her down.

Her kisses.

Her laugh.

Who is she?

Squeaking shoes slapped against the shiny floor, intruding upon my thoughts. They came closer, but I didn’t bother looking up. I hoped whoever it was would go the hell away.

“Eddie!” Mary Beth gasped. “I’ve been looking for you forever!”

The alarm in her voice made me surge up off the floor. “What is it?”

Mary Beth was breathing heavy, as if she actually had been looking for me for a while. How long had I been down here? I blinked, glancing around. Where the hell was I?

“It’s Amnesia,” she replied, breathless. “She’s asking for you.”

All the confusion and sorrow blew from my mind with the gust of those words. Rushing forward, I asked, “What’s wrong with her?”

“Someone was in her room… Someone tried to hurt her.”

“What?” I spat, fear making my chest hurt. I took off running, my shoes now making the terrible sound.

Mary Beth yelled out her room number behind me, and I kept going, suddenly not exhausted anymore.

Amnesia needed me. I’d been gone too long.

The answer to a question that plagued me smacked me so hard in the middle I almost stumbled as I rushed up the stairs.

Who is she?

She is mine.

I burst onto her floor and sprinted down the hall. Ellen was at the door, motioning me with her hand, a frown on her face.

I could hear Am crying from outside the door, and panic spurred me on.

“Amnesia!” I bellowed, sliding around the doorframe and into the room.

“Eddie,” she cried. A hiccup caught her breath.

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