Page 63 of Amnesty

“Yes, but some things not even sedatives can cover up. She’s been asking for her parents. She doesn’t understand why they aren’t there.”

My eyes closed. “No one told her?”

“To be honest…” Maggie began. “I thought it would be better coming from you.”

I sighed.

“I know it’s a lot to ask.” Maggie fretted. “And if you can’t, I completely understand. She’s just calmer around you, something that became evident when you left. You were always the closest person to her beside her parents. Even more than me. I’ll tell her, but maybe if you’re just there…”

“I’ll do it.” I agreed. “I’ll tell her.”

“Are you sure?” Maggie said.

I nodded. “How was she when you left?”

“She made me promise to call you, ask you to come back.”

The muscles in my neck were tight. I rubbed at them with my hand while I debated on what to do. “Am needs me,” I whispered.

“I know,” Maggie said. “Maybe just call the hospital and talk to Sadie. Tell her you’ll be there in the morning. Maybe just hearing that from you will help.”

God.It wasn’t enough. Not really. When I brought Amnesia in, I sat in the waiting room the entire night and half the next day. I had to force myself to just go take a piss. If she’d been awake, if she’d been asking for me, I would have fought everyone there just to get back into her room.

And now Sadie—the actual Sadie—was here, and I wasn’t there.

“I’ll call right now.” I promised. “Why don’t you go get some rest? It’s been a long day.”

“I’ll go back to the hospital tomorrow.” I heard the worry in her voice. “Oh, I wish Ann was here.”

My chest tightened. “So do I.” On impulse, I left the doorway and hugged Maggie. She embraced me for a few seconds before sniffling and pulling back.

“I’ll see you in the morning. Help yourself to coffee or anything in the kitchen, okay?”

“Thanks.” I nodded, softly closing the door.

I took maybe two steps before Amnesia’s voice stopped me.

“You should go.”

My body froze, head rotating toward where she lay. She was still bundled beneath the covers, but her body was turned toward me and the door, her eyes wide open.

“What?” I asked dumbly.

“Go to the hospital, be with Sadie.”

“I’ll go in the morning. First thing.”

“I know you want to be there, and knowing she’s asking for you is probably killing you. You waited a long time to find her, Eddie. Just go.”

I couldn’t tell how she felt about it. Her voice was even and the room was dark. But she sounded sure.

“I want to be here with you,” I admitted, feeling oddly ashamed. Sadie needed me.

Her pale arm appeared from beneath the blankets, stretching out toward me.

I took her hand. The mattress dipped when I sat on the edge. “I know.”

A low rumble vibrated through the room. I glanced toward the windows. A flash of light cracked through the dark. “It’s going to storm,” I murmured.

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