Page 37 of When Hearts Remember

I’ll even teach you how to swim. Help you get over your fear. I’d never let you sink.

My breath hitches as tears gather in my eyes. My fears. My mottos. He remembers them. I really want to meet him, but I desperately don’t want to disappoint him.

An idea occurs to me and my fingers fly across the keys.

Alex

How about I meet you halfway? Give me some time to get my shit together. When you get promoted to finance manager, I’ll meet you in person. By then, I’ll be in college and I’ll figure out what I want to do with my life.

A minute passes by. I see three dots appearing, then disappearing. Finally, he replies.

Delaney

What if we run into each other before then? Would you run in the opposite direction?

I grin.

Alex

Finally, a what-if question from you. And don’t think I didn’t notice how you never answered my last question. If a rock smacks me on the head and I don’t remember you, what will you do?

Delaney

Maybe I’m saving the answer to tell you in person. And I think it’s time for you to answer one of my ownwhat-ifs, don’t you think?

I stare at his text and bite my lip. The answer is obvious.

Alex

Well, if we run into each other, then it’s meant to be. And who am I to argue against fate?

Chapter 12

Present: Eight Years After the Accident—Twenty-Eight Years Old

Sweat drips off myforehead, my lungs heaving in loud gasps of air as I stare at my enemy in front of me.

The box. The crate. The one foot tallmonster.

Art and I just finished our therapy session for today, where I failed at the box jump yet again. I’m supposed to relax and let my muscles rest before the grueling afternoon sessions I’m dreading.

Cognitive games, memory cards and drills, looking at photos and describing the things I see or remember, virtual reality therapy—all exercises for my mind.

It’s been months and months of it, but I’ve made no progress in recovering the memories lost between the ages of sixteen and twenty. Instead, I only have those random flashes of screams and rushing water. Then there’s the blistering headaches, gut-wrenching fear, and near panic attacks whenever I try too hard.

It’s like my mind is trying to tell me to stay away.

The last two water therapy lessons have also been a disaster. I couldn’t get into the pool. I’d throw up before my toes touched the water. Art has canceled those sessions for now. They’re doing more harm than good.

But I’m Alexis Vaughn. I may be handicapped, twenty-eight-years-old with no college degree, and no job prospects, but dammit, I’m not a coward.

I won’t run away from the past.

My eyes dart to the door and I listen for any footsteps. I’m not supposed to be exercising on my own—someone is always supposed to monitor me.

To catch me if I fall.

It seems like I’ve been surrounded by people who want to catch me when I ultimately fall my whole life.

---