Page 5 of Help Me Remember
A deep sigh from one of them.
“And if she doesn’t?” Addison asks. “Then we just lie to her? We have to keep everything from her?”
Mom sniffs, and I imagine she’s crying. “It’s horrible, but there’s no other way. The prosecutor was adamant we have to do it this way or there will be no chance at a case. Right now, they have nothing.”
Case for what? What is going on?
“What did Holden say about her waking up?”
“He pulled her off the sedation medication a few hours ago, so now it’s up to her body to decide when she’s ready,” Mom replies. “I’m hoping it’ll be soon.”
“Me too. I have to get home to Elodie. Jenna has been there all day, and I promised her I’d be home before dinner.”
“Of course, sweetheart. Can you wait a few more minutes?”
Who is Elodie?
I push against the bonds trapping me in this state of in-between, wanting to ask them what they’re discussing.
“Maybe another ten,” Addison says with a heavy sigh. “I also have to meet with the funeral home.”
Funeral? Who died?
I push harder, demanding my eyelids do what I tell them to do because I have to wake up. There is no concept of time as I work at it, but finally, I get my body to cooperate enough that my fingers twitch.
“Brie?” my mother calls my name.
Someone, probably my mom, is clutching my hands, and I squeeze, hoping she understands that I’m trying.
More time passes before I get my eyes to open and find my mom watching me with tears in her eyes. Addison is still here, and she gives me a soft smile.
“Hey,” Addy says.
“W-where is Isaac?” I get the words out, unsure of how long I can keep myself awake.
Her lip trembles and then a tear falls down her cheek. Addison shakes her head. “Do you not remember?”
I shake my head, keeping my eyes open by sheer will. “I want to. But I can’t. I need to...see him. Please . . . just tell me.”
Even before she says anything, I feel the loss of my brother. Something is keeping him from me and nothing would if I needed him.
“He’s gone.” Her voice cracks around the words. “He died, and . . . I—” A sob breaks from her. “I didn’t want to tell you.”
No. That’s not possible. My brother is the strongest man I know. He can survive anything. I shake my head, refusing to believe it.
“No. He’s not! Stop. Just go get him.”
My mother’s hand rests on my cheek, and I turn to her. “It’s true, baby. Your brother was with you, and he was killed.”
“No!” I yell and try to pull my other hand free of her hold. No, this can’t be. Not him. Not Isaac. He’s . . . he’s my best friend.
They’re lying. They have to be because there’s no way my brother died. “Please,” I beg.
“I’m so sorry,” Addison cries, her head falling to the bed. “I know you love him, and he loved you so much, Brielle.”
My heart aches so much that I wish I hadn’t woken up at all. I wish I could stay in the nothingness where I felt free and peaceful and there wasn’t this crushing sadness pressing on my chest so hard it felt as if my ribs were about to splinter.
“I know this is a lot for you to process,” Mom says quickly. “We almost lost you too, Brielle, and . . .” Her brown eyes turn to Addison.
