Chapter Fifteen

It had been almost two months since I first woke up in the hospital, and I was almost ready to be given the okay to go home. They had started me on intensive physical therapy a week after I arrived, to help get the strength to slowly return to my muscles. After sitting in bed for so long, you tended to lose a lot of strength in your body. It was worst then having your entire leg fall asleep. I also had a lot of cracked and broken bones to repair.

After about a month, I could walk without any help, but I still tired easily, so they had given me a wheelchair to use when I could no longer stand or walk. Sebastian and I took advantage of that, flying through the empty halls early in the morning or late at night, until someone caught us and escorted us back to my room. Though I wasn't allowed visitors after a certain time, due to my condition, I was allowed one friend or family member to stay with me.

I had chosen Sebastian, much to my mother's dismay, because out of all the people who had come to see me over the weeks; my father, my aunt and cousin, and a few other friends, he was the only one I had felt even the slightest bit comfortable around.

When the day finally came for me to go home, I was more nervous than I was excited. To be completely fair, I wasn't excited at all. I was about to arrive at a place I was supposed to call home, but felt like a stranger's house. With family members who had heads full of wonderful memories and stories, who I looked at like strangers.

A sleek, black car had met me out front, where my mother waited in the backseat, arms outstretched, and a smile on her face. I wasn't able to meet her smile, but I tried my best to meet her hug, though it felt like I was hugging a thin pole. Even though I had no memory of my mother, I had expected to at least feel something when I touched her. My mind could not remember, but my body should have. While I was glued to my hospital bed for the first few days after I had arrived, I had asked Sebastian to bring me a laptop.

At first, I had tried to search up my name, and see if there was any information on what had happened to me, but I had only discovered the truth of where I had come from. My parents were wealthy, my dad a very successful business men in several different departments that I didn't understand, and my mother was high in the fashion industry.

But there was nothing else.

After that, I tried to research memory loss, to get a better understanding of what I was to expect. A few different articles had told me that when a person has lost their memory, either due to trauma or medical reasons, it is very likely that they can regain parts of their memories, and over time, regain it completely. They had also said that being around people who were familiar to you in your 'past life', would allow your body to help your mind remember.

Nothing felt familiar when I was around my supposed family. When I had entered my room, I didn't feel anything towards the decorations on the walls, the pale cream curtains, or the overly large stuffed, king-size canopy bed that dominated the room.

"How do you feel, honey? Remember anything?" my mother asked me, and the hopeful tone in her voice pained me. Despite that, I looked at her and shook my head. I didn't try and hide how clueless and lost I had felt. She frowned, and her face dropped drastically. I wanted to reach out and hug her, but it still felt strange.

"Well, we just have to give it some time. Why don't you rest up, get familiar with your room and things again, and I'll come get you when dinner is ready." She smiled and rushed out the door before I could respond, even though being alone was exactly what I had wanted. I took a seat on my bed and touched the fabric of the comforter. I had to admit, I liked the way the room was decorated, and it seemed like it was within my somewhat known preferred style.

The more I looked around, the more everything had become familiar, but it didn't remind me of clear memories, it just felt like me, without my mind knowing how or why I felt that way. I finally mustered up the courage to walk over, and look at the pictures hung on the wall and placed on the desk and dresser. I obviously recognized myself in all the photos, and I noticed most of them were of Sebastian and I. A few others had my parents and I, and some with people I didn't recognize at all.

No matter how hard I gazed at their faces, my blind was blank. I stopped, once I eventually developed a headache from squinting so much. I then decided to look through drawers, in hopes that maybe I would find more evidence of myself, or even a cellphone. I was shocked when I had asked my mother at the hospital, if I could have my cellphone, and she and said I didn't have one, and had refused to allow me one. I had found it a little odd, given my age and wealth, that I didn't have a cellphone.

Then again, how would I know what was normal or not?

I had tried to laugh at the little joke to myself, but even I felt like it was too soon. I searched the drawers with no luck, only a few pieces of paper here and there, that only told me information I already knew about myself, or that were just mindless books and magazines I didn't really care for. I didn't even recognize the famous person on any of the covers, or the names of authors.

I felt even more frustrated then I had before. I flopped back on the bed, just as my mother knocked on the door, and called through to come in.

"Just wanted to let you know, dinner is ready and being served in the dining room." She stopped just outside the doorframe, and looked like she didn't dare go any further.

"Is it possible to eat in here? I'm starting to feel a little overwhelmed with everything, and things here are starting to feel familiar."

A spark of hope lit behind my mother's eyes and I hoped that meant she was going to allow me to stay in my room alone. She perked up and smiled brightly at me.

"Of course honey, that is wonderful to hear. I will have one of the housekeepers bring you're a plate and something to drink. What would you prefer?"

"Just water, please, nothing fancy." She nodded and practically bounded away. I let out a breath of relief and left the door open to wait for whoever to bring the plate of food. A small, middle-aged woman, with dark brown hair and kind grey eyes, arrived at the door shortly, with a plate of steaming food in her hands. She smiled at me and quietly walked in to place the food on my desk, before she bowed her head and left without a word.

I was a little taken back by her behavior. Since I had awoken in the hospital, everyone I had met had been all over me, always asking how I was, or if there was anything I needed. I had expected the same from anyone who worked in the manor, but her behavior was different, and slightly pleasing.

After I shook off the feeling, I walked over and started to devour the plate. I hadn't realized how hungry I was, until there was food in front of me, and it made me think back to the last thing I had ate, which was horrible, heated hospital food. Though I had imagined it was better then something they served in maybe prison, it was still pretty nasty.

I had wandered downstairs after my plate was finished. I wasn't sure how I was supposed to call someone to come take it, or if there even was anyone to do that. Regardless, I was able to do it on my own, even though I still wasn't that familiar with my 'home'. I had managed to find my way to the kitchen, and handed off my empty plate to one of the staff members, who already had a stack ready to be washed.

Before I could even exit the kitchen, my father was by the door, with a suspicious look in his eye. There was something he wanted to tell me, I could see it before he had even started talking.

"Ava, could I have a word with you?"

He didn't wait for my answer, and had started down the hall without looking back. I had seen no other choice but to follow him. He led me into the living room, and had gestured for me to take a seat on the sleek, leather loveseat.

"I understand you have gone through a lot, and are still very lost and confused as to who you are. Your mother and I are going to try and do everything that we can, to help you answer any questions you have, but we both know at the end of the day, the answers we give you may not be satisfying enough for you. We know you as our daughter, we have watched you grow for many years, and have been with you through every milestone." He had stopped and looked down abruptly, his face a few shades of red.

"Even I can admit, that before you lost your memory, you and I didn't have the greatest relationship. I never pushed you to embrace your different passions and interests, if anything all I did was try and hold you back. That isn't how a parent should be, and though you may not remember this, I still want to say I am truly sorry. I love you, Ava, and from here on out, I want to support you in anything you ever feel you want to do."

I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes, and for the first time since I had re-met my parents, I had such overwhelming feeling. It was like I knew what he was talking about, and I was overjoyed about it, although I had no idea why. He was right; I didn't have any memory of our relationship before, or any relationship at all. But I still felt something, and that was more than enough for me.

I crossed the room in a rush, and had flung myself at my father without a second thought. He wrapped his arms around me instantly, and we both managed to end up crying on each other's shoulder. After a little while, we had pulled apart and I resumed my spot on the couch.

"With that said, I wanted to talk to you about considering, maybe going back to school. You have already graduated high school, although I'm unsure of how much you might remember of your passions, your mother and I want to give you the freedom to explore the different options out there. Whatever comes to your mind, if you want to try it, we will support you."

I was a little taken back by what he was proposing. He was right, I had no idea what it was I wanted to do with my life, I barely knew anything about myself. They wanted to send me to school, for whatever I thought I wanted to do. But what if I discovered it wasn't what I wanted to do, then what? I couldn't ask them to fork over thousands of more dollars, to put me in school for another study that I may or may not like.

Was I even ready to socialize with others again?

"Take some time, think about it. Go through your stuff in your room, maybe talk to your friend Sebastian. I know the two of you were very close before, he should know a lot about what you liked, there's a reason you two are friends." My father smiled and nodded encouragingly, but I didn't feel very motivated. I still felt stuck, like I was trapped in someone else's body, living their life, but I had no memory of it.

I hated it.

I wanted to know what happened to me.

But no one was willing to tell me anything? Why? Was it really that bad?

I couldn't focus on what I wanted to do in life, I had too many questions about what happened in my past, and I couldn't move forward, without knowing.

I looked my father dead in the eyes. "I want to know what happened to me."

"W-what?" He was baffled.

"I can't move forward, unless I know what happened to me. I have too many questions, gaps in my memory that need to be filled, or else I don't think I can move on with my life."

My father sat there, as still as a statue, for what seemed like hours. He eventually blinked, and looked down for a few seconds.

"You were involved in a hit and run car accident," he muttered.

"Is that really all? Why keep that from me?"

Something passed through his eyes. "Because that isn't all. That's how you lost your memory, but we didn't hide everything because of that. We tried to hide what happened before the accident, and how you got in the middle of the road to begin with, in order to have even been hit like you were."

I assumed he saw my confusion and frustration, because a few seconds later, he called for a staff member to bring us a plate of coffee and finger sandwiches. I had a feeling it was going to be a long story. The staff member returned a few minutes later with the tray and hastily set it down, before he dismissed himself. I bet he could feel the tension in the room.

My father cleared his throat and had begun explaining.

"A week before your accident, you were kidnapped while out with Sebastian."

My heart stopped for a few seconds, my mind slowly tried to register that simple bit of information. I had been kidnapped. From what he had said so far, for a whole week. What the hell happened to me during that time? Did I only get my injuries from the accident?

"Before you panic, I'll continue explaining. The man who kidnapped you, he was a former partner of mine, the very one who helped build the wealth we sit on now. It was awhile back, before I had met your mother and you came along, and I was young and reckless. I let the power get to my head, once we took off together. I wanted it all to myself, because I selfishly thought I had put more work in then he did. I ripped everything out from underneath him, because let's say, half of what we were doing at the time in order to get funds, wasn't entirely legal."

"Are you serious?" I blurted out.

He held up a hand. "I know, but that is in the past. What I do now, and have done since meeting your mother, has been entirely legal, too the books."

I eyed him suspiciously, but motioned for him to continue.

"As I was saying, we had a few felonies against us, and I knew sooner or later, it was going to catch up with us. I didn't want to go down, and I didn't want to lose my wealth. So, I pushed him under the bus, and he was sent to prison for all the crimes I helped him commit, and I was a free man to move on with my fortune, meet your mother and settle down, have a nice family, while he rotted away in jail."

"So, this was all for revenge." It was more of a statement, rather than a question.

My father nodded slowly. "He wanted everything I owned, all my money, and ownership of my companies, in exchange for you."

I was afraid to ask if he had agreed.

"I know you're wondering, if I gave him everything. As you can see, I didn't. He gave me a week to decide, and I tried to drag that week out as long as I could, to formulate some sort of plan to get you back, without giving him what he wanted, and alerting him that I was going to involve the police. I knew that if he thought he was safe, he wasn't going to hurt you. But he doesn't think when he is desperate, and that put you in a dangerous situation."

"So, what happened then?"

"Unfortunately, I know nothing else, up until the phone call I received from the police, saying they found you in the middle of the road. Someone had apparently found you and reported the accident, but when police arrived, there was no one to be found. We assumed you had tried to escape, and stumbled into the road in a fluster, and didn't see the car oncoming."

As he told me everything, a small memory popped into the back of my head, and I tuned him out to focus on it.

I had remembered getting hit! I was standing in the middle of the road, and I had been wearing a dress or something, but it was dirty and slightly tattered. I remembered the bright lights, and freezing in the middle of them, before everything had gone black.

I tried to focus on the memory harder, and what my father had explained. Someone had called for help, there had been someone else there right after I got hit. Who was it?

Ava!

Someone had screamed my name. I couldn't remember seeing anything, but I remembered that after I had blacked out, someone called my name over again.

Fuck, no, no. Ava, please, stay with me!

It was a boy, and they had been crying. Crying for me? If it was someone who cared for me, why hadn't they stayed when police showed up?

"Was the caller a male?" I suddenly asked.

"Y-yes. How did you know?"

"I remember a bit, there was a boy there."

My father suddenly sat upright, right on the edge of his seat. "What else do you remember?"

"Well, not much else really. I just remember he called out to me, but I don't remember what he looked like, or even how he sounded. I just remember what he said, and hearing him call out for me after I got hit."

"Can you remember if there were any other voices?"

I racked my brain and tried my best to bring the memory back up, but there was nothing. I shook my head and frowned.

"It's alright, sweetheart, don't push yourself. Everything will come back naturally, your mother and I have faith." He reached over and grasped my hand. I tried to offer a small smile back, but it was impossible to muster.

"I think I'm going to call Sebastian, see if he can tell me anything I liked…before the accident."

My father frowned sadly, but didn't push the subject anymore. He gave me one last hug before I dismissed myself. Once I was outside the door, I rushed to my room to try and avoid running into anyone else. I had to get out of the house, and Sebastian was the only person who could help me do that.

He had picked up immediately, and agreed to be outside my door as soon as possible. "What's up?" He met me at the door with a grin.

"Can we go somewhere? Maybe somewhere I used to like going before?" I asked timidly. He had eagerly nodded his head, but suggested I mention it to my father at least.

"You will stay with her the entire time, don't even try and wander off. Understood? I will be assigning a body guard, he will drive you where you need to go, and will have my number on speed-dial if anything goes wrong." I had known it was a mistake to tell him the second I saw him. Sebastian and I stood there and nodded consistently, until he was done his lecture.

I could understand a small fraction of what my father was feeling. Not that I knew what had happened to me, even before the accident, I understood why they had been so overbearing. For all they knew, I wasn't going to make it. First I had been kidnapped, then I was hit by a car. I couldn't imagine the horrors they went through, as parents.

Sebastian and I still all but raced out the door. There was a bulky black SUV parked out front when we arrived, with a tall, very well built guard standing next to it. I timidly slid into the backseat of the car, slightly intimidated by the body guard, even though he was meant to protect me, and scare everyone else. I had a feeling, he was going to do that job beautifully.

I allowed Sebastian to direct the guard, whose name was Alex, as he had later revealed, to a place he claimed was my favorite place of all times. I had a feeling he was right, when we pulled up to a gorgeous looking park, littered in an array of rainbow flowers. Any kind of type you could think of, it was there. I had been shocked to see that there weren't many people walking around, even though it was a beautiful day out, and the park was relatively clean of trash and annoying pigeons.

"You used to always like coming here, this place gave you inspiration," Sebastian explained as we had walked around the park.

"Really? For what?" I asked.

"You're a really big reader, as I told you before, but sometimes you also liked to write and draw comics, you're a really good artist. Living a wealthy life isn't all that great, and you sometimes liked to try and escape from that, so you always came here to get away."

"Were you with me?"

Sebastian choked on his spit and gagged. "W-what? N-no, we were never, like – I mean, what do you mean?"

"I just meant, did you ever come here with me? When I needed to escape?" I wanted to ask him what that was all about, and what he was trying to say, but decided not to push it. Even though I felt comfortable around Sebastian, I still didn't know – or remember – him entirely.

"O-oh, yeah, sometimes I did." He looked away from me and ran a hand through his hair. "Is there anywhere else you wanted to go, or for me to show you? We can spend the whole day going around and visiting all the places I knew you liked before, if you want."

"Yeah, that would be great," I said and grinned up at him. It would be a great way to distract myself from everything else, and maybe help bring back a few snippets of memories like before.

I wanted to remember who that boy was, and why he had been crying over me. If it was someone I had even cared for, I couldn't forgive myself if I just forgot them, and something told me, he was someone I had cared for, a great deal. I don't know what told me that, I could just feel it.

I stopped and took one more fleeting look at the park, before I allowed Sebastian to lead me back to the car. Just as I had turned to leave, I suddenly felt a prickle in the back of my neck, and got the sense that someone was watching me. I stopped again and looked back out over the field, but with the few people that lurked around, no one looked suspicious, or like they were watching me.

Yet even as I had slid into the car and drove away, I could still feel their eyes on the back of my head.

The same feeling I had, when I was in the hospital, and imagined seeing a man at the door.