Blurred Memory

The fog was patchy and persistent, it felt as if Theresa stepped in a pit of endless path.

"Where am I? How did I end up here?" Theresa pondered, trying to see through the swirling fog. From its midst, she saw a figure of a man. Fair in complexion, he stood around 6 ft with an average body, and his eyes glistened silver like a full moon. He bore his gaze on Theresa, his face showing no emotions.

"Who is he?" Theresa plodded towards the man. Her heart throbbed little by little as she approached the man. Taking few steps, Theresa was finally facing the man. Her throbbing heart felt a slight pain as a sense of familarity flowed in the silver eyes of the man.

"Do I know this man?" Theresa wondered as she caressed his cheek. His skin was soft, shining brightly even in the dense fog. One thing was clear and that was she felt a strange pull towards this man. Theresa lightly slided her thumb in his upper eyelid. "Who are you?" She whispered, that's when he vanished in a thin air.

"Huh?" Shrinking back to the reality, Theresa opened her eyes and found herself in her room, surrounded by concerned faces.

"You're awake." Demi jumped to hug her sister. Theresa panted heavily, a drop of sweat dripped from her forehead.

"Did you had a bad dream, my Ther?" Brooklyn, Theresa's granny wiped her forehead with a silk handkerchief which edges were woven with blue thread, forming a crescent moon. Brooklyn dusky eyes shone with great concern for her dear granddaughter Theresa.

"No, I didn't. I'm fine." Theresa rubbed Demi's back as she gave a thin smile to Brooklyn.

"Then it's good. Take some rest, I'll bring Chicken Soup for you." Brooklyn grinned as wrinkles formed around the corner of her eyes. Despite being a Septuagenarian(A person between 70 and 79), she was physically and mentally sound. She went out of the room.

Theresa sighed. She recalled the man's face, and his delicate features. For some reason, she felt as if she knew that man. "I have seen that man before but I don't remember where. It seemed as if he knew me too. But how did he vanish just like that? It wasn't a dream, was it?" Theresa frowned her eyebrows, it was surprising to her. "How's that possible?" She uttered it out.

"What do you mean?" Demi was confused, she shook Theresa by her shoulders. "You are so lost in your thoughts that you forget that I am right here." Demi folded her arms and compressed her lips.

"I'm sorry, Demi." Theresa squeezed Demi's hand and gave an apologetic look.

"If you make a face like that then there's no way I cannot accept your apology. You're forgiven but next time make sure that you don't get too lost in your thoughts." Demi pinched Theresa's cheeks as they both laughed together.

"I see, you two are laughing all by yourselves." Brooklyn entered inside the room, carrying a bowl filled with hot Chicken soup. "I'm afraid I've to cut your conversation short."

"Huh?" Theresa and Demi looked at each other's puzzled face.

"Yup, I need to talk alone with my Ther. So, Demi." Brooklyn raised her eyebrows to the exit.

"Okay, I get it. I'm out. But promise me, Granny, you won't lecture her for hours." Demi teased Brooklyn.

"You." Brooklyn tried to chase Demi but she ran away laughing. Theresa chuckled. Brooklyn gave a solemn look at Theresa. Theresa cleared her throat, "Demi exactly knows how to get on your nerves."

"Well, she certainly does." Brooklyn took a full spoon of the soup and slowly blew it. "Aahhhh! Open your mouth, Ther?"

"It's fine, Granny. I can eat it on my own."

"I know that right but I insist." Brooklyn brought the spoon near Theresa's mouth.

Theresa nodded her head and opened her mouth.

"Good girl." Brooklyn gave a big smile. She fed Theresa without speaking further.

"Granny, I'm already full." Theresa burped and pointed at her stomach.

"Stop acting like a baby, Ther. It's the last spoon." A crease formed in Brooklyn's eyebrows.

"It is the fifth time of you saying this. I cannot eat now." Theresa made a baby face.

Brooklyn cracked up into a big laugh. "Okay, I'm no longer deceiving you. This is the final one."

Theresa sighed and opened her mouth.

"Excellent, Ther." Brooklyn wiped her mouth with a wet tissue.

"Granny, I can wipe my mouth." Theresa nagged like a baby.

"I know that right." Brooklyn winked. "Now, time for bed. Goodnight." Brooklyn kissed Theresa on her forehead.

"You gotta be kidding me, I was asleep for hours. I'm not going to sleep again." Theresa threw her blanket.

"Don't be stubborn, Ther. You need to take more rest." Brooklyn carried the empty bowl.

"I'm not sick, Granny. See, I'm fit and fine." Theresa stood up and stretched her body.

"Physically you are fine but internally you are wounded by Ka..." Brooklyn halted in her sentence. The lively atmosphere suddenly changed into the one filled with suspicions.

"After that, what, granny? How am I wounded internally? Whom do you refer as 'Ka'?" Theresa flooded Brooklyn with questions.

"No..... nothing." Brooklyn looked tensed as she hurriedly exited the room, leaving Theresa's questions unanswered."

"Granny..... granny. You have to give my answers." Theresa followed Brooklyn, descending from the stairs.

"I told you it's nothing." Brooklyn glanced one last time at Theresa before disappearing in the kitchen.

Theresa stopped in her way to kitchen as she noticed an unexpected sight in her living room. She changed her path and directed to the living room. "What are you guys doing here?"

Upon seeing Theresa, Marcellus and Demi stood up from their respective seats. She wasn't expecting someone else, who rather chose to seat quietly in the sofa. Despite facing his back, Theresa exactly knew the person, "Did you follow me this whole time?"

The person turned out to be none other than Egan. He slowly stood up and gave a short smile, "I missed you."