Part 5: A sheer light blinded me, making all of the blackness disappear. I heard ruffled voices in the distance. "It's all my fault!" someone sobbed. "No, it's not," a reassuring voice said. I slowly opened my eyes, trying to catch a glimpse of what these two people looked like. "She's awake..." I heard the reassuring woman say. "She's awake!" She ran over to me an hugged me, making me flinch in pain. I slowly pushed her off of me softly. "Who...are you?" I asked. They gasped in unison. Who are these people? What am I even doing here!? "You don't...know who I am?" the girl who was crying spoke. "Am I supposed to?" I asked. This was really starting to freak me out. "It's me!" she cried. "Rachel! I'm-" She stopped talking. A doctor rushed in and pushed the two women out of the room. "No!" they cried. "Please! Let us talk to her!" "We can't," the doctor said sternly. "We need to check her out. She shouldn't be acting like this. She should still have her memory." Amnesia ... it is a barren disease, as empty and lifeless as a desert. It is a thief of hearts and souls and memories. If we lose our memory, we lose ourselves. Forgetting is one of the symptoms of death. Without memory, we cease to be human beings. I don't know who anyone is anymore. I don't know who I am anymore.
Part 6: There are few things I am certain of. One. My name is Taylor Long. Two. I was in a car crash. And three. I have completely lost my memory. I hear some doctors say it's only temporary, but I know it's only to comfort my family. Other doctors don't even know what to say; the brain is such a complex object. It's like a deep maze. You spend hours trying to figure it out, but you end up back where you began. Alone. Frightened. Confused. I wearily opened my eyes, waking up from the anesthesia that filled my lungs. A toned boy, around my age, sat in the corner of the room, playing on his phone. "Who are you?" I asked. He looked up at me with a sad look on his face. His eyes were bloodshot, looking like he was crying. "M-michael," he staggered, stepping over to my hospital bed. "I- thought they were kidding...you know, about you losing your memory." "Sorry," I said, looking into his eyes. They made me want to remember him badly. "Can you tell me anything about my life?" "Erm," he said. "Yes. We used to date a couple years ago-" "So you're my ex-boyfriend?" I cut him off. "Yes," he said, pretending to checkhis phone for messages. "But...I still have feelings for you. And I know I'm dating Rachel-" "That girl who was in here when I woke up?" I cut him off again. I thought he would be irritated by now. "Yes," he said calmly. "Anyways, I only asked her out because I thought it would make you jealous. And I know I was wrong to do it, but the way I feel about you...it's like nothing I've ever felt before..." He gave me a minute to take it all in. He dated Rachel to get me jealous. Was I jealous before the accident? Am I jealous...now? How could I be? I barely know him! "Okay," I finally said. "How about a date when I get out of the hospital? So I can see how it goes." "Of course," he smiled, then started to frown. "I've got to go break the news to Rachel, though...she's not going to like this." I smiled a bit at his frown. It looked so weird...I can't even describe it. He walked out of the room, presumably to look for Rachel. A couple minutes later, a girl walked in whom I haven't seen yet. "Oh my gosh, Taylor!" she screeched. "What happened to you!?" "They tell me it was a car accident," I said sternly. "May I ask who you are?" "Oh my gosh, I'm sorry!" she screeched yet again. "I forgot you lost your memory! I'm Nicole!" "Hey, Nicole," I faked a smile. Her high-pitched voice irritated me a bit. "How did I know you?" "We have some classes together," she said, blowing a bubble from her fruity gum. "Okay," I said. I really wanted her to leave, but before I could say anything, a boy walked in. "Spencerrrrrr!" Nicole shrieked even louder before. It took everything I could not to unplug these IVs and get up and duct tape her mouth shut. The boy, or Spencer, walked right past her and came up to me. A doctor walked in and asked Nicole to leave because there was only one visitor allowed at the time. She went off with the doctor to the waiting room. I looked back at Spencer, who was tucking a strand of hair behind my ears. This felt wrong since I was supposed to be going on a date with Michael when I get released. "I thought you were going to die," his eyes teared up a bit. "Well, I didn't," I said defensively. "Who are you, anyways?" "Spencer," he said. "I...you used to like me. I'm dating Nicole." "That high-pitched weasel?" I asked. "I'm sorry, but her voice irritates me." "Yes," he rolled his eyes. "But I'm breaking up with her. I caught her...kissing another guy. But I have my eye on another girl." "Oh," I said. What else could I say? "Do you want to know who that girl is?" he said questioningly. "I doubt I know her," I said. "You know, since I don't remember anyone." "Oh, I think you do," he countered. "I seriously doubt it," I retorted. "But fine, tell me." He took a deep breath, looking at the door to make sure there wasn't anyone there. "It's you," he breathed out.
Part 7: I sat there for a minute, studying him for any signs that he was joking. His expression remained serious. "Spencer," I started. "I'm sorry...but I'm already going out with Michael when I get released." "Oh," was all he said. "Please just...leave," I said. "Michael's coming back in a minute." Without a word, Spencer got up and walked out the door. On his way out, he passed Michael. I saw the two of them glare at each other hatefully. Michael came in my hospital room, looking at the ground and shaking his head. "What's with you and Spencer?" I studied his face. "I mean, the way you guys were...glaring at each other." "Just old history," he explained. "Anyways, I broke it off with Rachel. She...didn't really take it well. I can't wait for out date!" "Me either," I smiled. "It's going to be one long day!" It took him a minute to figure out what I meant. "You're getting out tomorrow!" he finally exclaimed. "That's great!" We hugged each other gracefully, both obviously excited for our date. It will be nice to hang out with Michael...he felt like the only one that would tell me the truth about my life. Tomorrow was going to be perfect. Or so I thought...