Memories

Adelyn has all her things packed and ready to go back home, she contemplates calling a driving service instead of the bus due to her limited mobility. Her left arm aches like crazy. They had stopped giving her pain medication yesterday and replaced it with a medication prescription slip ready to be filled. The pain was jarring with each and every step forcing her to walk at the brisk pace of a shamble as though she were the walking dead roaming the halls of this quiet hospital so early in the morning. Even though not many patients have woken up she could hear arguing from down the hallway, a familiar voice caught her by surprise. "I want to see my wife!"

"She's not your wife dear, you must listen to me!" the familiar voice echoes down the empty hall.

Adelyn attempts to ignore the clearly audible battle as she makes her way to the elevator.

"You're not even gay! How could that WOMAN be your wife?"

"That WOMAN is the love of my life! Whatever Del did I know it was not on purpose!"

"I forbid it!"

Adelyn stops short at the mention of her nickname, briefly she scrutinizes the conversation she just overheard. "Her wife? No that can't be, it was only a dream... A series of dreams, but still only a dream." the image of them holding each other warmly in the morning light upon the bed crossed her mind. Then the memory of her escape to the bus stop following soon after where Sandra had said quite frankly that they were married. "Those were definitely dreams, no matter how real it felt." her eyes fixed on the door with the voices, every fiber of her being is screaming 'Go to that room' she whispers audibly "I shouldn't." She looks to the elevator then back to the door "I've done enough damage already, I'd only make things worse for her." one last thought before stepping inside the elevator her cast tucked underneath her jacket. She heads home reluctantly. On her way out of the hospital she caught of few glares from passersby that suggest her popularity with the town is ever increasing. She put her head down racing out to meet the Uber she had requested, looking around for cameras she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw none.

The next day at work Adelyn's boss asks to speak with her alone. "You do this? " Mrs. Lin points to the the news article in the local paper.

"Ugh why are they so interested in this story, isn't there a murder to report instead. "Adelyn pushes the paper away from her sight.

"Not much happens here, so... you going to tell me about it or do I need to watch more about it on news?" Mrs. Lin insists pushing the paper back towards Adelyn.

"I ran a red light and got into a bad car accident, it put a woman into a coma for a year. She woke up though... even though the doctors didn't think she would." she looks to the floor obviously ashamed of herself.

"So all this about you being a drunk driver is not true?"

"It's not true, I promise. I was.... I was just distracted." Adelyn knew not to give to many details knowing it will be all over the office by lunch.

"You like this girl though?" remembering the drawings in Adelyn's notebook.

"What no, of course not!" her gut reaction was to deny anything homosexual in the workplace "I just spent a lot of time with her when I volunteered at the hospital. That's all."

"Don't worry I keep it secret. " giving a knowing smile she makes a motion to her mouth as if locking it with a key.

"It's not a secret I'm gay, I just don't talk about it." Adelyn getting defensive at the questioning.

"But your father big man, don't like that your gay? " Mrs. Lin continues her pursuit of gossip.

"How did you know that? " caught off guard Adelyn jerks her head up looking into Mrs. Lin's narrow dark eyes.

"I didn't, but now I do." Mrs. Lin giggles and shows her out of her office "Go back to work now, take mind off horrible accident. "

Adelyn slinks back to her desk throwing herself into her work hoping it will do just that, distract her.

_________

"Sandra be reasonable here, you know what I'm saying is the truth!" fervor in her voice Margret attempts to convince Sandra that Del is not her wife.

"What is your problem with her mother? Daddy didn't see anything wrong with it when he walked me down the isle, why now? You picked right now to tell me you don't approve of my marriage?"

"That's not what I'm saying, daddy is....."Margret sighs heavily" she is not your wife! "You're not even gay! How could that WOMAN be your wife?" regaining some composure she says softly "That woman is the reason your in here, Sandra. She's a drunk" her words escaping through her pursed lips.

"That woman is the love of my life! Whatever Del did I know it was not on purpose!" her voice cracked with that last word, her throat in pain from shouting. She takes a deep breath and continues "She's not a drunk either, I would appreciate it if you refrained from calling my wife such things."

Her mother sighs heavily again "Fine, but why do you believe this woman is anything to you?"

"Because I remember her being so, Just like I remember you are my mother and Suzanne's my sister." Sandra's logic was sound and confident.

"Then where is the ring? Photos? Marriage certificate?" Margret prods her for information.

"Probably at home like all my things, my ring... I don't know... maybe it fell off." Sandra defensively answers the best she can. Not knowing how to explain or prove anything, she just knows deep in her heart that it's true. Sandra sighs with a heavy heart and rubs her head. All this fighting and trying to remember was giving her a headache.

"I'm sorry baby girl, I know this all must be troubling. Losing your memories, getting them back just to have me tell you many of them are false." Margret's voice soft and gentle now, attempting to comfort her daughter.

"I'm not feeling so good can I be alone for a while, please." Sandra rolls over to her side. Sadness wells up into tears that stream to her pillow, hidden from her mothers view. Unable to convince her mother or see her wife she succumbs to her emotions.

"OK, I'll leave you be. I love you so much Sandy. " Margret kisses Sandra's head and departs.

"I know what I'm talking about, I'm not making things up. " she says to herself reassuring her confidence in her own memories. "If I could just contact her I could prove it to mom." her confidence in her own memories is shaken, a little voice in the back of her mind wonders what if she's wrong? What kind of life would she have if she's wrong?

After settling herself into a comfy position she grabs the TV remote and begins flipping through channels only pausing when she stumbles upon a show that catches her attention "I never really liked this show but it's oddly mesmerizing" a quick thought as she watches the screen. Multiple women fighting for the attention over one man, using pots and pans to make noise and causing drama. A commercial suddenly pops onto the screen interrupting the drama. One by one odd videos advertising anything but their products appeared, blaring much louder than the show she was watching. Sandra began to zone out, losing herself in though until something gave her cause to pay attention again. The news displayed summary of their report and in a quick snippet a nasally woman mentioned Sandra's name "later tonight, an architect by the name of Sandra Cuthwright awoke from a year coma, more at eleven." Sandra gasped to see the image of herself and Del on the screen next to the news caster. The images were of both women obviously taken from some old Facebook profile.

"A year? I've been in a coma for a whole year?" recent memories of the past few weeks started to fade into view, waking up unable to speak with only a single person sitting in the room. A person who has not come to visit her once since then. A person she has missed deeply without knowing why. And the memory of her scent "Cucumber melon" she whispers. "She was there when I woke up...Oh god. I didn't know who she was, I didn't know who anyone was for a whole week." the memories of that week rushed back to her attempting to fill in the gaps. "She must be so hurt... I should apologize." she bites her lip with concern "But how will I get ahold of her, I don't have a phone, mom doesn't seem to be of any help.... maybe Suzanne will help me."