Category Archives: Fiction

Part 1

“I understand, Anna. It’s the same sort of sadness I felt when I read about the death, because I didn’t know him but that didn’t stop me from being upset by his death.” Juliet looked at Anna, wondering how she would react to a hug. “Have any of Charlie’s memories returned?”

Anna shook her head. “Charlotte’s dad keeps showing me pictures and telling me stories in an attempt to turn me into his daughter, but so far nothing’s worked. He wants me to be her so badly.” She sighed. “I just don’t know what I can do to be the girl he wants me to be.”

“What you have to remember is that the girl Charlie’s dad saw wasn’t necessarily the girl she actually was. He’d have seen whatever it was she wanted him to see. If her memories are ever going to return then you need to talk to someone who really knew her.”

“Like you?”

“I’m not going to tell you I know everything that was going through her head or that the stories I could tell you are going to help, because I know that she showed me what she wanted me to see in the same way she did with her dad.” Juliet bit her lip. “I think I knew her better than he did, but I honestly don’t know if she ever really confided in anyone, unless it was her brother and even that changed when he went off to university. From what she said I know she felt like he’d abandoned her. I don’t know why she felt that way. He might be able to cast some light on that, though.”

“Lloyd did mention that their relationship had changed, but I didn’t want to ask. He’s been affected by what happened, even though he’s been there for me ever since he walked into the hospital, and I don’t want to hurt him more by making him think about the sister he lost.”

“If he’s been as good to you as you said he has then he’s going to understand you asking about Charlotte, even if it does hurt him to remember. He’ll know that you need to talk about her.”

“I think he’s also been keeping quiet because he knows how much it hurts when Charlotte’s dad keeps pushing me to become her, even though the doctor’s told him that I might never get my memories back and that he’s probably doing more harm than good.” Anna blinked, looking as though she was trying not to cry. “I know it’s not going to be easy for him to let go of his daughter, but the more he pushes the more useless I feel and he doesn’t seem to care because I’m not Charlotte.”

Giving in to her urge Juliet wrapped her arms around Anna. “If Charlotte’s memories are going to come back then it will take time, but I think it’s more likely that your memories will come back first.”

“My memories? What do you mean?”