Memory.

Part One.

Amber?
Amber, honey, can you hear me?

You were in an accident. It's okay. It's you mom, sweetie. Can you hear me?

Yeah, your head is going to hurt a little bit for a while. You went through the windshield, and you hit your head pretty hard.

__________________

April 6, 2015.

"Who are you?"

I watched this woman, sitting on my hospital bed, as her pace grew pale. She grazed her thumb over my face and then stood up, walking out of the room anxiously. She stopped someone in the hallway outside, keeping her voice low, she was unaware that I could hear her very plainly.

"Doctor, she asked me who I was... I thought you said she was going to fine?"

"I'm sorry, ma'am. With trauma such as hers, it's untelling what problems may occur. Memory loss is common, and should be temporary."

"Should be? What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Mrs. Mayer, I'm sorry."

With one last huff, I heard her heels enter the room and she appeared. With glowing, watery eyes, she whispered, "Amber.."

"What's going on? Who were you talking to? Why am I here?" I began to panick. I knew I was in a hospital, I think... but I don't know why. But I do know that hospitals are never a good thing.

"Calm down, honey,"

"Don't call me that." I snapped, but then I calmed down as she requested, realized I was overreacting.

"Okay, um.. Amber, you were in car accident."

"Was I the only one? Is there anyone else hurt?"

"Connor was with you, but he's just bruised up a bit."

And I sat there, with a dazed and confused look on my face. With realization, the woman said, "Do you remember Connor?"

I shook my head no shyly. "I don't even know who you are..."

I could tell by the way her chest rose and sunk back down, and her eyes watering, that this news hit her hard. Maybe we are close, and it's hurting her that I don't remember her. Or maybe she's just sad because I was in an accident. I don't know...

"I am.... " she bit her lip, "I'm your mom, sweetie. I'm your mommy."

I breathed in. "Oh." I swallowed. "Um, okay." I breathed out. "So you're my mom... where's my dad?"

She braced herself by holding on to the end of my bed. "He's, he's not here."

"Well where is he?" I said too hastily, "his daughter was just in a car accident. Shouldn't he be here?"

A part of me was... hurt. I don't remember anyone, but just the fact that such an important person in my life wasn't here to support me was hurtful.

"He's not here, because.. um," she paused. And paused.

"Well...?" I urged.

"He's-overseas-on-duty." She blurted out all at once, like she couldn't wait to get it out.

"Oh." I held my breath.

"I'm sorry sweetie, but he cares about you so much and he told me to tell you that he loves you as soon as you wake up." She assured me.

"How long have I been asleep?"

"You weren't asleep." She half-laughed, half-frowned, "you've been in a coma for 3 weeks."

"Oh."

Oh seems to be the only word I can say right now. There's just so much to 'oh' about..

"The doctors wanted the swelling to go down, and the best way they saw fit was to medically induce a coma, which also gave your body a chance to rest and heal." She explained.

"Oh, okay... am- am I going to be okay?"

"Physically, you should be. But mentally, I'm can't say. You don't remember anything, but we assume it will be temporary."

"You assume? When you assume it makes an 'ass' out of 'u' and 'me'..." I said sassily.

She chuckled and said, "Well atleast you remember one thing... I used to tell you that as a kid." A smile grew on her face, as did mine.

"So, mom," I said hesitantly, it's hard to call someone mom when you don't even remember knowing them. "What do I do in the meantime, since I don't know anyone?"

"Well, a psychiatrist will likely come talk to you, to make sure you are okay and stable enough mentally to go home, and we will go from there... we are both new at this." She smiled.

"Okay." I sighed out. "I want to go home... wherever that is." I frowned.

My mom came over and sat next to me, brushing hair out of my face, and said, "Look, we will face this together. If you don't remember even after we go home, then think of it this way, you get a fresh start at life."

Her words comforted me, and I grinned. A fresh start. That sounds okay. Maybe the life I had before needed to be started over.

Or maybe my life was perfect. Maybe I just mentally lost memories that I cherished, and the amazing life I knew was over. What if my new life that I am started over doesn't compare to my old one?

"What about family... what kind of family do I have?" I asked.

"Okay, brace yourself..." She laughed, "Your dad, of course, you have a 4 year old brother and sister named Connor and Brianna, over 50 cousins, some of which you haven't met yet, and don't even get me started on aunts and uncles.... we'll learn gradually." She smiled reassuringly. I liked my mom, alot.

"Wait, two four year olds?"

"Twins." She smiled sweetly. "We can take it day by day, okay?"

"Okay, sounds good." I smiled.