03
969 Words
03
Hannah’s POV
Please join this Skype call. We just want to see her face.
My hands trembled as I read the message over and over. Please join this Skype call.
Just seeing the words made my stomach flip. What if they didn’t believe it was me?
The words mulled over in my brain as I tried to decipher the emotions behind it. It also confirmed that there was no actual body in the coffin.
As if sensing the direction of my thoughts, Nolan spoke. “They are business moguls, and billionaires. Maybe people have deceived them the same way.”
“But what if…”
He squeezed me gently. “They waited three months, H.”
“I know,” I whispered. “But I still feel lost.”
He placed a heavy hand on my shoulders. “It’s just Skype. Test it out, just see. I know you want to.”
He had a point. I wanted to. No, I needed to. But it was a scary need. What if they didn’t recognize me?
“Okay,” I said. The lump in my throat was thick, and I swallowed it.
Sweat broke out on my forehead as nervousness pooled in my belly. My toes wiggled in my shoes and my knees bounced. It was a nervous tick I discovered that I had.
With trembling hands, I clicked on the link. I didn’t know what I was going to see, I didn’t know what I expected.
But as the cursor rotated and rotated… the suspense felt unbearable. And then, it connected.
A loud gasp came first. “Hannah? Hannah! Oh my God, is it really you?” And then the lady I found out was my mom, began to cry. Erica Miller.
Her hands shook as she held them to her lips. “Oh my God. Trey!” She called.
I could only blink.
To her, I was a daughter coming home from the dead. To me… she was just a crying stranger on a screen.
She was still dressed in the black outfit from the funeral, but the hat was long forgotten.
In a second, a silver haired man—my dad, appeared on the screen. He didn’t see me, not yet.
“It’s okay, darling.” He held my moms hand, oblivious to what was going on behind the screen. “Everything will be alright.”
He said it like he didn’t believe it. Like those were the only words he could mutter to encourage my mom.
“No, no. Hannah is here. Look.” She pointed to the screen and he turned. He did a double take as he saw me.
The shock in his eyes was palpable. And like my mom, he sank to the chair and began to cry. “Hannah… what? How?”
There were no words. I couldn’t speak, only stared. How was one supposed to react? My throat felt thick, and the back of my eyes stung.
“Baby, we’ve been looking for you. Why didn’t you call home?” He paused. “Who is that? Are you keeping her against her will? Please…we’ll pay anything.” My dad begged.
I flushed at the accusation. Nolan leaned down, jaw tight. Irritation rolled off him in waves.
He cleared his throat and responded. “Sir, I’m not holding your daughter hostage. I’m the doctor who treated her after the accident. She’s been safe with me this whole time.”
There was a pause. They looked like they didn’t believe him.
“Do you have the time for me to explain everything?” Nolan asked.
“Of course I have the time.” My dad bristled. Meanwhile, my mom still had her hands on her mouth. The tears didn’t stop falling.
Nolan began to explain to my dad. He did all the talking for me. Told them about the accident in Spain and how I landed in Portugal.
He also explained that he was my doctor, and I currently had no memories of anything. That I'd even just learned my name.
“So why didn’t you call us as soon as possible? There was news of the search, in every country.” My mom sobbed.
I shook my head. “We hadn’t seen it.”
At the sound of my voice, my mom cried harder. Her hands clutched her chest as she leaned on my dad for support. Her cries were guttural, it made me teary.
“It’s really you,” my dad whispered. “Where are you?”
“Portugal,” Nolan and I said at the same time.
“We’re sending a jet right now, Hannah. You’re coming home.” My dad smiled.
I froze. “What? Now?”
Nolan’s hands tightened briefly on my shoulders. I heard his sharp intake of breath. God, no.
I wasn’t ready.
My heart seized in my chest. And I gripped Nolan’s hand tight. I needed an anchor.
My mom nodded. “Yes, you need to come home. We’ve missed you… three months Hannah. You’ve been gone for three months.”
“But I want to stay. I’m with Nolan here. He saved me, and I don’t even have any memories of you both.” I wanted to scream, but my voice came out steadier than I expected.
My mom moved closer and stared at Nolan. As if just noticing him. My dad shook his head, a sad smile on his face.
“I understand, baby. And Nolan–” she stared at him. “We appreciate you so much for looking out for her. Thank you.”
Nolan gave a curt nod. I could feel how tense he was. His body was taut as we waited for her next words.
“But Hannah, you’re married.”
I stopped breathing. And so did Nolan.
- Writer
