Trapped In Life

Starting Over (Part 6) - Step One: Becoming Kaitlyn

“It is healing very well, Kait,” Maxine said as she finished bandaging the wound again.

“That’s good. How long do you think till Dr. Reeves will release me back to work?   I really need to get back on set.

“Well, I think by the beginning of next week possibly,” Maxine said smiling. “However, I don’t know if Dr. Dustan will be happy about that.”

“Oh no, what showed up in my blood work? Is the infection back?”

“Oh no, nothing like that,” she said giggling a bit. "I think he likes he has direct contact with you right now.  He hasn’t had that since you two broke up.”

“Broke up?   Wait, he said.… He didn’t say we dated or broke up.”

“That man I swear,” Maxine said finishing putting everything back in her bag. “Kait, you don’t have your memory.  So I shouldn't be telling you this.  I think he is hoping you will either get back with him or forget about how stupid he was that he broke up with you.”

“But...”

“No, you need to know.  Do not tell him I told you.  The two of you were great for a while.  He kept putting his job ahead of you.  You kept telling him it was ok because his patients were more important.  You two fought over him missing dinner.  You showed up at the hospital then set up a wonderful dinner for him in his office.  Then you waited for him in his office.  He ended your relationship then stormed out of his office,” Maxine said obviously frustrated with Dustan.

“I would think he…anyone would be happy someone loved them enough to bring them dinner then wait on them,” I said looking at her confused.  “So we broke up because of that?”

“Yep,” Maxine said. “Now you better not go telling that stubborn butt I told you that.  Honestly, I shouldn't have told you.  You should have gotten the memory back on your own.”

“I won’t, but it does put me in a bit of a quandary,” I said frowning to myself. She had just given me the answer to a puzzle Kait’s phone had started. I could see the texts and voice mails between Dustan and Kait. I just didn’t know what happened to break them up.  It had been over a year since the texts and calls stopped inexplicitly.  “Maxine, should I get a new doctor?”

“Oh no, he will be professional.   You have the best doctor for your case.  I’m not just saying that because he’s my cousin,” she said grinning at me.

“Wait, he’s your cousin?”

“Yes, and you knew this before. I keep forgetting you don't remember.  I was so sorry to hear what happened to you. When I saw Dustan was looking for a home care nurse to take care of your wound, I volunteered.   I wanted you to have the best care from someone you trusted, even if you didn’t remember.”

I smiled at her before I said “Thank you so much, Maxine.”

“Ok, I’m done for today. I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said patting my hands then gathering her bag to walk to the door.  “Oh, please don’t say anything to Dustan.   He wants your memories to come back on their own.  If they don’t come back, then he wants you to be free of the past.”

I nodded.  She left I went into the kitchen to fix some herbal tea for my nerves.  My mind needed it so I could sort my thoughts before I got back to work on my lines.  I was still stumbling over some of them.  I didn’t know what they had filmed so I was working on all of them.

So what Maxine helped me learn was that Dustan and Kait dated for three months. From what I could tell, it was a hard breakup on her side.  I found Kait’s diary and read most of it.  Perhaps it was wrong, but I did it.  She had not explained what happened.  Her only entry on the break-up was “Dustan and I broke up today.   I’m wondering if I need a new doctor still. Not that I don’t trust him, I just don’t want to hurt him by continuing to have him treat me for anything in the future.”

I couldn’t get a different doctor without making it strange presently or revealing what Maxine told me.  I would have to see what happened in the future.  My tea water whistled.  I fixed the tea then wandered back into the studio to run lines again.

A couple of days later, I found the strength to look on the laptop to see what Kait was looking up about me.  There were public websites and fan sites with all the public information on the internet.  I found a video of Jan making a statement on behalf of my estate and family.  I watched him give the world information I was dead and buried, but the police were still going after my murderer. Then he introduced a detective who was in charge of my case, Detective Jareth Davies.

Seeing and hearing Jan again brought tears to my eyes.  I kept watching the video repeatedly just to see and hear him.  I missed my best friend.   Then I noticed someone in the background of the video. I stopped it and reviewed it.  I watched the same section repeatedly until I was sure.  Erick was standing in the background as the detective and Jan spoke.

I was broken. I cried probably for the next two hours. I couldn’t stop. I didn’t realize how long it had been until the doorbell rang.   I checked the camera.  It was Maxine.  I couldn’t send her away.  I got up while trying to clean off my face.  I wanted to look normal, but I knew Maxine would notice.

When I opened the door, Maxine looked at me.  She shook her head as she said “Getting this upset or stressed out is not good for you.  You know that right?  What are you so stressed out over?”

“It doesn’t matter Maxine,” I said trying to differ.  I’m an actress I should be able to do this.   “I was watching something sad.  It got my emotions going which caused this,” I said circling my face with my hand.  “I’ll be ok.  I just need to calm a bit.  Let’s get this wound checked.”

“I’m hoping not to have to put a full bandage on it today. Do you think you would like that?”

“Oh yes, please! I’m so tired of not being able to do anything with my hair!” I said laughing as we moved into the living room.

Maxine did her magic.  She moved the mirror to let me see the wound.  It had healed so much. She put a smaller bandage on it which looked like a large bandaid.   I was so excited.   She told me I still had to be careful but didn’t need the full wrapping anymore.   I was overjoyed.  Maxine left with me giggling like a schoolgirl.

When she left, I ran to the bathroom to pull my hair up into a loose braid.  I finally could see more of how Kait looked before the accident. “Hello Kait,” I said to the girl in the mirror/  “I’m Anara.  I’m taking care of your life and body now. I hope you don’t mind, but we are going to the stars.  Along the way, I’m hoping to catch our murderers too. Well, help in catching them.  I have to figure out how I’m going to do that, but that’s the plan.  Are you good with it?  I am!”

I went back to my bedroom dancing with excitement. I could finally start doing what I needed to live.   I could finally become Kaitlyn Dupre.