REMIND ME

Two years earlier "Sweety I'm gonna need you to come get me now please, my car broke down", she heard the disturbed voice of her mother, the line wasn't clear but the message was. "What happened mom? Where are you? The line isn't all that clear", she replied with her feet thrown to floor. "I'm at the sunken forest honey please get here quickly it's getting dark. I called your Dad but his line wasn't reachable", Grace said. She could hear the jiggling of keys before her daughter spoke up, "Why the hell are you even there?", Dallas asked in turn. "You know what? Don't answer, I'm on my way to you right now", she said before hanging up and locking up the front door. She got into her car and drove out of the house. She didn't know what her mother was doing in the forest by this time but she knew she was going to find out. She could see her mother's headlights now but she wasn't alone, there was a man and he did look like her Dad from behind so she slowed down and switched off all the headlights. They were having a heated argument from what she could see but she didn't know what it was about. In the heat of the moment he got out something and pointed it at her mother, a gun, it really was a black pistol as dark as the night. She wanted to run out and stop him but she was rooted in place, she couldn't move and she wasn't even sure she was breathing. With the blink of an eye the sound of the gun was heard, she didn't know what to think or do, she really didn't know if it was fired at her or not. All Dallas could do was stare wide-eyed as the tears pooled up in her eyes, she was broken with worry and doubt. She started up the ignition and almost crashed into the man whose face wasn't too clear but she couldn't so she drove past, running for dear life. She had to call 911 for sure even though he would be far away by then. ~~~ "It was right here I swear to you, they were arguing together right in this spot", Dallas yelled. "I can't believe this, i-it was right here, where is her car? Where is...where-", everything was gone, no evidence of the alleged crime. Her mother's car was gone and so was every other thing, it was all as if she imagined everything. "Honey, your mother is fine, I spoke with her few hours ago. She said she'd be working late", William, her Dad said with a small smile on his face. "Come on folks, let's call it a night", he added, walking ahead of his daughter and the cops. Dallas was convinced she saw everything but she didn't know if it was her Dad, it was all confusing. Nothing made sense, it was really like she imagined her call and every other thing. ~~~ "Have some juice sweety, it'll be good for you", Her Dad placed a glass of orange juice in front of her. She dropped her magazine right next to the glass before picking it up and looking at her father quizzically "What now? Come on Dallas, let your guard down a bit. You've been on the edge since last night. Your mother called me, she'll be back very soon, just have your juice and relax", he said convincingly before walking back into the house. She looked at the glass cup in her hand one more time, then towards the pathway her Dad followed to the house before drinking up the fresh juice. What's the worst that could happen? She thought. He's my Dad. She really had no idea that this was only the beginning. Everything she saw was real, it wasn't a mistake and that was the real reason for this juice he brought out to her. It was filled with a dose of amphetamine just to get her to go psychotic for a short period of time, time that would cause her to stay in an asylum for years, to be given muscle relaxants, metyrapone and any other drug to cause memory loss. ~~~ "I'm on a flight back to NYC now mom can grandma hold on any longer?", Daniele asked his mother with his feet crossed. "What the hell do you mean by can she wait a little longer? Oh sure maybe I'll just pause her death all for you! We told you to get back here two freaking days ago and now look where you are", Aurelia yelled with an audible huff. "Mom I told you I couldn't have been able to get back there on time. I had a business meeting scheduled for this morning and I tried to cancel but it was too late", he almost hissed out in rage but remembered that even though he was a billionaire his mother still had the highest authority over him. "Daniele don't give me that business meeting bullshit, you know what? I've had it with you. And....shit! Doctor what's happening?", he heard her ask and he could also hear the running of feet everywhere. "Mom? What's going on? Please don't hang up on me I beg you", he was desperate. He needed to speak to his grandmother before anything happened because she was the most supportive family member he had, if he could he'd turn the hands of time and land there earlier. "Mom please answer me!", he pleaded with vulnerability lacing his voice. "Honey the doctors ju-just left her room, it was just a little scare but they don't know how much longer she'll l-last", he heard his mother's broken voice, it was clear that she was already sobbing. "I'll be there soon mom just hang in there", his free hand ruffled his hair a little to calm himself down. "You know what? She wants to talk to you over the phone now, por favor mi colombo don't say anything to upset her", she whispered before handing her phone over to his grandmother. "Daniele son, h-how are you? Just wanted to let you know that you lost t-the bet", she joked and tried to laugh but ended up choking a bit. She succeeded in making him join her. "What bet grams?", he asked like he didn't know what she was talking about, just so he could hear her voice much longer. "About y-you not making it here on time, I won and I'd do a victory dance but this strict woman here won't let me", he knew she was referring to his mother which made all three of them laugh. "On a serious note now grams, I'm on my way so just-", but she didn't let him finish. "You know I'd love more than anything to see those vibrant sky blue eyes of yours one last time but I do know my time is up. That's why I have one last wish Daniele, grant this dieing woman a last wish will you?", she asked playfully but he knew her time really was up. "Anything you need nonna, just name it", he was close to tears now, because he knew there was no way to avert it. "I need you to get married, ragazzo mio that's my last wish", she didn't even beat around the bush with the wish. "Gr-". "No, it's a last wish not an argument. Even if it's just for a y-year but make sure you have a little one with whatever lady you choose. I've already explained everything I want to your mother champ. She'll take care of every other thing, all you need to do is sit back and relax and also make me some great grandbabies. I'll be watching you from above and I really will be disappointed if you don't. ", She paused. "Just one year Adrian, one year. Even if you don't love her, just do it all for me, get married and have un bambino o due. What woman wouldn't want to have you for a y-year", she started to cough and he could hear her struggling for breath. "Pr-promise", she managed to say as he heard his Mom crying all over again and the shuffling of feet. "I-I promise", he sobbed, this wasn't part of his plans. It was never in the game to get married anytime now, but he'd do anything for her, especially her last wish. His Mom retrieved her phone as the doctors tried to revive her but it was all lost. His next problem was getting married and he'd do it.