FRAGMENTS OF A FORGOTTEN LIFE
1296 Words
ATHENA'S POV
I awoke with a start.
My body laid reclined, frozen.
My breath came out in ragged edges like I had just run a marathon.
What was happening to me?
I squinted my eyes to adjust to the light that illuminated the room from the large screen floor to ceiling doors.
"You're awake"
I jerked.
He let out an awkward laugh and walked towards me, dropping the tray he had in his hands on the bedside table.
"You fainted."
My eyes opened in horror.
"I did?"
He nodded and stared at me skeptically.
"Don't you remember anything from yesterday?"he asked.
I made a show of raising my hand to my head and groaned.
I hated lying.
But he wouldn't believe me even if I told him.
"No...I ...don't"
I responded, giving a weak smile as my eyes darted around at everywhere except for his piercing gaze.
He arched a brow with a critical stare.
I felt his questioning gaze burn through me.
I fidgeted.
"That's fine."
He faintly said letting out a deep sigh.
"The doctor said you should get enough rest. I'll have someone send something to you for lunch if you're not feeling like joining us in the dinning today."
He said arising to his feet and headed for the door.
I let out a sigh of relief as I watched him reach fpr the door knob then readjusted when he abruptly turned to stare at me.
"You muttered something in your sleep."
My fingers tightened around the blanket.
"I... did?"
He nodded once.
"You looked frightened."
I forced out a small laugh that sounded anything but convincing.
"I must have been dreaming."
His eyes remained fixed on mine, as though trying to peel away every lie I was hiding.
"You kept saying someone lied to you."
My heartbeat quickened.
I swallowed hard.
"I don't remember."
"You also asked why someone stole everything."
I could feel my palms beginning to sweat.
The words were familiar.
Too familiar.
They had echoed inside my head the moment I woke up.
Yet hearing them come from Dominic's lips made them feel terrifyingly real.
"I really don't know what you're talking about."
Silence stretched between us.
Finally, he gave a small nod.
"If you remember anything... anything at all... tell me."
"I will."
It was another lie.
Because I wasn't even sure what was real anymore.
He lingered for another second before quietly leaving the room.
The soft click of the door closing behind him made me release the breath I'd been holding.
I buried my face in my hands.
What was happening to me?
First Lucas.
Then the accident.
Then...
The baby.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't remember the baby's face.
Only the sound of crying.
A helpless cry that tugged painfully at something deep inside me.
I shook my head.
"No..."
I couldn't have had a child.
Could I?
The thought sounded ridiculous.
I had barely managed to survive these past few years.
How could I have forgotten something as important as having a baby?
A knock interrupted my thoughts.
Before I could answer, the door slowly creaked open.
A tiny head peeked inside.
"Ethan."
His face immediately lit up.
"I knew you were awake!"
He ran toward the bed before stopping abruptly.
"Daddy said I shouldn't jump on you because you're sick."
Despite everything weighing on my mind, I smiled.
"I'm not that sick."
He climbed onto the edge of the bed carefully, making sure not to touch my legs.
"I made something."
He held up a sheet of paper proudly.
It was a drawing.
Three stick figures stood beneath a bright yellow sun.
One was obviously Dominic.
The smaller one beside him was Ethan.
The third...
Had long hair.
She wore a blue dress.
Just like the one I had worn yesterday.
I frowned.
"Who's this?"
He looked at me as though the answer was obvious.
"You."
I laughed softly.
"You've become quite the artist."
He giggled.
"I know."
I looked back at the drawing.
"But... why did you draw me?"
"Because you're family."
My smile faltered.
"Ethan..."
"I'm not your family."
He tilted his head.
"Yes, you are."
"No, sweetheart."
"I know family."
He pointed at the drawing again.
"Daddy."
Then himself.
"Me."
Then finally me.
"You."
Something inside my chest tightened.
I reached over and gently ruffled his hair.
"I think you just like having me around."
He pouted.
"No."
"Then why?"
He frowned in concentration before answering in the innocent way only a child could.
"Because you were here before."
I froze.
"What?"
He shrugged.
"I don't know."
Dominic appeared at the doorway at that exact moment.
"Ethan."
The little boy turned.
"Daddy!"
"I thought I asked you not to disturb her."
"I wasn't disturbing her."
He held up the drawing proudly.
"I was showing Athena our family."
Dominic's gaze drifted to the paper before settling on me.
For a split second, neither of us spoke.
"I think he's just getting attached," Dominic finally said.
Ethan frowned.
"No."
Dominic chuckled.
"Come on."
"But.."
"Breakfast."
With one last wave, Ethan hopped off the bed.
"I'll see you later."
"I'll be here."
He smiled and hurried after his father.
The room fell silent once more.
I stared at the drawing resting on my lap.
Because you were here before.
The words refused to leave my mind.
* * * *
Later that afternoon, unable to remain in bed any longer, I wandered out of my room.
The mansion was unusually quiet.
Most of the staff seemed busy with their duties.
I decided to help.
It was the least I could do after everything Dominic had done for me.
As I dusted one of the upstairs guest rooms, my eyes landed on an old wooden music box tucked inside a bookshelf.
It was beautiful.
Dark mahogany with delicate carvings of lilies running along the edges.
Curiosity got the better of me.
I lifted the lid.
A soft melody floated through the room.
The first note stole my breath.
The second made my knees weak.
By the third...
The room disappeared.
A little girl laughed.
She couldn't have been older than six.
Her golden dress twirled as someone clapped happily.
"My princess."
A warm feminine voice.
Gentle.
Loving.
"I'm so proud of you."
A pair of elegant hands brushed through my long hair.
The touch was so familiar.
So comforting.
"My daughter..."
Tears burned behind my eyes.
"Mama..."
The word escaped before I realized I'd spoken.
The memory shattered.
The music stopped.
I stumbled backward, clutching the edge of the table to keep myself from falling.
My breathing became uneven.
Hot tears streamed down my face.
Why was I crying?
Who were they?
Why did that woman's voice feel more familiar than my own?
I pressed trembling fingers against my temples.
"Who... am I?"
DOMINIC POV
Downstairs, Dominic stood in his study, his phone pressed against his ear.
"Tell me you found something."
Jeff sighed from the other end of the line.
"I wish I had better news."
Dominic straightened.
"What do you mean?"
"I checked every provincial database."
"And?"
"No birth certificate for Athena Laurel."
Silence.
"I also looked into her foster records."
"What did you find?"
"They're incomplete."
Dominic frowned.
"Incomplete?"
"Entire years are missing."
"That's impossible."
"It gets stranger."
Jeff lowered his voice.
"I checked hospital records too."
"And?"
"There are unexplained gaps."
Dominic's expression hardened.
"It almost looks like..."
Jeff paused.
"...someone erased her."
Dominic slowly looked toward the staircase where Athena had disappeared moments earlier.
For the first time...
He wasn't looking at the woman he had rescued from a bridge.
He was looking at a mystery.
One that seemed to have been buried long before she ever crossed his path.
- Writer
