Memories of the Forgotten Ones

Chapter One "Happy birthday! Here's my gift for you," she smiled as she handed it over to me. I grabbed it immediately and didn't even bother to look at her while opening the box. "Wow." Is all I could say. She came closer to me and explained the details of her gift. It was a painting of the both us, looking at each other while angels fly over our heads as if they were singing. "It's us. I was so afraid that I will not be able to finish it in time, but I did and it took me almost 2 months." She said while shaking her head. I looked at her, beginning to feel the intensity of my feelings grew heavier. I've always known that I'd love her ever since I saw her. I didn't think that we would actually get to know each other, let alone be her bestfriend. She doesn't know about my thoughts and my feelings. I took a deep a breath trying to calm myself but I just couldn't resist the urge of touching her, so I did. I touched her face, her eyes wide open —peeking through my heart, seeing herself to mine– her eyelashes, the mole under her left eyebrow, and then I looked at her lips. They're inviting me... And I kissed her. A long and deep kiss. We both held our breaths until she pushed me over as she realized what happened. "NATHANIEL! WHAT DID YOU DO!? WE'RE BEST FRIENDS!" She ran off and I followed her. "Freya! I'm sorry!" She didn't listen to me and kept going. I cursed myself trying to figure out what came over me. I don't regret it, I just hate myself for not asking her first. I hate myself because I'm about to lose her. I was so busy chasing after her and figuring out what to tell her that I didn't even notice the 6-wheeler truck driving closer to me. It was already too late when I heard the horn. I froze and it was like in slow motion when she turned around with eyes soaked with tears and filled with fear. "NATHANIEL!" She screamed. I smiled and said, "I love you." as I felt the cold metal of the bumper hit me and threw my body across the road. --------------- "Freya." "Nathaniel!" "James." "My son." "Go call the doctor! I heard him! I think he's about to wake up!" That's the voice of my mom, I think? I slowly opened my eyes but immediately closed it again as the bright light blinded me. "Oh my God, my baby. He's awake." I felt my mom's hand caressed my face and kiss me on the cheek. "Hey," she whispered. When I felt that my eyes readjusted I opened it again and looked around. But my eyes couldn't find what it's looking for. "Where's Freya? Is she alright? Where is she? I need to see her." I tried to get up but my mom pushed me down gently and asked, "Who's Freya?" “Mom, you know her.” I turned to her and she looked at me with confusion written all over her face. “Baby, no.” Why is she denying it? “Mom! You know her! She’s my bestfriend! We were always at our house, you cook for her! You invite her on your birthdays! We’ve been friends since we were seven, you’ve known her for years! For pete’s sake!” I sneered. “Baby, I don’t know her. Ask your father and your sister, we don’t know her.” I looked at them and they both shook their heads. I stared at them in disbelief. Who are they trying to fool? “Mom, I was in an accident! I was in an accident because I was chasing after her when a truck came over and hit me! How can you explain that? Why am I here then? Mom, I need to see her.” I pleaded. “Baby, WE were in an accident. We were all inside our car when it happened but you took most of the damage because the truck hit your side. You were in a coma for over three years!” She sobbed, “ I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you, I’m so sorry baby. But, we don’t know who you’re talking ab— She wasn’t able to finish her sentence when the doctors came rushing towards me. They lit a small flashlight over my eyes, checked my vitals, asked how was I feeling and a whole bunch of questions which I absentmindedly answered with, yes, no and maybe. When they were finished and was about to leave, I heard my mom asked them about my sudden hysteria earlier which the doctor simply answered, “She may have been a character in his dreams. He was under comatose for so long, he may have mixed reality with what he had seen while he was asleep. Delirium is one of the causes of coma, don’t worry it will go away soon, after he recovers.” Ha! A character in my dream. What a stupid way of putting it.