Mandy's heels clattered against the white tile as she pushed through the hospital doors, the sterile air biting at her lungs. Her pulse pounded in her ears. Not my baby… please, God, not my baby.
"Oh my God, please save my daughter!" Her voice cracked, raw with desperation.
A man in scrubs stepped into her path, face carved in worry.
"Ma'am, your daughter needs surgery immediately. Severe head trauma, there's internal bleeding we need to stop now."
The clipboard trembled in her hands as she scrawled her signature, the black ink blurring through the sheen of her tears. Each second after that dragged like hours, the only sounds the steady tick of the clock and the distant hum of hospital machines.
When the doctor returned, relief and unease tangled on his face.
"She's stable, but…" He hesitated.
Mandy's stomach dropped. "But what?" Her voice was barely a whisper.
"She's developed psychogenic amnesia," he said gently.
Mandy blinked. "I… I don't understand."
"It means her mind is blocking out certain memories, usually the traumatic ones. It's the brain's way of protecting itself."
Her throat tightened. "Will she remember me?"
The doctor's lips softened into a small smile. "Yes. She'll still know you. But the incident itself… may be gone. Or scattered in fragments."
---
Nathan's eyes snapped open. Cold air prickled against bare skin. He froze, horror creeping into his bones as the reality hit, he was naked.
His breathing quickened. What… what the hell happened last night?
"Oh God," he muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "Please tell me I didn't… no… not her."
Images flashed, shadows, laughter, blurred faces, Amelia's name tangled in his thoughts. He shoved them aside, forcing himself into yesterday's jeans, but the knot in his gut only grew tighter.
--
The hallway at Melody High felt different that morning. Too many eyes. Too many whispers.
"This isn't the usual attention we get," Jake said beside him, brows knitting.
Nathan forced a shrug, but his palms were slick.
Jake's phone chimed. He glanced down, then froze. "Nathan… there's a video. You. With Amelia."
Nathan's chest caved in. "What?!" His gaze darted wildly down the corridor, as though he could spot whoever had lit this fuse.
Without answering, he broke into a sprint, ignoring Jake's shouts. He had to find her. To explain.
--
The security guard at Amelia's gate stepped forward. "Who are you?"
"I'm Nathan. From school. Is she home?" His voice wavered despite his effort to steady it.
"No, she's not."
Nathan's heart slammed against his ribs. "Then where?"
The guard shifted uncomfortably. "I'm not supposed to..."
Nathan reached into his pocket, pressing folded bills into the man's hand. "Please. I need to see her."
The guard scanned the street before leaning in. "Heard her mom on the phone yesterday… she's in the hospital. Accident. Last night."
The words hit harder than a punch.
--
By the time he reached his room again, Nathan's phone buzzed.
> Dear Nathan,
You have been expelled from Melody High School due to a serious violation of school policies.
His grip faltered, and the phone slipped onto the bed. He sank after it, shoulders shaking.
"Why does it keep getting worse?"
The room blurred through his tears. "I'm so sorry, Amelia," he whispered, curling into himself as the sobs took over.