by Irene, Susan
“I’m sorry, Mr. Gilab and yes you’re correct the thermal imaging would have only picked up on her if she was still alive. We will be holding a press conference and would like for you to be there so we can publicly apologize for giving the perception that we believed you had something to do with this.”
“Yes, of course, I’ll be there. Oh my god, I need to get home.” He jumped up from the couch. “How am I going to tell my kids?” He held his head in his hands and sobbed. Detective Sheldon went to him.
“Is there someone I can call for you?”
“I’ll call my mom. I need…oh my god. I can’t believe this is happening.” He pressed his eyelids closed squeezing out the tears.
The days flew by as Arlin prepared for the memorial service. He did not expect all the support and never knew how many friends and acquaintances Louise had. Some had offered to help with the kids while he adapted to not having Louise there to tend to them.
“Arlin please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you.”
“Thanks Penny, you have been such a big help already. I don’t think I could have gotten the kids through this without your help.” He pulled her in his arms and gave her a friendly hug.
“Well they still have some adjusting to do but the important thing is to make sure they don’t forget her. She loved those kids more than anything.”
“I know, thank you.” As Penny left, Mitch walked up to Arlin.
“Arlin I’m sorry for your loss. Louise was like a daughter to me. I miss her.”
“Don’t bring your insincere wishes here. I know how you felt about me.” Arlin just wanted him to leave.
“I’m sorry to tell you, Arlin, but this.” He turned and waved his hand toward the room that those remaining had gathered. “This is about Louise.” He turned to go and then turned back to Arlin. “I don’t believe for a minute that this was an accident.”
“Well you would be the only one then Mitch, because everyone else does. Louise is dead, killed in a senseless car accident of her own doing.” He turned and walked away.
Chapter Nine
“Good morning Megan. I’m glad to see you awake and alert. We were really worried about you” The nurse came in the room. “I’m Betty and you’re in the hospital sweetie, do you remember anything?”
Megan looked blank, not knowing how to answer.
“Oh my, let me go get the doctor. I’ll be right back.” She patted her leg and walked out of the room.
The doctor walked in, “Megan, I’m Dr. Howe, there was an accident. You came in with a severe head injury. We did everything we could but was afraid there may be some memory loss. Do you remember anything at all?”
“No.” The tears came now. “I can’t remember anything.”
“Do you remember if you have family? Maybe…we could call them.” Dr. Howe bated her with the question. They needed to know if the treatment worked
“I don’t know.” She yelled. “I can’t remember anything. It’s all a blank.”
“Well don’t give up hope, it could be just temporary.” The doctor said and left the room.
Betty now spoke again, “We’ve done all we could but there is no missing persons report and no one responded to any of the news stories.”
“How do you know my name is Megan, what is my last name?” If they had her name, surely they could find someone who knew her. Did she not have any family or friends?
“Does Megan mean anything to you?”
“No! Is that my name?” She asked again.
“When the paramedics brought you in, you came to for just a moment and yelled out that name.” Betty sat next to her bed and reached for her hand. “Did you know a Megan?”
“I already told you I don’t remember anything.” Megan started to cry. She felt so lost. She searched her mind but there was nothing. She pulled away from Betty, curled up into a ball and cried herself to sleep.
“Megan.” Betty was back and shaking her gently to wake up. “Megan, I brought you some lunch dear. You really need to eat.”
Megan stirred then rolled over and tried to sit up. Her body ached and Betty helped her sit up, putting pillows behind her to support her. She pulled the bed tray over to her. “You need to eat to build your strength.” Megan looked at the bowl of broth, picked up the spoon and started to eat it. She did not have much thought about anything and just did what the told her to do. She felt lost. She did not know who this woman was or where she was. Even the taste of the broth did not stir a memory. She neither liked it nor hated it. It was just broth.
As each day passed, and with help from Betty, Megan began to come out of her depression. As any other morning, Betty came in the room in her regular chipper morning fashion. “Good morning, Megan. Are you ready to get out of here?”
“Yes ma’am.” Megan cheerfully responded. She had grown attached to Betty and was sad for this day to come. Once was settled in her new life, Megan promised to visit her.
“Now as we’ve told you when this day came that there’ll still be a lot of work that needs to be done. You’ll need to continue your physical therapy and start vocational training.”
“I know I was just hoping you had other news for me.” Megan sunk deep under her covers, the cheery attitude gone.
“I’m sorry Megan; we still haven’t been able to find any of your family. I wish there was something you could remember.”
“No.”Tears fell down her face. “No, there’s nothing.”
“I know you don’t want to hear this but you know I believe things happen for a reason, maybe it’s a life you don’t want to go back to.”
“I guess that’s a way to look at it but I can’t remember anything. It could’ve been a good life too.”
“Well sulking around here is not going to help you out any.”
“I do have a question though, something…something I’ve been wondering.” Betty gave her a look that said she did not want to hear anymore about her lost memory. “It’s about my hair. Is it going to grow back? I mean…all of it…going to grow back?”
“What do you mean, of course it should.”
“Well when I run my hands over my head it feels like…well it feels like it is growing back in patches.”
“Your head injury was so severe and took numerous surgeries. Let’s just wait and see. It’s still early.” She left the room. Megan settled down but still worried about it.
Betty returned carrying some clothes. “Here now get changed. Someone will be along in a few minutes to get you and take you to your new room. We have a great rehabilitation service here. We’ll put you up at one of our facilities. Be sure to take advantage of it since we’ll be giving you opportunities to learn skills and get a job so you’ll be able to support yourself.
This news gave her some hope that maybe someday she would find where she belonged. She dressed quickly and sat to wait when the door opened. Her heart skipped a beat when he walked in the room. He was dark and handsome. The light reflected off his head and she thought that if he had hair he would not have been as good looking. The thought of his lack of hair made her conscious of her own.
“You could always shave it and look like me.” He smiled. His voice was smooth and calming.
Megan blushed and pulled her hand from her head. “I…really don’t think I’d look any where as good as you.” She felt so comfortable with him. She felt safe. It was the first real feelings she had since she woke up a few weeks early. She felt she knew him and could trust him. She only wished her brain would let her know why and where she knew him.
“Hi I’m Michael Dawson. I’ll be your counselor and physical therapist until you get back on your feet. So if you have any questions please feel free to ask. Are you ready for the tour of the town?”
“Sure, maybe something will jog my memory or someone will recognize me.” She hurried off the bed she was sitting on.
“Megan, I don’t want to discourage you but we don’t believe you were from this area.” He saw her positiv
e attitude melt away at his words so he added. “But you know what…you never know. Let’s go. Positive thoughts okay?” He extended his hand to her. He felt bad for misleading her but knew when the time came he would be there and tell her everything.
She took his hand and put her best smile on. “Okay.” They stopped by the front desk to check out and to get her follow up appointments scheduled.
“Okay Megan, here are your list of appointments and your initial allowance.” Betty handed her a hundred dollars. “This will get you started until you can work.”
“No, really you don’t have to.” Megan did not want to accept this handout.
“Oh sweetie, it’s part of aftercare.” Betty patted her hand. “Now go get out of here.”
They walked out as Michael led her to his truck. He helped her get in the passenger seat and then he walked around, got in, and started the truck.
“So where do you want to go first?” He had the gentlest voice, it drew her in, and when she did not answer, he asked again. She was tempted not to answer intentionally this time just to hear his voice but she did not want to appear rude.
“I know what you said earlier but I’d really like to drive around and see if anything is familiar.” He knew it would not be but he did not want to see the disappointment on her face again.
“Well let’s go then.” He pulled out of the parking lot and drove southwest toward town. They drove through town and then around the outer suburbs. After about an hour, she was convinced that nothing looked familiar and they headed back to town. He showed her where the rehabilitation center and dorms were located.
“You will be training here until they can place you somewhere to work. The dorms are conveniently located across the parking lot here so you can just walk and won’t need any transportation.”
“Sounds well thought out. Can we go take a look at my room?” She was a little excited now. She was ready to move forward and hoped her memory would return. She felt this next step would get her closer to that goal.
Michael parked and they got out. He led her to the entrance she would use to come and go from the dormitories.
“Let’s see you are in room 230. Oh and here are your keys.” He handed her the keys and as their hands touched, the connection she felt earlier was stronger. She tried hard to remember how she knew him.
“Here we are, Room 230.”
“Okay I’m embarrassed my mind was somewhere else so how did we get here.” She wondered if she should tell him about the feelings she was having, but decided to wait.
“Well you only get one lesson on that so you will need to pay attention when we leave.” He laughed. He let her unlock the door and enter the room. It was a single dorm room, with the bed against the farthest wall and a desk and chair beside it. Megan walked over to the closet and opened the door. The bare hangers made her aware of how little she had or even knew she needs.
“What about clothes? Will the hundred dollars be enough to get some?”
“Not likely but we’ll stop at the second hand store and see if they can help you out. They will usually allow you some outfits but you’ll have to volunteer some hours manning the store in return.”
“That’s fine; I’d just hate to have to wear the same thing over and over again.” She closed the closet and walked over to the closed door beside it. She opened the door and found the bathroom that she shared with the occupant next door.
“There isn’t anyone next door to you but I’d suggest getting in the habit of locking the door when you are using the bathroom. So if someone moves in you’re not being walked in on.” She nodded her agreement, they returned to the main room, and Megan sat down on the bed. The whole thought that she did not know who she was or where she came from was all of a sudden overwhelming. She put her head in her hands and cried. Michael came over and sat down next to her.
“Hey are you okay?” He rubbed her back not sure what he could do to console her. He had been in her position too. He understood but she was not ready to hear what he had to say, she just would not understand.
“I’ll be fine.” She sniffed and wished she had some tissues. “I don’t even know why I’m crying. I don’t know what I’m forgetting.”
“It’ll be okay. You’re strong.” He got up from the bed.
She got up, walked to the bathroom, and blew her nose. She came back out again, looked around and felt she had a feel for what she needed and first on the list was pen and paper.
“Is there a store I can go get the stuff I need.” Embarrassed by her episode, Louise would not look at him. She just did not feel that she was that type of person to cry in front of a stranger. Like Michael had said, she was strong and she believed it.
“Yes, there’s one here in town. I can take you.” Michael walked to the door and waited until she was ready. They headed out of the room down the hall to the center stairway and walked down the stairs.
“Straight out the door is the parking lot, here to the right is the manager’s office and to the left the first door on the left is the laundry room. There’s no charge for using the washer or dryer but you do need to bring your own soap. Next to the laundry is a kitchenette. It has all the cookware, bakeware, and other kitchen essentials you will need. You just need to bring your own food to cook.”
“Well that wasn’t too hard. I can remember that.”
“Excuse me, you must be Megan.” Two men walked out of the manager’s office. Megan took a step back and stood behind Michael. Chills shot through her and she wanted to run. Why did this man scare her so much? He looked like something from a carnival sideshow with his red skin and over inflated muscles.
‘Megan.” Michael stepped aside exposing her. “This is Mark the dorm manager and this is Vince, head of security.” They both stepped forward to shake her hand. She was not sure which one scared her more now. Mark had a creepy stalking look in his eyes and Vince winked at her as he licked drool off his lips.
“Well Megan, welcome. Has Michael showed you around?” Mark was standing too close and Megan had to take a step back.
“Yes, he did. Thank you.” She took an extra step to the door. She really wanted to leave now. The guarded feeling she felt from Michael was quickly evaporating by the haunting perverted feelings coming from Vince and Mark.
“Well we’re off to the store so Megan can pick up some supplies. Gentlemen.” Michael shook their hands and guided Megan out the door. She was glad to be away from them and wondered if she should say something to Michael but thought better of it. She did not want to set off on the wrong foot with any of them. Everyone else has been so nice and has helped her more than she would have expected. They headed off to the grocery store to pick up a few supplies. She spent twenty-five dollars but thought she would have to go back because she was sure she had forgotten more than what she remembered. They made their way around town again and then headed back to her room. Megan did not see Vince and Mark as Michael helped carry the supplies to her room.
“Well I’m going to take off, but before I go remember your first day is tomorrow. It’s in the building next door. You also have a follow-up appointment with the doctor in three days.”
“Yes that’s all here with my discharge papers.” She pointed to the papers on her desk. “Thanks for showing me around today. I was wondering though is it okay if I walk around a bit; it’s still early?”
“That’s fine, try not to get lost though. If you do lose your way, anyone should be able to help you find your way back. It is a pretty small town and pretty much everyone knows everything.” He smiled.
“So…they know who I am and know I don’t remember anything.” She sounded discouraged and maybe a little scared.
“Yes, they know but I assure you that no one will take advantage of that and if someone does, someone else will know about it and put a stop to it.” He paused a moment at the door. “Hey you’re going to be okay. I’ll make sure of that.” He turned and left before she could respond.
Megan left but
returned a short time later after her little walk. She did not venture far afraid of getting lost but it was nice to be out of that stuffy hospital room. She tried to clear her mind and wondered where she had come from but that was far more depressing than the hospital room so she thought it better to call it a night and headed back to her room.
Morning came and Megan got dressed and made her way across the parking lot to the rehabilitation center. She had already participated in physical rehabilitation so she knew what to expect. She entered the building and checked in at the front desk as instructed.
“Good morning Miss Stauss, you’re assigned to classroom 113, Mr. Jones. It’s straight down this hall third door on the left. You’re a little early so just go in and find your seat. If you want you can get a head start and work on this questionnaire.” The receptionist smiled as she handed her the packet.
“Thank you, I will.” Megan took the packet and walked down the hall as directed. She was the first person in the room and found the desk assigned to her. She sat down and started work on the packet. She felt lost filling it out. Most of the questions concerned her accident, which she did not remember. The next set of questions was about her life before the accident, which again she did not remember. However, she read every question and anything that sparked an interest she marked. She would focus on those items one at a time to see if anything comes back.
A few more people filtered in and so did the instructor. He began with a brief introduction. Who he was, his background, and what he expected them to gain out of this class. He passed out the schedule. Megan noticed she had home economics, driver’s education, and physical fitness. The basics an adult female would need. These classes were three weeks in length. Upon completing those classes, Megan will do additional testing to determine what advance classes she can take.
Megan was ready for it. She was excited to be starting a life in hopes it would take her back to her old one. With that thought, she wondered if she even wanted to go back to her old life. It was a thought that Betty implanted in her mind back at the hospital. Maybe it was better she did not; like they said no one came looking for her or reported a person fitting her description as missing.