Chapter 6: The Memory She Lost
Claire refused to leave the hospital that day.
Not because she was weak.
Because she finally understood something.
Everyone around her had pieces of the truth.
Everyone except her.
The next morning, Detective Harris returned with a folder.
Ethan was not with him.
Claire had made sure of that.
“I want answers,” she said.
The detective placed the folder on the table.
“You deserve them.””
She opened it.
Inside were medical records.
Old records.
Her records.
“I don’t remember going to this hospital.””
“You wouldn’t.””
Claire looked up.
“What does that mean?””
Detective Harris sat down.
“Eight years ago, you were involved in a car accident.””
Claire frowned.
“I was never in a serious accident.””
“You were.””
“No.””
“Yes.””
Her hands began shaking.
“What happened?””
“You suffered a head injury.””
Claire looked at the papers.
The dates.
The signatures.
The notes.
They were all real.
“You said medical trial.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because after the accident, doctors believed there might be complications with your memory.””
Claire stared.
“My memory?””
“Yes.””
“What kind of complications?””
Detective Harris paused.
“Missing memories. Confusion. Episodes where your brain would fill gaps with false information.””
Claire felt dizzy.
She touched the side of her head.
“So my memories…”
“Some may be accurate.””
“And some?””
The detective didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
Claire looked away.
The world suddenly felt unfamiliar.
Her own mind had become something she couldn’t trust.
Then she remembered Lily.
“My daughter.””
Detective Harris softened.
“Lily is safe.””
“Why did she know about the bottle?””
“Because she saw it.””
“Then why did Ethan hide it?””
The detective looked uncomfortable.
“Because the bottle wasn’t what he thought it was.””
Claire frowned.
“What?””
“He found it in Lily’s hand.””
“That doesn’t make sense.””
“No. It doesn’t.””
The detective opened another file.
“Claire, the bottle contained your medication.””
She stared.
“My medication?””
“Yes.””
“What medication?””
The detective hesitated.
“Medication prescribed after your accident.””
Claire felt cold.
“But I don’t take anything.””
“You stopped.””
“When?””
“Six years ago.””
She froze.
Six years.
The exact time she met Ethan.
The exact time everything in her life changed.
“What are you saying?””
Detective Harris looked at her carefully.
“I’m saying your husband may have been protecting you.””
Claire looked away.
She hated that possibility.
Because it was easier to believe Ethan was a liar.
A liar was simple.
A liar had an intention.
A husband who kept secrets because he loved you was much harder to understand.
The door opened.
Ethan stood there.
Claire immediately stiffened.
“Leave.””
“Claire.””
“Leave.””
“I need to talk to you.””
“You needed to talk to me years ago.””
His face fell.
“I know.””
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Ethan walked in slowly.
“I should have told you.””
“Yes.””
“I was scared.””
“Of what?””
“That I would lose you.””
Claire laughed sadly.
“You lost me the moment you decided I couldn’t handle the truth.””
Ethan looked down.
“You’re right.””
That surprised her.
No excuses.
No defense.
Just regret.
“What happened that afternoon?”” she asked.
Ethan took a breath.
“Vanessa came because she found your old medical records.””
“Why?””
“She was trying to understand what happened to you.””
“Why would she care?””
Ethan looked away.
“Because she was involved.””
Claire felt her body go still.
“Involved how?””
“She was one of the researchers.””
The room spun.
“You knew?””
“I found out.””
“When?””
“After Lily was born.””
Claire stared.
“You let this woman around our daughter?””
“I didn’t know she was involved until recently.””
“Recently?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did she come to our house?””
Ethan didn’t answer immediately.
And Claire knew.
There was another secret.
“What aren’t you telling me?””
Ethan looked at her.
“Vanessa didn’t come to hurt you.””
“Then why?””
His voice dropped.
“She came to warn you.””
Claire frowned.
“Warn me about what?””
Ethan looked toward the door.
Then back at her.
“About the person who has been changing your medication.””
Claire’s blood ran cold.
“What?””
Ethan whispered:
“The person who has been making you forget things wasn’t Vanessa.””
The hospital room went silent.
Claire’s heart pounded.
“Who was it?””
Ethan opened his mouth.
But before he could answer, his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His face changed instantly.
Claire noticed.
“Who is it?””
He didn’t answer.
The phone kept ringing.
Then Claire saw the name.
Displayed clearly on the screen.
A name that made her entire body freeze.
Because it belonged to someone who should have been impossible.
May you like
Someone who had died seven years earlier.
Her mother.
