Chapter 32
Past And Present
Elena
(Flashback_Six Months ago)
The sun cast a warm golden glow on us as we walked out of the hospital.
"That's our car," Jenna pointed out a black sedan that was parked out front. I nodded and we headed towards it and everyone got aboard.
Lily went silent after we left the hospital, I still felt pangs of pain whenever I recalled her teary eyes as she'd sobbed about not being allowed to see me.
Jenna occasionally threw glances at me but she didn't say much, content to just hum along to the song playing.
Pascal too was silent, he'd put a headphone on and was transfixed with his phone.
"Pascal," Jenna nudged him and slowly ground the car to a halt. "We're here," she nodded outside. I read the words on the signpost, 'Subway Station'
We were taking a train ride? I wondered curiously.
My curiosity didn't have to last long as Pascal pushed the door open and stepped out.
"Study hard, you hear me?" Jenna called out after him. "And don't forget to call me when you reach college."
"Yeah, yeah," Pascal muttered, he turned and waved at us before turning and heading toward the station.
"Pascal's still in college," Jenna caught my gaze in the rearview mirror and she explained. "It's his final year, he managed to convince me to let him ride around for a few hours," she chuckled at some unknown memory.
I nodded, trying to process her words. I wanted to say more but I came up blank. It was an irony.
I felt like the lost pieces of my memory made whatever I tried to say feel empty.
Lily was still asleep by the time we arrived at Jenna's house.
Her house was small but cozy I thought, walking through the door behind Jenna who held Lily's hand.
The walls were painted a soft shade of brown and the decorations weren't excessive. It wasn't grand, but it felt safe, and that was all I needed.
"Are you hungry?" Jenna's voice echoed behind me.
I shook my head. "Not really."
"Still brooding about your memory huh?"
I nodded, without my memories. I was no one.
She studied me for a moment before snapping her fingers. "I have an idea!" Her words made me pause.
"We're going to play a game," she began.
"A game," I repeated, disappointment filling my features. What good was a game going to do I thought.
Jenna took note of my disappointment and she shook her head. "It's not just any game," she said, staring at me. "I'll ask you questions about anything." Jenna met my eyes,
"Something could jog your memory, who knows?"
"Well," I hesitated, unsure if it would help. I could feel that Jenna was simply trying to get me to loosen up.
Lily clapped her hands at that moment, breaking into my thoughts. "Let's do it mummy."
"I…" I hesitated, feeling conflicted as I stared into her eyes. I finally nodded, unable to say no.
"It'll be fun," Jenna smiled, trying to reassure me, I nodded, not really believing her.
We all gathered around a small coffee table in the living room, Jenna had given Lily a bowl of popcorn, much to her delight.
"What's your favorite color?" Jenna started with easy questions.
"I… don't know," I glanced around the room, hoping for a colour to leap out at me. Nothing.
"Okay," Jenna nodded, not discouraged. "What's your date of birth? Take your time," Jenna added, seeing I was about to answer. "Think."
I paused, silently trying to make anything come to mind.
I waited for a few seconds then I shook my head, frustration biting at me. It wasn't working.
"Nothing," I sighed, "I wish I could guess, but nothing's coming to me."
"Calm down," Jenna smiled, she reached out and squeezed my hand. "It wouldn't hurt to just try."
Indeed. I nodded, trying to calm down.
And so Jenna kept on asking questions, her questions ranged from the simple to the mundane to the most simplest.
"What's your family name?"
I paused, trying to squeeze my brain for a split-second realization, trying to recall anything, something.
Before I could respond, Lily piped up, her voice ringing with certainty.
"Kingston!"
Kingston? My heart thudded at that moment and I froze, my mind in disarray. It felt familiar.
"You felt something?"Jenna's eyes lit up when she noticed my expression. I nodded slowly.
"Let's see what we can find," Jenna jumped into action and she brought out her Laptop, her fingers flew across the keyboard as she typed out the name.
My heart was a storm of emotions as I leaned in behind her, peering at the screen. I didn't forget to pat Lily's head, she did good.
After a moment a list of results appeared on the screen. "Do any of these faces look familiar?" Jenna asked, glancing back at me.
My heart raced as I scanned through the faces I saw on the screen, I felt my excitement die down as I went past each name and no familiar feeling resurfaced.
"Wait," Jenna suddenly turned the system to face Lily, "Can you see anybody you know?" She asked, pointing at the screen, she gave me an apologetic look.
Lily stuffed her mouth with popcorn and she stared at the results page and Jenna scrolled upward slowly.
"That's Grandpa!" Lily suddenly exclaimed, pointing at a picture of an old distinguished looking man.
Him? My heart skipped a beat and I leaned closer, my heart in my mouth. "Albert Kingston," I read out the name.
"It's him?" Jenna's eyes flashed with a strange look but she clicked on the photo and the page changed. She'd just scrolled a little when she saw something and her mouth fell open.
"What's the matter?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.
Jenna didn't say a word, simply turning the screen to face me.
"What!" My eyes nearly popped out and I stared at the screen in shock. How was this possible?
The screen displayed a photo of me, smiling brightly. What caught my eye was the caption beneath the photo.
Elena Kingston, daughter of Albert Kingston.
I couldn't breathe. My fingers trembled as I touched the screen, staring at the stranger who was supposed to be me.
Jenna's voice broke the silence. "Your name's Elena." Her eyes looked like they'd pop out as she read on. "You're… you're the daughter of a billionaire?"
He's a what? Her words crashed into me and I felt my body become numb. A billionaire? I stared at my photo of me smiling.
She looked happy. But why did I feel a dark suffocating pressure whenever I stared at my father? I wondered. The mere thought of facing him again made my insides twist into knots.
"No," I whispered, shaking my head. "I can't go back. I don't want to."
Jenna blinked, confusion filling her. "What do you mean?" She asked, "That's your father," she said pointing at the screen. "He's a billionaire," she covered her mouth in disbelief.
"Something doesn't feel right," I whispered, a lump formed in my throat.
Jenna frowned, "But if you wait too long—"
"I'll go back," I interrupted. "But only when I've regained my memories. Not before. Please, Jenna, trust me on this."
She hesitated, her expression conflicted. Finally, she sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Okay. If that's what you want."
I exhaled slowly, relief flooding into me. But I still couldn't shake off that uneasy feeling. I glanced at Lily who was busy stuffing herself with popcorn.
I was her mother, whatever action I took would affect us both, and my gut was screaming at me not to go back to my father.
I didn't know the reason, but without my memories, I was better off trusting my feelings.
I only hoped I'd know the answers to my questions when my memories returned.