The diner bell chimed. I looked up. A couple walked in. They smiled at me. I should have known them. But I didn't.
"Hi there, Willow!" the woman said. "The usual today?"
I blinked. What was their usual? I couldn't remember. My hands started to sweat."I... um..." I stuttered. My cheeks burned.
Zoe appeared beside me. "Two cheese omelets and coffee, right?" she said to the couple.They nodded, smiling. I felt myself shrink.
"I've got this, Willow," Zoe whispered. "Why don't you take your break?"I nodded, grateful. Slipped away to the back restroom. Caught my reflection in the small mirror there.
Yesterday at Zoe's, she had helped me wash my hair and also helped me curl it, but now my hair was messy and hanging over my shoulders again. I tried to smooth it down. It didn't help.
My eyes looked back at me. Green. But not bright. Haunted. Dark circles underneath. I looked away. Couldn't stand to see myself.
I heard Zoe in the diner. Laughing with customers. Remembering their orders. Their names. Their stories. How did she do it? I was sitting on a chair, feeling sleepy.
I suddenly woke up, that wolf, I had dreamed of that damn wolf again. I accidentally knocked over the wooden comb on the table, making a thud sound.
The door opened. Zoe peeked in. "You okay?" she asked.I shrugged. "I guess."She came in. Sat next to me. "Want to talk about it?"I shook my head. Then nodded. I didn't know what I wanted.
"I had that dream again," I said finally. "The dream I told you about yesterday. The one with the wolf. And the fire." Zoe listened. She always listened."It felt so real," I continued. "Like a memory. But that's crazy, right?"
Zoe took my hand. "It's not crazy, Willow. Maybe it means something."I looked at her. "But what? And why can't I remember... anything? Those people out there. They know me. But I don't know them."Zoe squeezed my hand. "Your memory will come back. We just have to give it time."
I wanted to believe her. But it was hard.
"Come on," she said, standing. "Let's get back out there. I'll help you, okay?"I nodded. Followed her back to the diner.
It was busier now. Lunch rush. I took a deep breath. I could do this. I thought.A group of teenagers came in. Loud. Laughing. I tensed up."I've got them," Zoe said. But another table waved her over.
I approached the teens. Tried to smile. "Hi, welcome to---"
"Oh look, it's Weirdo Willow!" one of them said. The others laughed.I froze. My throat tightened."Hey freak, you gonna take our order or just stand there?" another one jeered.
I fumbled for my notepad. Dropped it. More laughter.
"Geez, how do you even function?" a girl said. "It's like watching a car crash."
I picked up my notepad. My hands shook. "W-what can I get you?" I managed to say.
They ordered. I wrote it down. I thought. Hoped.I hurried to the kitchen. Gave the order to the cook. He frowned.
"Willow, this doesn't make sense," he said. "What's a 'mega burger with extra stupid sauce'?"My heart sank. I looked at the notepad. It was gibberish. They had tricked me.
Laughter erupted from the teenagers' table. They had heard everything.
Tears stung my eyes. I ran to the restroom. Locked the door. Slid down to the floor.
Why couldn't I do anything right? Why couldn't I remember? Why was I so... broken?
A knock on the door. "Willow?" It was Zoe. "Can I come in?"I didn't answer. But I unlocked the door.Zoe came in. Sat next to me. Didn't say anything for a while.
Finally, I spoke. "I'm sorry. I messed up again."Zoe shook her head. "You didn't mess up. Those kids are jerks.""But I can't even take a simple order," I said. "I can't remember anyone. I'm useless."
Zoe turned to me. Her eyes were fierce. "You are not useless, Willow. You're struggling, yes. But you're also the strongest person I know."I scoffed. "Strong? I'm hiding in the restroom.""You get up every day," Zoe said. "You try. Even when it's hard. That's strength."Her words sank in. Maybe she was right. A little.
"Now," she said, standing up. "Let's go show those brats what happens when they mess with my best friend."I looked up at her. "What are you going to do?"
Zoe grinned. It was a little scary. "Oh, nothing they can prove. Come on."
We went back out. The teenagers were still laughing. Zoe marched up to them.
"I'm sorry, but we have a strict 'No Jerks' policy," she said loudly. "You'll have to leave."They stopped laughing. Stared at her."You can't kick us out," one said. "We're paying customers."
Zoe leaned in. Spoke quietly. I couldn't hear what she said. But their faces paled.They got up. Left quickly. Zoe came back, smiling.
"What did you say to them?" I asked.Zoe winked. "Let's just say they won't be bothering you again."
The rest of the day went... okay. I still struggled. But Zoe helped. Covered for me when I forgot.
As we were cleaning up, Zoe spoke. "Hey, Willow? Can I ask you something?"I nodded.
"These dreams you've been having. The ones with the wolf and the fire. When did they start?"I thought. Tried to remember. "A few months ago, I think. Around the time my memory got really bad."
Zoe nodded. Looked thoughtful. "And you said they feel like memories?""Yeah," I said. "But that's impossible, right? I mean, wolves? Fires? It's crazy."
Zoe was quiet for a moment. Then, "Maybe not as crazy as you think."I stared at her. "What do you mean?"
She sighed. "Willow, there's something I need to tell you. Something about this town. About you."My heart raced. "What is it?"
Zoe opened her mouth. Then the bell chimed. Someone walked in.
It was him. The man from the park. Lucian.
He smiled at me. "Hello, Willow. I hoped I'd find you here."
Zoe tensed beside me. "Sorry, we're closed," she said. Her voice was cold.
Lucian's smile didn't falter. "My apologies. I'll come back another time." He looked at me. "Take care, Willow. We'll talk soon."
He glanced at Zoe before turning around, and the look felt cold as ice, making me shiver. And then he left. I turned to Zoe. "You know him?"
Zoe's face was grim. "Not exactly. But I know his type." She took a deep breath. "Okay, let's go, Willow. Work is over, let's go to my place, I'll make you something to eat. These past few days, you've been staying at my place."
I nodded. Confused. Scared. But curious too.
As we left the diner, I caught my reflection in the window. Messy hair. Tired eyes.But something else too. A spark. Of what, I wasn't sure.
We went back to Zoe's apartment, she cooked spaghetti, and we had a glass of red wine. Maybe it was the effect of the wine, I felt very calm and safe.
After taking a shower, I lay on Zoe's big bed, and she kept nagging me, telling me to be careful, especially about strangers like Lucian, as I didn't know their danger. As she kept rambling on, I slowly drifted off to sleep, this was the first peaceful sleep I had in a long time.