Chereads / Remember Summer / Chapter 2 - CHAPTER 2: Glimpse of Us

Chapter 2 - CHAPTER 2: Glimpse of Us

"Tomorrow, I will live a good and unapologetic life."

"Noa? Wake up, you're dreaming," a gentle voice echoed, gradually pulling me from the depths of sleep. My eyes fluttered open, and I found myself surrounded by familiar faces, their expressions a mix of relief and concern.

"Sorry to wake you up. You were sleep-talking." Dr. Williams said softly. "And it's also time for your medication."

A nurse adjusted the bed, raising me into a sitting position before handing me a small pill. I swallowed it, the cool water soothing my dry throat. I scanned the room, recognizing some faces instantly, while others lingered on the edge of my memory—familiar yet distant.

"Do you remember them?" Dr. Williams asked, her tone encouraging.

I took a deep breath. "That's Dad, Aunt Carol, and Jamie," I said, pointing at each person, my voice gaining confidence with each name.

Dr. Williams smiled and gestured toward another woman. "And her?"

I studied the woman's face, searching my memory. "She looks familiar," I said slowly. "I think I saw her... in my dream."

Mom's eyes widened her expression a mix of surprise and curiosity. "Dream? What dream?" Dr. Williams leaned in, intrigued.

I turned to the woman, recognition flickering in my eyes. "You're Mom, right? You're the one who slapped me in my dream. It felt real, actually."

Mom's lips trembled slightly. "Do you know my name?"

I hesitated. "I'm sorry, I can't recall your name. I just... recognize you as Mom."

Tears welled up in her eyes. "It's okay, sweetie. I'll introduce myself. I'm Amanda Lourdes Schmid. I'm your mom," she said, her voice thick with emotion.

She paused, wiping a tear before continuing.

"What else? I'm 54 years old, and your dad is already 60. I'm an opera singer; we both love music. You love to play the cello, and you're really good at it."

I frowned slightly. "I'm a musician?"

Mom nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, sweetie. Music is your life."

"I thought I was a lawyer. I remember a lawyer in our family, but I can't recall exactly who it is."

I glanced over at Dad, searching his face for confirmation. "I thought I was a lawyer. I remember a lawyer in our family, but I can't recall exactly who it is."

Dad chuckled softly. "That would be me. I'm the lawyer—Gregory Schmid, owner of Schmid & Corporate Law Firm."

A spark of memory flickered. "Atty. Gregory Schmid—Schmid & Corporate Law Firm," I murmured. "One of the biggest firms in California and New York."

Dad's smile widened, pride evident in his eyes. "That's right."

The rest of my family took turns introducing themselves and sharing stories about my life—my achievements, my love for music, my passion for the cello. They described little quirks, random things I used to love, painting a picture of who I used to be. As they spoke, fragments of memory surfaced—familiar sensations, flashes of moments long forgotten.

Visiting hours eventually drew to a close, and Mom escorted my friends and relatives out of the room. Soon, it was just us, the quiet settling in as Dad prepared to leave for an important client meeting.

He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. "I'll be back tomorrow—and I'll bring Yoba with me," he promised, his eyes warm with affection. Then he left, his absence leaving a temporary void in the room.

I turned to Mom, confusion is evident on my face. "Who's Yoba?"

Mom sat beside me, gently stroking my hair. "Yoba is your cat," she said softly.

My eyes widened slightly. "I have a cat?"

Mom smiled. "Yes, and she's like a daughter to you."

A hint of curiosity flickered in my chest. "How old is she? What does she look like?"

Mom quickly reached for her phone, scrolling through photos before turning the screen toward me. A gray Persian cat with big, curious eyes stared back at me.

"I'm not sure about her exact age, but I guess she's around three years old," she replied, her voice tender.

I studied the photo, trying to summon any trace of familiarity. "She's beautiful," I murmured.

Mom put her phone down and continued to caress my hair. "We're so happy you finally woke up. We've been praying for this miracle for almost a year. We're so grateful that God answered our prayers," she said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Thank you for not giving up on me, Mom," I whispered.

She pulled me into a gentle embrace. "No, thank you for being so strong. You didn't give up on your life. We're so proud of you." She pulled back slightly, her eyes searching mine. "I missed my única hija. Please recover quickly so we can hear you play the cello again."

Her words stirred something within me—a distant, unidentifiable feeling.

"About that... I don't remember being a musician," I admitted, my voice hesitant. "I don't even know what a cello is. I thought you were referring to someone."

Mom's smile faltered slightly, but she nodded, understanding. "It's okay, sweetie. It'll come back to you."

After a pause, she asked, "Uhm, about your dream... you mentioned I slapped you? That's... cruel. Why would I do that?"

I frowned, struggling to recall. "I know, it's crazy. It's blurry now, but from what I remember, we were having a heated argument. I was wearing a black hoodie... and that's it."

Her brows knitted together. "That's it? Do you remember what the argument was about?"

I hesitated. "There's a name I kept mentioning in the dream. Josh? I don't know who that is, but that's all I remember."

Mom's face drained of color, her expression tightening. It was like she'd seen a ghost.

"Do you know Josh?" I asked, watching her carefully.

She forced a shaky smile. "Huh? Oh, I don't know any Josh. Maybe he was a colleague of yours."

"Maybe…" I trailed off. "But do you think this dream could be a recollection of my lost memories?"

*Knock, knock.

Dr. Williams entered, offering an apologetic smile.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I just wanted to remind you that tomorrow we'll run some tests. Once you're cleared, you'll be good to go. Also, I couldn't help but overhear your conversation—dreams might reflect lost memories. But sometimes, the brain compensates by creating scenarios that feel real but never actually happen. This is common in people with brain injuries," Dr. Williams explained.

"Don't worry; there are therapies designed to help you recover those lost memories. For now, let's focus on regaining movement in your lower body," she added. "By the way, here's your pill. Take this before you sleep. I'll leave you two now. Good night, Noa." She then left the room.

I swallowed the pill after she exited, and Mom quickly adjusted my pillow, tucking me in with care.

"There you go. I'll be right here in the next bed if you need anything, okay? Good night, sweetie." She kissed my forehead and walked over to her bed.

I stared up at the ceiling, my mind swirling with fragments of dreams and reality.

About that dream... I still remember some details, but I don't know if I should share them with anyone. Mom seems so interested. I know there's something about that dream because it doesn't feel like a dream at all. I think... I think it really happened.

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"Oh my goodness, Jill! I just can't help it—he's so cute and absolutely gorgeous! I think I am... I think I am really in love!" I gushed, giggling as I shook Jill's arm with excitement.

Jill groaned, pulling her arm away. "Okay, okay! Can you stop doing that?" she said, her voice laced with annoyance.

I turned to face her, grabbing both of her hands as I declared dramatically, "You don't get it, girl. This is real. This is true love!"

Jill scrunched her nose in mock disgust and quickly yanked her hands away. "Ew. I get you, okay? It's just… your parents. What if they find out? You know they're never going to approve, Nowi."

I bit my lip, the excitement momentarily dampened. "That's why they can't know anything about Josh" I said, lowering my voice.

Jill gave me a skeptical look. "Until when?"

I hesitated, my fingers fiddling with the hem of my sleeve. "I don't know!? As long as we live?" I let out a nervous laugh before locking eyes with her. "I trust you, Jill. You've been my best friend since grade school. You've never seen me this happy before, right? So please… promise me, tell no one about us."

Jill studied my face for a long moment before sighing in defeat. She reached out, taking my hand in hers. "If I have to bury this secret, I'll do it for you, Nowi."

A wave of relief washed over me, and I threw my arms around her. "Thanks, Jill, you're the best" I murmured, squeezing her tightly.

But as I opened my eyes, my breath caught in my throat.

Jill was gone.

Instead, I found myself hugging nothing.

Confusion turned to panic. "Jill? Jill! Where are you!?" My voice echoed into the empty air.

The vibrant world around me began to fade, the colors draining into a suffocating darkness. A chill crept down my spine as the shadows swallowed everything in sight.

"JILL!?" I screamed, my voice trembling. "JIIIIIIIIIIIILL—"

And then—nothing. Just an endless, consuming void.

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