“A headache,” I reply, touching my head, feeling the surrounding bandage. “What happened? Where are my parents?”
They would never let me sit in the hospital without them. Something is wrong.
“You were assaulted, Harper. Beaten and bruised very badly with a major concussion and contusions that required multiple surgeries.”
Assaulted? By who? What the hell was she talking about? “What hospital am I in? I want to call my parents.”
“Grapevine Medical. And of course.” The doctor hands me the landline next to her bed. “Call anyone you would like.”
Liam keeps looking at me, almost like he can’t believe what I’m saying.
“Grapevine Medical? Never heard of it. Where exactly am I?”
“Texas.”
What? How did I get here from California?No wonder my parents aren’t here. They probably have no idea and are worried sick. “How long have I been here?”
“Two weeks,” Liam responds. His eyes boring into me. “Harper—you’re scaring me. You know why your parents aren’t here.”
No, I don’t. My agitation is only growing fiercer at this man trying to tell me what he feels I should already know. Why wouldn’t my parents be here? He acts like he knows me, but if he did, then he would know my parents would never leave me in a hospital alone. Ever.
The doctor pulls him away and closes the door behind them. I grab my head as it starts pulsing repeatedly. Ow. Make it stop.
I dial my parent’s home number, but all I get is three beeps and “we’re sorry, the number you dialed is no longer in service. Please check the number and dial again.”
That’s weird. No way my mom forgot to pay the bill. What am I missing? I try both their cell’s and same thing: disconnected. The phone slams down, and tears begin to soar.
A wave of craziness comes over me, and all I want to do is scream. Nothing makes sense. How the hell did I get to Texas? Most of all, who is this Liam guy? Nothing is adding up.
“I need to talk to the doctor now.”
The officer nods and steps outside, returning with only her.
“I’m not sure what’s going on here, but I’m from California. I don’t live in Texas, and I just graduated from college. Who is that man?”
The police officer responds, “Ma’am, that was the man that saved you after the assault. And he was with you when we were called about your break-in. He’s your boyfriend.”
Boyfriend? No, I don’t have one. Plus, we have at least a ten-year difference between us. “There must be some mistake. I don’t understand...”
The doctor comes over and puts her hand on my shoulder. “Listen, Harper. I know this is going to shock you, but your memories seem to be gone from the last few years.”
“What the hell do you mean? How old am I?”
“We have your medical file. You’re thirty-one.”
Okay, seriously, this must be a dream or a prank. There is no way. I shake my head, and close my eyes trying to make sense of it all.
She opens her phone and turns the camera on me. The woman in the camera is me, but older. My heart starts racing, how is this possible?
“You’re suffering from memory loss. It’s common with the amount of trauma that occurred to the brain. But, some of it should come back over time.”
Nine years of my life have been ripped away, and the fear of not getting those memories back is frightening. To go from being twenty-two to in my thirties is ridiculous. Although, it did make sense why that guy is claiming to be my boyfriend.
There are so many questions running through my head, but no one to ask. Who could I even trust? I’m surrounded by strangers.
A knock on the door sounds, and a woman pokes her head inside. “May I come in?”
I nod, and the officer follows her inside.