for the past month was her breathing. But now, those cords were gone, and she was free to leave-at least

d brought her, before she sat back down on the edge of th

softly. Niya turned to see her best friend leaning aga

wore a plain blue long-sleeved shirt as Niya tried to piece together what made her templ

a croaked, her voice rough from disuse. "Besides, no one has co

ething, but then she closed it again. "Do you even

arely," she admitted, running her fingers through her chestnut brown hair before sweeping it

sighed, glancing away.

l window, where sunlight streamed in, tracing golden lines down to her black sandaled

between discomfort and sk

ly relented. "Let

fly in the passenger seat, her fingers gripping the edge of the seatbelt. Her chest rose with every bump and tu

th furrowed her brows. "Why look like we migh

worry. Her eyes traced downwards to Pony's left arm. Benea

cident too," Niya s

nod

gainst her seatbelt. "W

id your memories will come back. Besides

... I couldn't

zero memories and a just-realized phobia for d

he words sounded more hopeful than confident. "I know I had a husband. I know you're my best f

missing half its pieces," Pony mutt

of her dark lashes. "Stay in the hospital and wait for my memories to come back

nervously on the steering wheel. "It'

an eyebrow.

s. "You can't expect the world to stop because you-" She cut he

I almos

t always know how to handle that.

her shoulders slumping in defeat

mean it like that. You're here now, and that's what matters

re," she rol

only sounds coming from the car's engine and the occa

ember everything?" she aske

oulders tensing. She swallowed hard. "I thi

pulling her brows togeth

times the past is messy, you know? Maybe it's a good thin

idn't

place, old but well-kept, the once white paint now fading into a dull cream, with a front l

gentle breeze. Soft music spilled through the open windows, ble

, her brow furrowin

she replied flatly, her golden-brown

ht. The hallway was decorated with banners, their bright colors clashing awkwardly with the o

rdrive. Her heart thudded in her chest as she searched for someone-anyone-she recog

e noise. She turned, half expecting Pony to be standing stiffly beh

a group of women laughing a little too loudly near the refreshments, a waiter weaving thr

ed her heart-a genuine, easy smile that lit up hi