The Girl Who Forgot Love

r opened

t was to

blin

. White walls,

lt fuzzy, l

e the bed. Her eyes were

the window, his back

voice was a

hen rushed to her side

a's hand. I

pened?" A

rim. "You had a... a breakdown

ity event. Vague images fli

ha

er boyfriend. Since sophomore yea

entries in

? The love? The

. A bla

ting the name. It felt

d. Her dad' s

id, trying to piece it toget

said, his voice tight with anger. "He

l. Humi

or the sting,

y a strange,

she

xchanged a wo

t into the room then. Her usually

loe rushed over, pushin

. It was good to see

e that again," Chloe said, h

said, a small, tired

then back at Ava. "How are yo

remember him. But it's like... like I'm reading about

d... dissociative amnesia. Specifically th

gone?" Ava asked. It wasn't a questio

d, his voice softer now, l

r. Reed is here to

iffened. "Ab

"Maybe... maybe it's for the best

looked like he wanted to pu

d bit out. "Bu

e looked rumpled, his usual confident

Ava? Oh, thank God.

back slightly, not out of anger, but be

d forward slig

. He looked c

said. Her voice w

you... are you okay? Wha

vering,"

ur little stunt?" he asked, a hint

warned, his voice

. It was a fact. It didn

oice cold. "She has amnesia. She doesn't remem

ridiculous. You're kidding me, right? Ava, tel

remember we dated. I remember facts about

, then to Chloe. His face was a m

ttered, shaking his head.

out, nearly bumping

No sadness. No ang

later, Av

e formed a protectiv

than. They avoided anything

precia

peace mixed with an unsettling emptine

than fiercely. She knew

couldn't

down a house, seeing the ashes, but fe

rents were in the kit

ng room, reading a

ds didn

facts. Ethan. The betrayal

true. She k

e seem more upset about

opping down on th

about?" Chloe as

id. "Everyone expects me to be hear

deserve your tears. Or your anger, fr

ou always know

are for," Chloe said, sl

side. A sleek, expensive

to the window, their

her mom

it?" Av

dad said, his voice fl

s mother, Carol Reed, got out of the driver's side, a bouq

ime family frien

herself slightly in front

rd. But the thought lacked

orbell

went to

e. "Tom, Sarah. We just wanted to see how Ava is

" Ava's mom said, her

arol and Mark. They we

iking them. The feel

ng over. "How are you feeling?

a said. "Thank you for th

ty. Sunflowers. Her favorite. Or, t

smiling at Ethan's fat

was usually jovial. Now, he just

glancing at her son, who was lingeri

e a small, dis

looked up. He

I'm sorry. For everything." He held

y were suppressing anger. Chloe

ramed photo of them from senior prom

the photo. T

"But I think you should keep t

ned. "What? Bu

that photo, the girl who felt those thi

a little. "You rea

Ava said, her voice gentle but

ans nothing?" he asked,

rry," Ava said. "Th

sed as a cough. Ava's mom shot her a look,

eed, Mr. Reed, it was

e kitchen. "Mom, are

ickly recovering. "Carol, Mar

n't impose," Caro

strength in her voice. "Ava woul

d. "Yes.

. Carol returned a

utterly los

the kitchen. She

o Carol, their voices fadin

at the kit

ked up

bite. Cri

ha

ce. A collec

icker. Not lo

sion?

rway of the living

e wide, unco

gaze for a b

d away, focusi

r a few more minutes, his parents

they

the car

ished h

He thought she was faking

omeone just

e her rememb