"Is she okay?" Daniel hissed, his quiet voice sounding more menacing than it should have.
"It depends on what you mean by 'Okay'." Dr. Cowen sighed. "She doesn't seem to remember anything up to about four years ago."
Daniel's intake of breath was sharp.. he raised a hand to his forehead, running his fingers exasperatingly through his dark hair. "What's the last thing she remembers?" he tried to swallow his pride as he spoke. Since his superiority to Jareth was clear in his mind, it didn't matter what Sarah remembered. History could be re-written.
"She keeps saying her brother's been stolen, but she doesn't remember anything after that…"
"Nothing?" he had to be sure.
"Nothing." Cecilia confirmed. Despite himself, Daniel smiled.
"Can I see her, then?"
"Not yet. Sarah isn't ready to speak with anyone she doesn't recall."
"Oh," he stared dejectedly at his feet. "Maybe another time then," Cecilia nodded as he walked away
As soon as he rounded the corner, Daniel laughed.
………………..
"Can I come in?" Cecilia knocked at the door frame of Sarah's room.
"Sure. It's Dr. Cowen, right?" she answered the voice.
Cecilia nodded and walked in to sit on the bed beside her. "But you can call me Cecilia," Cecilia smiled at Sarah. Her hand rested on the bed, a ring glimmered on her ring finger.
"That's a beautiful ring," Sarah stated after a while.
"Thank you. I'm getting married." Cecilia tried and failed at containing the excitement in her voice.
"Can I see it?" Sarah nodded towards the ring. Cecilia agreed to it and slipped the ring off her finger, placing it safely in Sarah's slender hand.
The ring looked familiar to Sarah. She stared at it like it was covered in a fail; she knew she should have known it's shape but couldn't place why. Sarah allowed her fingers to trace the triangle's curved edges to their pointed tips. Something sparkled within the oddly shaped triangle, but there were no gems to be seen. "It's spectacular," Sarah managed, unexpected tears stinging her eyes. "Whoever he is, I wish the both of you the best of luck." She tried to swallow her tears as she handed the ring back to Cecilia.
"thank you." Cecilia smiled sadly and got up, placing the ring back on her finger as she walked. Once the door closed, Sarah's face met with her pillow, and she cried.
Within a few short minutes, Sarah cried herself to sleep.
It all seemed so familiar. Sarah stood in a large room with stairs cut into either wall. She took a few steps, listening to her shoes clack against the stone floor, keeping her eyes on her feet, she moved towards he steps on her right. Sarah treaded carefully, afraid to break the spell.
Finally reaching the top step, she gasped. The room looked fresh, like she'd seen it every day since birth. There was a large pit in the middle of the room with a dingy red carped covering it's floor. In the back of the room, a throne sat, and on the throne sat a man. His face was clouded, but Sarah knew who it was as soon as she saw him.
"Why can't I remember you?" she asked, cautious as she stepped nearer. He shrugged. "I won't remember you when I wake up, will I?" It was a question, but she already knew the answer. The man shook his head sadly. "But can I enjoy my dream while it lasts?" the man nodded and held his arms open. She still walked slowly, but happily crawled into the man's strong arms, curling up in his lap like a lost dog. She gazed up at his face, trying to clear the fog that covered it. "Why can't I see you?" she asked. Sarah thought she heard him laugh, but he shook his head and pressed a leather gloved finger to her lips. And she understood.
Sometimes it's best to enjoy the silence.