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Chapter 2
"I see." The priest says. "I am Father Simon, shall we go into my chambers and talk." He motions for me to follow him. I am so tired, I slowly follow him. There is a desk and chair where he sits, and a couch that I flop down on.
"Now how can I help you? First of all what is your name?" he asks softly.
"My name is Lauren Lewis and I am a medical student or at least I think I am." I reply closing my eyes, leaning on the back of the couch and trying to think over what has happened.
"If you don't mind me saying, but are you not a bit old to be a student?" he asks raising an eyebrow.
"That's the problem, it's the last thing I remember before waking up this morning in a strange bed with a beautiful ….err …. another person. I cannot remember anything between being a student and now, and yes I know I must be older than my last memory." I am looking straight at him.
"Well for one thing, you are married," He says looking at my hands that are resting in my lap. "Someone will miss you."
I look down and see a delicate wedding band with a matching engagement ring on my left hand. They are in a white metal with what looks like a diamond inset into the engagement ring. They are exquisite and must have been very expensive. I had been so wrapped up with getting away I had not felt the rings on my fingers.
"That's one of the problems I don't know who to," Tears start to flow down my cheek "the doorman at the building that I found myself in called me Mrs Lewis. Does that mean I married another person named Lewis or did the person I marry take my name and why can I not remember that?" I say, trying to think how I would wind up as Mrs Lewis. "You would think that I would remember such an important event in my life."
"We could ask the police to look up your husband's name." he said.
"I don't like men." It slipped out before I could think "I mean I'm …."
"Don't worry, my congregation includes all sorts," He interrupts me chuckling "so your spouse could have taken your name, hence why you're Mrs Lewis."
My head starts to hurt. Was the stunning woman my wife? If she was, I had just run out on her. Oh God! She must be frantic. Should I go back to her?
"Do you have any identification with you?" Father Simon looked at the purse in my lap.
I looked at the purse and then at the priest. "I just grabbed this, I don't know even if it is mine."
"Then perhaps you should look to see if it helps." He says with a smile.
I open the purse up and tip the contents on the couch next to me. There is a compact, lipstick, tissue a small knife and a drivers licence. No money, which I find strange. I look at the drivers licence.
"Ysabeau Dennis - Lewis," I read out loud "who has a double barrelled name nowadays?" I ask looking at Father Simon.
Father Simon has a wide eyed expression on his face, which he quickly suppresses and smiles at me. He knows who Ysabeau Dennis - Lewis is.
"Do you know who this is?" I ask looking directly at him.
"No, but I will make some enquires," He smiles awkwardly "now I know of a place you can stay at, whilst I ask around. That's if you wish?" he says in a friendly manner, writing down an address on a piece of paper.
I know he is lying and I don't like it, but I will play along. I look at him and smile.
"Yes thank you, you are most helpful." I stand up and take the address as well as picking up the purse and its contents.
At the door I thank him once again and walk in the direction of the address until I see him go back in to the church. I cross over the road and change course. I didn't know if he knew this Ysabeau, but I didn't like the way he lied to me. I needed to find a place to stay and eat. A homeless shelter would be the only place I could stay, but I didn't recognize this area at all. I had helped out in shelters when I was younger, so I knew what I could expect. It was starting to get dark and I knew that I wouldn't survive the night in the cocktail dress I was wearing. I had taken the heels off for now and kept walking.
"Hey beautiful." A man's rough voice came from behind me. I kept walking it couldn't be for me, I wasn't that beautiful. Suddenly a hand grabbed my arm. "Hey I was talking to you."
"What! You must be mistaken." I say struggling to get free, but he now grabs me with both hands and drags me into a side street.
I scream, he puts a hand over my mouth. I am fighting with all my might and manage an elbow into his stomach. He loosens his grip and I hit him again, this time in his throat. He lets go and I run as fast as I can. I thought I heard a growl and a scream, but I am not turning round as it would slow me down. I come to the main street, turn right and run. I see it, the one place I may be safe in. A homeless shelter, I run up to the door, pause, getting my breath back and walk in. There were mattresses laid out in the centre with table and chairs around the sides filled with people. A large hatchway was open opposite the front door. I felt tears running down my cheeks again and made my way towards the nearest empty chair near a table. After a few minutes I felt a hand on my shoulder making me jump.
"I'm sorry dear. Would you like a coffee?" A soft female voice asked.
I look up to see a small rotund lady in her fifties smiling at me. I nod. I watch her go over to the hatch and come back.
"There you go dear. My name is Elizabeth, can I get you anything else?" She says putting the coffee down on the table. I look down at my torn dress, no shoes and dirty hands. I feel the tears flow.
"I am scared, I don't know who I am, I don't even know how old I am and the one person who could possibly help me I have run away from. I am mess." The tears fall and I let them. I lay my head on the table and cry and cry. I know that I am crying in front of others, but I don't care, I have nothing to lose. A hand gently rubs my back and her words comfort me.
"There, there. I am sure it will be alright." She continues until I finally stop crying and take a sip of the coffee.
"Thank you." I say through the sniffles.
"That's okay dear. Now I expect you could do with some food. Just wait here." She says going to the hatch again.
As if I could move, I am so tired. I close my eyes briefly and when I open them there is a bowl of vegetable soup in front of me. I grasp the spoon eagerly and start eating, it is heaven. I didn't realise how hungry I was until I had finished the whole contents of the bowl. Elizabeth stayed with me, asking a few questions.
"Now dear, why are you scared?" she asks softly.
"I can't remember anything since med school, until I woke up this morning in an unfamiliar bed with a stranger," Who was gorgeous, why did I run? I briefly think to myself. "I was so scared and I ran instead of finding out who I was."
"I see, and you think this stranger would help you. Why don't you go back to them?" She says gentle.
"I don't know if she will, but I think I may be married to her. But what if I am not?" I look solemnly at her. "What if I don't love her and that's why I ran from her."
I show Elizabeth the driver's license, she shows no indication of recognising the name on the license. "I found this in the purse in the room and the doorman called me Mrs Lewis, so I guess we are married."
"Well perhaps you may only find out the answer by going back, but I suggest not tonight. Stay here, I am sure we have some spare clothes you could have and a bed." She says getting up and leaving me to finish my coffee. Elizabeth soon comes back with some grey slacks, a white button down shirt, a black leather jacket and a pair of loafers. She shows me where I can change and clean myself up. The clothes fit me well and are comfortable.
"Now dear. We have a spare room that you can use," I furrow my brow "sometimes we get helpers who come from out of town for a week and stay here."
I follow her into the back of the building and to a door on the left of a short corridor. She opens the door and I enter. There is a single bed with a blanket, a side table and two chairs and a small wardrobe.
I turn round and smile "Thank you Elizabeth." I hug her.
"Now gets some sleep and we will talk in the morning when you feel better. Good night." Elizabeth smiles back and closes the door to the room.
I slip of the clothes, folding neatly and putting them on one of the chairs. I get into the bed under the blanket and look up at the ceiling. I cast mind back to when I was at med school, trying to think forwards to just before today.
Nothing.