"Wha happen?" I asked, my jaw not fully cooperating with speech.

"You passed out. They think it was pain-induced."

"Where we going?"

"We're going to the hospital, Mells. Are you okay? You seem… Well, you seem to be having trouble talking."

"Jaw hurts."

Near looked worried. His white eyebrows were creased together and his hands were clenched around mine. He bit his lip and looked across the ambulance at the EMT. They shook their head and I closed my eyes. I fell into the welcoming arms of unconsciousness. When I woke up, there was either a lot of painkillers in my bloodstream or my chin was completely healed. I was hoping it was healed. When I put a hand up to my chin, however, I felt gauze and I sighed. Near was sleeping in the chair. I had a flashback to when Matt was in the hospital. I shook my head to clear it and looked out the window. The sun was shining and it was raining slightly. A cloud passed it and the sky darkened for a split second. It's like Matt's death is the cloud and everything is the sky underneath it. Time is the sun. Matt's death is like the cloud going over the sun and making this period of time dark. I was shocked at my own poetic observation with something so simple and everyday as a cloud.

"You woke up, I see."

"My jaw doesn't hurt anymore. Nothing does."

"I should hope so. Your morphine levels are so high I'm surprised you're not asleep right now."

"So basically I'm not in pain because I'm the medical equivalent of high. Wonderful."

Near laughed. I pushed stray hair out of my eyes and pulled my hair back into a ponytail.

"You know what you could do with Mells? A haircut."

I laughed and nodded. Near smiled. Doctors came in and dialed down the morphine by a lot. My jaw gave off a dull throbbing but it didn't really bother me. Near was there, and that was all that mattered. Near being so close and yet so far was so important to me it made my heart ache. Doctors and medical machines were all that stood between Near and I, and I'll be damned if I let that keep happening. I screamed and thrashed when they kicked him out, so they learned not to. Even Linda knew that I would raise Hell if I was away from him. Near and I fed off of each other energy-wise. When he was happy, I was happy, and likewise. Everything was perfect.

"You have short-term memory damage and severe brain trauma. There's no way you'll be able to ride your motorcycle again, it's simply not safe." Doctors told me.

I buried my face in my hands. Never able to ride my pride and joy again… Damn. My jaw was healed up by this point, they were just keeping me here because of my brain damage. And I honestly had no quarrels with it. Near, on the other hand, wanted me out of the hospital.

"I have a trip to Amsterdam for a case and I want you to come with me."

"When do you leave?"

"Tomorrow. Think they'll let you out?"

It was then we found out that I wasn't leaving the hospital for a very long time.

"I can postpone the trip-"

"No. Go to Amsterdam. I'll still be here when you get back, remember? And you can always set me straight if I ever go wrong. Go to Amsterdam, Near. This means a lot to you and my brain won't hold you back. Go."

Near left the next morning after saying goodbye. Linda came to visit all the time. I thought she was just doing it to make amends for causing my brain trauma, but it just turned out that Near asked her to keep watch over me in case I forgot him. He was gone for two weeks. I forgot where he was and nearly killed myself worrying over him before Linda reminded me. It was like my brain wanted me to forget all about Near.

"Don't you miss him? Near, I mean."

"Near who?" I asked.

"Near. Remember, your albino boyfriend? The one who went to Amsterdam? He comes back soon."

Everything clicked. At least, it clicked until I forgot again. I was the less-severe version of Alzheimer's. It was horrible. Even when Near came back, I had panic attacks because I forgot where I was and who he was. Those were the terrifying moments. Doctors said after a while everything would get better, but that I had to stay here until my headaches subsided.

"Well, they say you can leave. Would you like to get ice cream?"

"Who are you? Where am I?"

"It's me, Mells. It's Near. Remember me? You're in the hospital. The doctors said you can come home."

"Right. Sorry, Near. I just… Whenever I forget things, I feel awful."

"It's okay, Mello. I'll always be here to make sure you remember."

I clung to Near. Everything about him was sweet and endearing and every time I remembered him I fell in love with him all over again. I made breakfast and bought flowers, but I always forgot about them later. Near found them in the garage and said it was sweet how I was trying to make things up to him. Once, in the middle of a date, I forgot what was going on. I couldn't remember where I was, why I was there, or who Near was.

"Where am I? Who the hell are you?"

"Mello, calm down. You just need to take a moment and remember. It's me, Mells. It's me, Near. Can you remember me? We're eating out."

"No… I'm sorry… I can't remember who you are. You seem nice, though. Mind if I stay and eat with you?"

Pain was clearly etched across the white-haired boy's face. He smiled and told me to stay and eat with him.