Come Back
Author: Kaia Mariacle
Disclaimer: Not mine. At all. No matter what the voices in my head tell me.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: A boy gone. (sequel to Disenchanted Lullabye)
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Oh God.
It's like you're seeing yourself, except it's worse. This is the boy you love, this is your best friend, and that makes it so much harder.
You watch Dr. Brown's eyes go wide, you watch as his face crumbles.
Then you watch him smile, and you tremble.
It's the same smile your parents gave you when you first woke up. The same smile they sometimes give you, when you ask them a question they think you should
already know the answer to.
He walks over to his son, and places a hand on his arm.
"Ephram........you've been in an accident, the doctor will be here in a few minutes, and then we can talk."
You see the look that Ephram gives him, lost and innocent, and you flinch.
"Dad...I.....where am I?"
Dr. Brown pushes a lock of hair away from Ephram's forehead, and leans down. "Everything will be okay. Don't worry, we'll fix this. You'll be alright, and
everything will be fine."
He's babbling.
The most composed, brilliant man you've ever met is babbling senselessly. And it scares the shit out of you.
"Dr. Brown," you whisper, moving to gently tug at his arm. "Why don't we go get some coffee?"
He stares at you, broken. You quickly pull him away, because you know that if he spends one more moment in there he'll break down.
You get him into a chair, then you remember that Delia's still in the room.
Alone. With a brother that's been gone for seven months. A brother she's been needing and wanting and wishing for. She's only eleven years old, how can she
deal with this when the man she looks up to more than anyone is shattering right in front of her?
You enter the room to find her sobbing on the floor, Ephram looking on helplessly. He's trying to get out of the bed, trying to pull the tubes out, and you gently
push him back down.
You fix his blanket. Wish you could fix his family just as easily.
"What are you doing?" He shouts hoarsely. "Who are you?"
You can't listen to him, because then you'd have to remember that he doesn't know who you are.
"Just a friend." You whisper, helping Delia off the floor. "Just a friend." You repeat as she collapses in your arms, clutching you like a lifeline.
"Where's my mom?" He whimpers softly, and you hear the tears he's desperately trying to hold back. "I want my mom."
"Please," you beg. "Please, just wait for the doctor."
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"Dr. Brown....." the physician looks at the stricken man, looks at you. "I'm sure you understand that your son has suffered severe head trauma. You knew of the
possibility that he might have some form of amnesia."
"He's just disoriented." Dr. Brown whispers. "Just disoriented, he'll remember in a few hours."
The physician puts a hand on his shoulder. " Dr. Brown...Andy, your son has a severe case of retrograde amnesia. He can't remember the past four years of his
life." He stares into Dr. Brown's eyes. "This is a very rare, and it cannot be taken lightly."
"He asked for his mother." Dr. Brown murmurs. "He asked for his dead mother."
"He doesn't know his mother is dead, Andy."
"Oh God."
Three heads snap around, and everyone stares at Ephram. His face is white, and his hands are shaking as he falls forward.
You run, stumble, and catch him before he hits the floor.
"I just wanted to use the bathroom." He whimpers, tears streaming down his face.
Then he passes out in your arms.
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"Why?" Dr. Brown looks at his sleeping son, but the question is for you. "Why did this happen?"
You shake your head, and choke back tears, trying to find something reassuring to say. Some answer that's acceptable.
"Did I do something wrong?" he whispers. "I tried so hard...so hard to be a good father. I moved so we could begin a new life. Have a fresh start. All I wanted
was for him to be happy."
"Dr. Brown-"
He doesn't seem to hear you. "He's been so happy these past few years." He lets out a watery chuckle. "We have great talks, and he doesn't hate me anymore."
"I don't think-"
"All I wanted was to be a good father. Just a good father." He finishes, turning and moving blindly towards the door. He mumbles the word "coffee" as he leaves
the room.
You sit down in Dr. Brown's chair, and take hold of Ephram's hand.
"Where did my dad go?"
You start at the sound of his voice, and look up at him. He rubbing the sleep out of his eyes with his free hand, and doesn't seem to notice you're gripping the
other tightly.
You don't let go.
"He went to get some coffee," you answer. "He'll be back in a few minutes." You watch as he attempts a smile, feel his hand tighten around yours.
"What happened to me?" He asks.
You shake your head, "I'm...I'm not supposed to tell you anything."
"Please-"
"Doctor's orders." You murmur.
"Please." He whispers. "Can you just...I mean...is my mother really...." He pauses, struggling with the word, "....dead?"
A shiver runs down your spine. You shouldn't answer him, you know you're not supposed to, but you can remember what it's like to be where he is. In that place
where no one will tell you anything, afraid that even the smallest truth will break you.
Something forces the word out of you. "Yes." You tell him, looking into those deep, sad eyes. "Yes, she's dead."
He shudders, and you feel his hand pull away from yours.
"Can you....can you get my dad?"
You nod, standing up, careful not to jostle his bed. You move towards the door slowly, hand reaching for the knob.
"Colin?"
You turn back, and he gazes at you, almost hopefully.
"Thank you." He says, and you smile softly at him before making your way out of the room. Trying to ignore that hopeful look as it flashes repeatedly.
You're halfway down the hall before you realize you never told him your name.
~Finis~
