Chapter 2
Dr. Stevens was the first to enter the room. He wanted Melissa to feel
comfortable and see him before she saw her visitor. But when the man did
enter the room, Melissa felt her face become flush. Her heart began to beat
quickly and her palms were sweating. But nothing in her head told her why
she was reacting in this way. As far as her brain was concerned, this man
was a total stranger.
"Can I sit down?" the man asked. Melissa nodded permission. No words would come out of her mouth. "You don't remember me." The man said, taking a seat on Melissa's bed.
"I'm sorry." Melissa finally spoke. "Should I?"
Dr. Stevens had told him not to hold anything back, so the man was truthful. "My name is Michael. I live in Colorado. We." Michael wanted to tell her. But more then that, he wanted her to remember. Telling her wouldn't mean a thing if she didn't know it herself. He felt tears filling his eyes. He looked away momentarily to hide them.
Melissa placed her hand under his chin and forced him to look into her eyes. "Michael?" A single tear fell down her cheek "I remember."
"You.you remember?" Michael asked hopefully.
"I think I do." Melissa hesitated. "You and I.we're.we're engaged?"
Michael let out a cry of joy. "You do remember!" Tears of happiness could not be stopped. He threw himself at her and took her tiny body in his arms. "Oh god Melissa I thought I lost you!"
Melissa too was crying. "Michael." She said through the tears. "I'm so lost."
"I know you are.but I'm here now.I'm gonna help you remember."
Melissa backed out of his embrace so she could look into his eyes. "I know we're engaged.and I know I love you.I can feel it.but everything else.I don't even know my last name."
"Sullivan." Michael told her. "Your last name is Sullivan."
"And yours?"
"Carter."
"Like Dr. Carter?" Melissa asked.
Michael laughed. "Yes like Dr. Carter. You always loved ER."
"It was one of my favorite TV shows." Melissa recalled.
Michael took her hand and squeezed it lovingly. "See you're remembering already."
"I want to go home Michael."
"As soon as the doc says it's ok."
"Another week." Dr. Stevens said. He had escaped to the far corner of the room, to give the couple some privacy, but now, he moved closer to them. "We want to be sure you'll do alright without the medications. Once we're sure of that, you can go."
"And if I'm not alright?" Melissa wondered. She knew the effect the drugs had on her and she was terribly frightened she wouldn't be able to function without them.
"You will be." Dr. Stevens assured. "I'll leave you two alone now."
Once the doctor had left, Melissa and Michael resumed their reunion. "Do you remember anything else?" Michael asked.
"No.nothing." Melissa felt the tears trying to return.
"That's alright." Michael declared. "Ask whatever you want. I'll try and fill you in."
"Where am I from? Do I have a family? What do I do for a living? How old am I?"
"Hold on! One question at a time!" Michael laughed.
Melissa blushed. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright..Let's see where are you from? I don't know. Do you have a family? I'm not sure.
"Wait a second we're engaged and you don't know the answer to either of those questions?"
"I know it sounds bad.but you've always been secretive about your past. You always said it wasn't important to live in another life. What mattered was what was happening then and there."
"And you accepted that?"
"I tried. But I'm a historian. I live for the past. I just tried to believe you'd tell me when you were ready."
"So you know nothing?"
"Well I do know you once took a trip to Missouri, claiming you were visiting family."
"But you don't think I was." Melissa sensed.
"I'm really not sure. But I think I can help with your other two questions. What do you do for a living? Nothing. And you are twenty years old."
"I do nothing?"
"That's right. You were going to school, but when we met, you dropped out.well actually I think it's more accurate to say that you were about to start college, but decided not to go sometime right before we met."
"Why was that?"
"I think that's a story for another time." Michael suggested.
"Alright." Melissa agreed. "But I'm only twenty? When's my birthday? And how did we get engaged so fast?"
"Your birthday is May 16. You were born in 1984. When we met in 2002, you had just turned eighteen. And.well we were engaged just a short time after you turned 19. I don't know why so acted so quickly, I guess we were just in love."
Melissa tried to absorb all this new information. As overwhelming as it was, she couldn't stop there. She needed to know more. "How did we meet?"
"Now this is something you don't want to ever forget." Michael said, recalling the day he first laid eyes on her.
"Tell me about it?" Melissa begged.
"Well it was on a train." Michael began.
"A train?"
"Yep. Headed to Arizona. I was going there for my grandmother's funeral and you.well come to think of it, ya never really said why you were going there."
"I can't remember."
"It doesn't matter. You were the only one in the car when I boarded. I normally take a seat in the front, but I took one across the isle from you."
Melissa smiled. "And why would you do that?"
"Cause I thought you were the most beautiful young woman I'd ever seen."
"Oh really?" Melissa laughed. "What happened next?"
"Well you were reading a book, so I didn't want to disturb you. I just kept looking over and staring. Then later.you started to write a letter.and you were cryin.so I brought you a tissue."
"That was sweet if you."
Michael continued. "After that, we talked the whole way to Arizona. And on the train that's a few days ride."
"Sounds wonderful." Melissa sighed. "I wish I could remember it."
"You will.you already remember me."
Melissa needed to hear more. "What happened when we got to Arizona?"
"You were picked up by some people, I assumed they were your family, a man and woman, and a little boy.I left for the church."
"We didn't see each other again?"
"Now I couldn't let that happen." Michael snickered. "I got their license plate number and tracked you down."
"Didn't that take you awhile?"
"Yes it did.and when I finally found the house, you were gone."
"Gone?" Melissa gulped.
"To Colorado. The woman said you had it in your head to climb Pike's Peak all by yourself."
"Do I do things like that often?" Melissa wondered. "Run off all over the country and take such risks?"
"Only when you are in pain." Michael said. "Should I continue?"
"Yes of course." Melissa agreed. "What did you do then?"
"I got a train to Colorado of course."
"Why didn't you fly? It would have been faster."
"The same reason you didn't.we're both scared to fly."
"Oh.the train is more fun anyway."
"More time to spend with pretty girls."
Melissa blushed at such a comment. "Did you find me?"
"Yes.just before you set off to climb. I wouldn't let you go alone."
"But I refused to have you along."
"You remember?"
"No, I just somehow figured that's something I'd do."
"Yes, you refused to let me come. You said it was something you had to do on your own. I asked you to wait, and spend the day with me, and then decide."
"So we spent the day together?" Melissa assumed.
"Yes we did. And the next morning, we climbed Pike's Peak together."
"Why did I change my mind?"
"We were in love." Michael said it as if he really believed it.
Melissa tried not to believe. "I would never fall in love so quickly."
"You did.but you wouldn't admit it."
"Did you admit it?" Melissa needed to know. "Did you tell me you loved me?"
"I don't know if you want to hear this." Michael warned.
"What? Of course I want to know. I need to know."
"You were hurting so bad. When we got to the top of the mountain, you didn't want to come down."
Michael was ready to climb down, but Melissa was still sitting on that rock, staring out across the Colorado lands. "Melissa? Aren't you coming?"
"You go on ahead. I'll be along in a minute."
Michael walked over to her. When he got up close, he saw that her eyes were red. She was crying uncontrollably. "Melissa what is it?"
"Please Michael." She begged. "Please leave me alone."
"I'm not leaving you. Tell me what's wrong. Are you ill?"
"I'm fine.But you can't be here."
"Well I am here.and you aren't fine. Talk to me."
"Didn't you hear me?!" Melissa shouted. "I told you to leave!"
"You're hurting.and I won't leave you." Michael vowed.
"Michael would you trust me? You need to leave.I just need some time alone."
"Tell me what's wrong Melissa. Let me help you."
"Why would you want to help me?" Melissa wondered.
"I care for you."
"You care? You don't even know me."
"I know enough." Michael insisted.
"Enough?" Melissa cried "Enough for what?"
"Enough to know I love you."
"You don't."
"I do.and you love me."
Melissa jumped up from her place on the rock. "How dare you!"
"You do.I see it in your eyes. And I also see the pain."
"I don't want you here for this."
"Here for what?" Michael stood up and held out his hand. "We're just gonna climb down.same way we climbed up. Nothing I can't be here for." He said it as if he meant it. But he knew there was more going on here then a simple hike.
"That's not what I mean." Melissa said, letting his hand drop away from hers. She turned away and looked up at the sky.
"Then what?" he was beginning to worry.
Melissa turned back to face him. "You asked me yesterday why I came here."
"Yea."
"I came here to die."
"Can I sit down?" the man asked. Melissa nodded permission. No words would come out of her mouth. "You don't remember me." The man said, taking a seat on Melissa's bed.
"I'm sorry." Melissa finally spoke. "Should I?"
Dr. Stevens had told him not to hold anything back, so the man was truthful. "My name is Michael. I live in Colorado. We." Michael wanted to tell her. But more then that, he wanted her to remember. Telling her wouldn't mean a thing if she didn't know it herself. He felt tears filling his eyes. He looked away momentarily to hide them.
Melissa placed her hand under his chin and forced him to look into her eyes. "Michael?" A single tear fell down her cheek "I remember."
"You.you remember?" Michael asked hopefully.
"I think I do." Melissa hesitated. "You and I.we're.we're engaged?"
Michael let out a cry of joy. "You do remember!" Tears of happiness could not be stopped. He threw himself at her and took her tiny body in his arms. "Oh god Melissa I thought I lost you!"
Melissa too was crying. "Michael." She said through the tears. "I'm so lost."
"I know you are.but I'm here now.I'm gonna help you remember."
Melissa backed out of his embrace so she could look into his eyes. "I know we're engaged.and I know I love you.I can feel it.but everything else.I don't even know my last name."
"Sullivan." Michael told her. "Your last name is Sullivan."
"And yours?"
"Carter."
"Like Dr. Carter?" Melissa asked.
Michael laughed. "Yes like Dr. Carter. You always loved ER."
"It was one of my favorite TV shows." Melissa recalled.
Michael took her hand and squeezed it lovingly. "See you're remembering already."
"I want to go home Michael."
"As soon as the doc says it's ok."
"Another week." Dr. Stevens said. He had escaped to the far corner of the room, to give the couple some privacy, but now, he moved closer to them. "We want to be sure you'll do alright without the medications. Once we're sure of that, you can go."
"And if I'm not alright?" Melissa wondered. She knew the effect the drugs had on her and she was terribly frightened she wouldn't be able to function without them.
"You will be." Dr. Stevens assured. "I'll leave you two alone now."
Once the doctor had left, Melissa and Michael resumed their reunion. "Do you remember anything else?" Michael asked.
"No.nothing." Melissa felt the tears trying to return.
"That's alright." Michael declared. "Ask whatever you want. I'll try and fill you in."
"Where am I from? Do I have a family? What do I do for a living? How old am I?"
"Hold on! One question at a time!" Michael laughed.
Melissa blushed. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright..Let's see where are you from? I don't know. Do you have a family? I'm not sure.
"Wait a second we're engaged and you don't know the answer to either of those questions?"
"I know it sounds bad.but you've always been secretive about your past. You always said it wasn't important to live in another life. What mattered was what was happening then and there."
"And you accepted that?"
"I tried. But I'm a historian. I live for the past. I just tried to believe you'd tell me when you were ready."
"So you know nothing?"
"Well I do know you once took a trip to Missouri, claiming you were visiting family."
"But you don't think I was." Melissa sensed.
"I'm really not sure. But I think I can help with your other two questions. What do you do for a living? Nothing. And you are twenty years old."
"I do nothing?"
"That's right. You were going to school, but when we met, you dropped out.well actually I think it's more accurate to say that you were about to start college, but decided not to go sometime right before we met."
"Why was that?"
"I think that's a story for another time." Michael suggested.
"Alright." Melissa agreed. "But I'm only twenty? When's my birthday? And how did we get engaged so fast?"
"Your birthday is May 16. You were born in 1984. When we met in 2002, you had just turned eighteen. And.well we were engaged just a short time after you turned 19. I don't know why so acted so quickly, I guess we were just in love."
Melissa tried to absorb all this new information. As overwhelming as it was, she couldn't stop there. She needed to know more. "How did we meet?"
"Now this is something you don't want to ever forget." Michael said, recalling the day he first laid eyes on her.
"Tell me about it?" Melissa begged.
"Well it was on a train." Michael began.
"A train?"
"Yep. Headed to Arizona. I was going there for my grandmother's funeral and you.well come to think of it, ya never really said why you were going there."
"I can't remember."
"It doesn't matter. You were the only one in the car when I boarded. I normally take a seat in the front, but I took one across the isle from you."
Melissa smiled. "And why would you do that?"
"Cause I thought you were the most beautiful young woman I'd ever seen."
"Oh really?" Melissa laughed. "What happened next?"
"Well you were reading a book, so I didn't want to disturb you. I just kept looking over and staring. Then later.you started to write a letter.and you were cryin.so I brought you a tissue."
"That was sweet if you."
Michael continued. "After that, we talked the whole way to Arizona. And on the train that's a few days ride."
"Sounds wonderful." Melissa sighed. "I wish I could remember it."
"You will.you already remember me."
Melissa needed to hear more. "What happened when we got to Arizona?"
"You were picked up by some people, I assumed they were your family, a man and woman, and a little boy.I left for the church."
"We didn't see each other again?"
"Now I couldn't let that happen." Michael snickered. "I got their license plate number and tracked you down."
"Didn't that take you awhile?"
"Yes it did.and when I finally found the house, you were gone."
"Gone?" Melissa gulped.
"To Colorado. The woman said you had it in your head to climb Pike's Peak all by yourself."
"Do I do things like that often?" Melissa wondered. "Run off all over the country and take such risks?"
"Only when you are in pain." Michael said. "Should I continue?"
"Yes of course." Melissa agreed. "What did you do then?"
"I got a train to Colorado of course."
"Why didn't you fly? It would have been faster."
"The same reason you didn't.we're both scared to fly."
"Oh.the train is more fun anyway."
"More time to spend with pretty girls."
Melissa blushed at such a comment. "Did you find me?"
"Yes.just before you set off to climb. I wouldn't let you go alone."
"But I refused to have you along."
"You remember?"
"No, I just somehow figured that's something I'd do."
"Yes, you refused to let me come. You said it was something you had to do on your own. I asked you to wait, and spend the day with me, and then decide."
"So we spent the day together?" Melissa assumed.
"Yes we did. And the next morning, we climbed Pike's Peak together."
"Why did I change my mind?"
"We were in love." Michael said it as if he really believed it.
Melissa tried not to believe. "I would never fall in love so quickly."
"You did.but you wouldn't admit it."
"Did you admit it?" Melissa needed to know. "Did you tell me you loved me?"
"I don't know if you want to hear this." Michael warned.
"What? Of course I want to know. I need to know."
"You were hurting so bad. When we got to the top of the mountain, you didn't want to come down."
Michael was ready to climb down, but Melissa was still sitting on that rock, staring out across the Colorado lands. "Melissa? Aren't you coming?"
"You go on ahead. I'll be along in a minute."
Michael walked over to her. When he got up close, he saw that her eyes were red. She was crying uncontrollably. "Melissa what is it?"
"Please Michael." She begged. "Please leave me alone."
"I'm not leaving you. Tell me what's wrong. Are you ill?"
"I'm fine.But you can't be here."
"Well I am here.and you aren't fine. Talk to me."
"Didn't you hear me?!" Melissa shouted. "I told you to leave!"
"You're hurting.and I won't leave you." Michael vowed.
"Michael would you trust me? You need to leave.I just need some time alone."
"Tell me what's wrong Melissa. Let me help you."
"Why would you want to help me?" Melissa wondered.
"I care for you."
"You care? You don't even know me."
"I know enough." Michael insisted.
"Enough?" Melissa cried "Enough for what?"
"Enough to know I love you."
"You don't."
"I do.and you love me."
Melissa jumped up from her place on the rock. "How dare you!"
"You do.I see it in your eyes. And I also see the pain."
"I don't want you here for this."
"Here for what?" Michael stood up and held out his hand. "We're just gonna climb down.same way we climbed up. Nothing I can't be here for." He said it as if he meant it. But he knew there was more going on here then a simple hike.
"That's not what I mean." Melissa said, letting his hand drop away from hers. She turned away and looked up at the sky.
"Then what?" he was beginning to worry.
Melissa turned back to face him. "You asked me yesterday why I came here."
"Yea."
"I came here to die."
