Chapter 5 Days past, and Michael kept finding excuses not to continue his tale. By the time she was ready to be released from the hospital, Melissa had still not been told about that night. Michael had stayed by her side, but never again spoke of their past.

The morning of her release, Melissa had had enough. "I want to know Michael. Tell me now or I'm not leaving."

"You are a stubborn one Melissa Sullivan." Michael laughed.

"I'm tired of excuses. I need to know. I need to remember."

Michael finally gave in. "Alright I'll tell you."

It was past midnight when Michael and Greg got back to the house. "Stay here." Greg instructed before going upstairs.

He came back down and ran around the first floor. "She's gone." He said under his breath.

Michael tried to follow his friend, but he kept dashing around corners, as if he was looking for something. "Who? Who's gone? What's going on Greg?"

Greg finally stopped, knowing he would not find her. "Melissa. She was here. That's why I wanted you to come here."

"No.You're lying."

"I'm not. She was here."

"And you left her here alone?!" Michael shouted.

"What was I supposed to do? She wanted to surprise you. She begged me not to tell you she was here. She needed you too see for yourself. That's why I had to come get you. She said she'd wait."

"But she didn't Greg! She's gone!"

Michael took off out the door. He couldn't stay there. He ran and ran, not able to stop until he saw her. She was sitting by the creek that surrounded their property. Michael felt chills go down his spine, but he knew that they weren't from the cold. "Melissa?"

Melissa's head shot around at the sound of his voice. But she did not get up. "You came." She said quietly.

Michael rushed to her side and took her in his arms. "I thought I'd lost you."

"I'm sorry." Melissa said, burying her head in his chest. "Forgive me."

"There's nothing to forgive. You're here now and that's all that matters."

"I wanted to wait in the house.Greg said it wouldn't take long.but I just couldn't. I couldn't be there without you."

"I know what you mean." Michael felt her small body shiver. "It's freezing out here. Let's get inside."

"I.I need some help." Melissa said.

Michael stood up and went to help her up as well. But she couldn't stand. "Carry me?" she begged.

Worry crept over him, but Michael did not ask questions. He simply scooped her into his arms and headed back to the house. Melissa settled in his arms and placed her head against him. Here was the only place she felt safe.

When they reached the house, Michael took Melissa upstairs to the master bedroom. When he placed her on the bed, he saw the bruises on her legs. She was only semi-conscious so she didn't notice him move her skirt up further. Her entire right leg, and much of her upper left thigh, were black and blue. Michael ran his hand gently over the injuries. How had this happened?

"I never found out what happened." Michael told her. "I asked you, but you never told me."

Melissa was crying by the time he finished. "Michael I want to go home."

He hugged her gently. "We're going soon.I promise."

Greg had come to the hospital to meet them. Michael rounded the corned of the hallway, slowly pushing Melissa in the wheelchair. Just outside the door, they spotted the red Chevy cavalier. "My goodness Melissa, it's good to see you." Greg greeted.

"Greg?" Melissa assumed.

"Hey you remember. That's great."

"No I don't." Melissa confessed. "I guessed."

"I've been telling her about the past." Michael told Greg. "To help her remember. You came up a few times."

"Oh.Well don't worry. You'll get your memory back soon enough." Greg was confident. "You already remembered Michael. That's a good start."

"I guess so." Melissa said.

"Come on." Greg invited. "Let's get you home."

Michaela carefully helped Melissa into the car and then climbed in beside her. Greg placed a few pillows under her leg, which was immobilized in a large brace. He then went around to the driver's side. Melissa heard the engine start and settled into Michael's arms. "Tell me more." She asked hopefully.

"Alright." Michael agreed. "What do you want to hear?"

"When you proposed."

"Well let's see.you came back right before Christmas of 2002. I guess we moved into the house when spring came, so around April. I didn't propose until June."

"Why did you wait so long?"

"I knew I wanted to marry you the minute I met you. But you had been through a lot and I didn't want to rush you. I had to be sure you were ready."

"Tell me." Melissa urged.

"It was June 16th."

"P-day."

"Yes. P-Day. But I was determined to make this a happy P-Day." A wave of shock washed over the young man. "Wait...Melissa.you said P-Day."

"June 16th, P-Day. Of course."

"You remember P-day?"

A huge smile erupted from Melissa's lips. "I remember!"

"Tell me." Michael begged. "Tell me what you know."

"In the hospital.you came to see me."

"Yes, keep going." Michael exclaimed excitedly.

Melissa hated the hospital. For reasons she couldn't bring herself to tell anyone, she wanted to die. Her doctors were no help. They gave her drugs that did tend work, but other then that, she considered them useless. They didn't listen when she tried to speak unless she was saying she didn't want to die. To make it worse, one of them believed she was anorexic. The daily badgering of what she had eaten and the constant watch of her bathroom habits were more then she could take. Her only hope of carrying on was the daily visits from Michael.

Michael knew just what to say to make the happenings of the day disappear. He never made Melissa talk. He knew she would when she was ready. Somehow, he convinced her that life was worth living.

It was one month after the incident at Pike's Peak that Michael suggested the idea of P-Day. "It stands for Pike's Peak, but we can add pain, patience and plans." He told her.

"I don't think I want to celebrate that day." Melissa said.

"It's not to remember that day.it's to celebrate what we have now.so that we always will know what brought us together.What made us so close. That's what the plans are for.to plan our future together."

"Like our anniversary."

"Exactly."

"Well when you put it like that, it doesn't sound so bad."

"We'll make the real P-day on June 16.but today.is one month afterwards. We should celebrate how far you've come."

"I don't want to stay here anymore Michael."

"I know you don't. As soon as you're well, we'll get us an apartment together."

"And every year, we'll go to Pike's Peak."

"You really want to do that?"

"It's my favorite spot. Like you said, we'll be remembering the good things that came away from that day.not the bad."

"You really do remember!" Michael beamed.

"Not everything. But I remember some things. I remember everything from the hospital." Melissa shuddered at the memory. "And.I remember the house.Michael I remember the house!"

"It's still there waiting for us."

"I love that house."

"You do indeed."

"Do you remember anything else?" Michael asked.

Melissa thought hard. "The things you told me.about leaving and coming back.but I don't know if I really remember or I'm just thinking about what you told me."

"Where did you go when you left?"

"Missouri."

"Where in Missouri?"

"I don't know." She admitted.

"You don't remember.but you will.it's all coming back.slowly but surely."

"You proposed on P-Day?"

"You wanted to go to the mountain so we did."

Before Michael could continue with recalling the proposal, he saw that they were just about to the airport. "We're almost there." He said.

"I thought you said we are scared of flying." Melissa said nervously.

"We are. But the doctor said it's best to get you home as soon as possible."

"He said it's safe for me to fly?"

"Perfectly."

"Did you two drive all the way to Boston?"

"No." Michael said. "I flew.so I'd get here quickly.I had Greg drive up to take us home. But then we decided to fly."

"I see." Why she was scared of flying, Melissa couldn't say. But the mere thought of getting on a plane made her uneasy.

"I'm just going to make sure you get out safely and then I'm going to drive back." Greg said, pulling up to the terminal entrance.

Melissa took a deep breath and opened her door. Michael quickly came around to help her out. "You're sure we have to do this." Melissa said as they made their way to the gate. She was uncomfortable as it was. Wherever she stood, her leg throbbed from the gravity pulling on the heavy brace. Her head was constantly aching and her face still tingled in a few spots where they had repaired the torn skin. Being up and around and on pain pills was a bad mix to start. Being fearful of the flight was only making things worse.

"We don't have to." Michael said. "I just wanted what's best."

"I don't think I can fly Michael." Melissa was getting more noticeably agitated as the minutes passed.

Michael tried to calm her. "Shh. It's alright."

"Can't Greg take us back?" she pleaded.

"You sure?"

"I can't Michael. I don't know why I'm so afraid, but I can't."

Michael looked over at Greg who was waiting for them to board before leaving. "I could use the company." Greg smiled.

"Alright." Michael said. "Looks like we're taking a road trip."