E L A R A

I glimpse at the nurse, she smiles at me, "He's Neville" she says. I look at him staring at me, his expressions are unreadable.

The nurse gives me my damaged mobile which has been kept with them ever since I'm admitted here to this hospital.

"Her physical condition is pretty much better now, I don't think there's any need for her to live under medical security anymore. Just don't pressure everything of her past on her at once, take it slowly." the doctor says to Neville glancing at me,

"Here is the list of medicines you need to buy from the medical store, we would give her leave within a few hours. Please talk to me once in my cabin before going." he says to him and leaves, giving the piece of paper in his hands.

The nurse left behind the doctor too. Now it's just him and me here. God, why I'm feeling all nervous suddenly? Get your shit together Elara.

He fists the paper inside his pocket, walks near me and sits on the chair beside the bed I'm sitting on. I can see his left ear pierced with a Jesus cross earring.

He take out his mobile and started scrolling it, looking at it with sleepy eyes.

He doesn't look up at me, he's sitting like he just melted on this chair. Both of his thumbs working on his mobile screen fluently, is he playing mobile games while a patient with a broken hand is sitting beside him?

This mobile-worm wears rings too.

Gothic rings.

He is gorgeous. His dark brown hairs scattered on his forehead, embracing his cheeks in the most endearing way.

I don't think he's going to talk first, so I decided to break the silence, "Hey?" I say. He still doesn't look up at me, he's totally ignoring me.

I see light illuminated off his sharp bone structure, giving his facial features a perfect death blow. His piercing eyes flash hiding a hot intensity behind them.

"Thanks for your help, Neville" I say and smile. He finally turns his head towards me and looks at me, all numb.

He doesn't say anything and started scrolling on mobile again.

I swear the corner of his lips moved slightly upward giving me a small smile.

Can't he say any word? Is he mute?

He can be deaf too.

"I'm Elara by the way..." I say. He again doesn't look up at me, I guess I'm just hurting my ego sitting here talking to a statue.

I see his fingers has very small tattoos on them too, they're so attractive. I realise a very pleasant and delightful smell of perfume has been filling my nostrils, it's so good. "I see you don't want to talk... I won't force you... thanks for your help again, I'll pay you back everything once I get stable..." I say and stand up from my bed.

I gradually take steps away from the bed and stop on my way as I listen to a sudden voice with a soft and warm tone, "Where are you going?"

I turn my face to him, looking at him staring into my eyes. I'm shocked hearing those four words from his mouth, he finally spoke.

His voice isn't something I predicted at all. He has the voice of an angel. It's deep, gruff, and light baritone vocal type. His voice is like pure silk.

"I need to use washroom" I say, looking at him over my shoulder.

"Oh I'm sorry." he says and jerks his face away, on his mobile again. I can see mobile has not gotten his full attention yet. His expression screams regret, a regret of asking me, a regret of speaking at the wrong time. I chuckle.

I open the door and enter the bathroom, I lock it from inside and look into the mirror. My eyes are wet and shining like crystals, but still red from that cry, clouded with months of pain, obstructed by my thinning hair.

Looking at my straight, short and blonde hair, I bit my curved plump lips, they're bruised.

So this is how I look. Honestly, I look like a mess, and with these hospital clothes, I look a bigger mess.

The tattoo on my wrist catches my attention before I could think about anything else. I move it near my eyes and glance at it, realising how pretty attractive they are.

Numerous butterflies drew one after another.

This is beautiful.

I turn on the tap and wash my face with cold water. As I splash the water on my face, I feel kind of relieved and calm. I need a warm shower, I'll do it once I get back home.

I feel my tears mixing up with the water droplets on my face when I realise I don't have any home anymore. Whatever I have, it's somewhere far away from here. Not home, it's a house. Because a house without a family never feels home enough to any soul.

Why did they have to leave so soon? I sniff and dry my face with a towel. I tie my hair with my scrunchie. Just when I get out of the washroom, I see the chair is empty. He's gone.

I sigh and walk to the bed. Why's he treating me like this? Doesn't he like talking or he doesn't like me? I know I'm a boring nerdy girl but my company isn't THAT bad, is it?

I huff and pick up my mobile, it's switched off. It's broken and the screen is crushed. I turn it on and see it's locked. I don't remember the pin. I can reset it, but I don't want to. I won't do that, I want to know what's inside it.

I see the lock wallpaper I have on it, it's me. I'm dressed in party wear, a beautiful black mini dress, white shoes, hairs coloured in brown, glossy lips and I've makeup on my face too. The dress is so simple but look so damn good on me. It's too short though.

But who cares?

Suddenly I feel my mobile vibrating in my hands, I instantly hold it tightly with both of my hands and look at somebody's calling me.

"Uncle James" I murmur reading the contact name and picking up the call, switching it on speaker.

I don't hear anything from there, I move the mobile near my ears, "Hello?" I exclaim.

"Ela! My child" somebody shouts from there in a sorrowful voice and I lost the balance on my phone, it falls down with a small blare.

I pick it up and hear carefully, "Ahm... Uncle James?" I mumble.

"Yes yes yes I'm James, why are you sounding so shocked? Oh god, I've been trying hundredth of times to call you for the last three days, I heard the news of the accident. I was so shocked Ela... I called you back today just when I saw the notification saying your number is available. How are you?! Are you okay?!" he says, his voice being so cracked and deep, sounding like he's so old.

"I- I'm ok Uncle... I just... the doctor said I'm... I lost my memories due to that...accident" I hesitate and say. For seconds, I don't hear anything from there. "Uncle?"

"You lost your memories due to that accident?!" he shouts out of his lungs which instantly makes me think how can this old man have this much energy, "You don't remember me?... Oh, Jesus... I'm your neighbour, James Hatt. You're still in LA?"

"Yeah... I'm in the hospital, I just woke up, I was unconscious all these days..." I reply.

"Oh. I was coming there to see you, but I wasn't able to as you are a continent away. Thank god you picked up the call. Are you coming back here? Your parents gave me the duplicate key of your house, so don't worry about that and come back soon" he says and pauses as he was getting out of breath, I hear him sigh.

"I... I don't want to go to that house anytime soon..." I mumble.

The doctor said to me it won't be good if I pressure myself by remembering my past all at once, and like the things in that house must be nothing but filled with memories of them and my life. "I would come back when I feel alright..." I say.

"I understand. I can send you money- oh wait you must have your payment applications connected with your bank accounts. You can use that. If you face any problem, call me-"

"I don't remember my password uncle..." I interrupt, I wouldn't be able to do anything with this mobile.

"Oh silly... Try the birth year or birth date of Alex Turner or anything" he says and a small smile touches my lips, it seems like he knows me too well. "6 Jan 1986 isn't it?" he says and laughs.

"Choose one of the best hotels with the best security to stay, okay? Take care, bye my child, talk to you again soon" he says.

"Sure. Bye Uncle" I say with a cheerful tone and decline the call. My parents gave him the key to our house, he must have been so trustworthy and a good person to us.

So it's time to unlock my mobile.

I switch it on and try 1986. It's wrong.

I tap 611986, It's again wrong. I try 06011986, it's wrong too.

Phone locked. Try again in 30 s.

Fuck my life.