Have some OQ Au, guys. And a hug.
Ameles potamos
- It's another name for the River Lethe.
"So you just… found her? Just like that?"
Robin took a deep breath, sinking into a plastic chair. "Yes, just like that," he confirmed. He looked up towards the agent – blond, soft curls pulled up in an elaborate ponytail. "I'm sorry, what was your name again?"
"Agent Emma Swan," the blonde smiled. "Look, I know this is a bit hard, but I'd like you to focus just for a moment, then I'll leave you to your job, doctor".
"Okay," he answered, and Agent Swan sat next to him, crossing her legs.
"Tell me everything you remember".
.
Beep, beep, beep.
The first thing she registered, opening her eyes, was the pain. She blinked, and flinched, sensing a sharp sting coming from her right arm. Ugh. A silver needle was stuck in her skin, and she followed the red wire with her gaze – a blood sack was hung above her head, and she had to hold herself back from the sudden wave of repulsion.
Where am I?
More wires were linked to her hand, and the pulsing sound she could hear was in sync with her heart.
Thump, thump, thump.
Blood was swirling in her veins – thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump, – it started to accelerate, and she shut her eyes – the white of the room became black, a rush of anxiety, yellow spots flashing in the darkness.
Beeep, beeeep, beeeeep.
What?
She couldn't understand – why was she so scared? The noise increased, and the almost-silence in the room became noise and confusion.
"What's happening?" a feminine voice, soft hands on her forehead, "increase the dose," sharp orders, a scream – floating in a blue sea – blue eyes? – black.
.
Beep, beep, beep.
Again, she blinked.
"Can you hear me?" a deep voice, thick accent, brought her back to reality, and she turned her head. He wasn't standing up as a normal doctor would have done – he was sitting on a chair, staring at her.
"I need you to stay calm, ma'am," he said gently. "How are you feeling?"
She could have rolled her eyes, because how did he think she was feeling, in a hospital bed, with extraneous blood in her veins? She cleared her throat, trying to think rationally.
"Where am I?"
"Saint-Margaret hospital," he immediately answered. "Do you recall anything of what happened yesterday?"
She stared at him, her mind blank for a moment, and again that sense of anxiety digging a weird feeling in her brain. "No," she finally answered.
"As we thought," he said, concerned. "Before I tell you about what I do know, I need your personal details, ma'am. You were found without an ID".
She blinked, and something clicked – or better, it was as if the fog had lifted, and she could see.
Thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump.
No.
He was looking at her expectantly, but she felt tears gather in her eyes.
"I don't remember who I am".
.
He was taken aback by her answer – he had thought she was simply lost, but this… this was a new problem. He looked at her, trying not to scare her with his worry. A woman without an identity, without her memory, he had to call Agent Swan to make the PD diffuse a picture of her – this stranger who was now blinking back tears, alone and scared…
He took the calming tone he always used with children. "Ma'am, I can imagine this is difficult…"
"Actually, you can't imagine at all," she replied weakly. "And stop calling me that. I must have a name, out there".
Robin stiffened, but didn't leave her eyes. "Alright. How will we call you, then? Any preference?"
She waved her free hand mockingly. "Oh, you choose. It will be awful, I bet".
He took a breath – this woman had lost her memory, but surely not her ability to throw snarky comments… he forced his brain to think of the most horrible names he could conjure. "Mildred? Diana? Rachel?"
"Oh please," she scoffed. "Over your dead body!"
"Fine" he brought up his hands, surrendering. She was staring at the white sheets of the bed, her expression not even amused. He tilted his head, suddenly struck by another name. "How about Victoria?"
She didn't answer immediately, but tightened her held on the blanket. "I could live with that," she whispered. "Who did find me?"
"I did."
.
He told her all. How he'd gone for a walk in the woods, as he always did after a tiring week. She could see signs of tiredness under his eyes, while he spoke. He told her how he had found her under a tree, near the river – unconscious, dehydrated and weak. Cold. So cold that he'd thought she was going to die in his arms.
How he'd carried her to his car at the edge of the forest, and drove her to the hospital where he worked, and brought her inside and entrusted her to Nurse Ratchet, while he was being questioned by an agent of the local police.
She listened without interrupting him, and when he finished the tale, she only asked him his name.
"Well, then, Robin," she told him, as if she was trying how his name would have sounded. "Thank you".
"You're very welcome," he answered. "I'll send someone check on you… Victoria".
She flinched, at that name, but nodded. He exited, with one last look… what happened to this woman?
.
It didn't take much time to find out. Her fiancé called from Afghanistan – informed by some American friends, he said he would be right back, he would be on furlough for some time. Her mother came along with her sister – the first haughty and yet caring, the second worried and scared. He watched as they embraced her. He caught her expression… she was trying, she wanted to remember those people.
Her father brought a bundle of lilies and an album of photos. She went through the pictures, dutifully, nodding once in a while, but… there was nothing about those moments, in her mind.
They discovered she was simply lost in the woods when he had found her. And that she had probably fallen, hitting her head.
Agent Swan came to see her too – apparently, she had taken to heart her case. She was the one who had found her family, and most importantly, her name. It wasn't Victoria.
It was Regina.
.
He leaned on the door of her room, one month later. She was packing, her back to the entrance, and she was startled when she heard his voice.
"So, you're leaving".
She turned, a silken shirt in her hand. "It seems so".
"I'll miss you".
Her eyes softened. "And I, you. You've been an incredible help".
"But you still don't remember".
"No".
Robin took some steps, as she placed the shirt in her bag. "Will you come and say hi, sometimes?"
She diverted her eyes – a guilty look on her face. "Actually, I… I'm moving. Daniel and I, we are going to stay in Europe – a fresh start, you know…"
His heart, inexplicably, ached. "I see," he murmured. "Well, Regina… I wish you all the best".
She looked at him, then lifted on tiptoes to brush her lips against his. Their eyes locked for a moment, and her voice was sad when she spoke again.
"Goodbye, Robin".
