A/N- Sorry it's taken me so long to update this. Anyway, thanks to everyone who entered my naming contest, and congratulations to Shimmergirl109 and Trinitystargazer3. I've decided to use the names Dylan (Shimmergirl109's suggestion) and Calder (trinitystargazer3's). But I have another challenge for you now; so far, I have sixteen fantastic reviews. But, I sorta-kinda, kinda-sorta want to double that. : ) My 32nd reviewer (flames and messages consisting entirely of smily/frowny faces don't count) will get to choose a plot point (you must be signed in with a site account so I can PM you).
By the way, if there ary any neurologists out there, I'm just working with what Google will tell me. I may have been looking at incorrect material, or not understanding something. If I'm wrong about something here, please PM me and tell me what I did wrong.
CHAPTER 4
Everything kind of passed by in a blur after that. The first thing that really stood out to my mind, which was still distracted by stomach-churning anxiousness, was how long it was taking for my mother to tell me what was going on. A few hours ago, after having me fill out some waivers, she brought Peeta down the hall for some diagnostic tests. I haven't heard back in about two hours. To say that I'm freaking out would be an understatement.
Finally, my mother comes back. But the expression on her face worries me more than her previous absense. "Katniss," she says in a soft, serious voice. " We need to talk."
Suddenly the room is spinning in every which direction. Somehow, I manage to stay steady. "What is it? What's wrong?"
She leads me down the hallway and into a darkened room with one wall lit up. "We did a CT scan to determine what most likely happened," she begins to explain as she clips a dark, fuzzy image onto the light-up section. Once against the illuminated surface, I can make out a gray blob-like picture that I assume is Peeta's brain. One area, which I notice right away, is a lighter color than the rest.
"So, Katniss, when you mentioned that you suspected a concussion, you were right." She points to the white-ish area, taking a deep breath at the same time. "This normally wouldn't be much of a problem."
"So, there is a problem?" I ask, my voice escaping as a small, terrified squeak.
"Well, the problem is the affected area. Katniss, I don't know how much biology you went over in school. But the brain is split into different areas."
"Known as regions, right?" I'm pretty sure I overheard something about that in District Thirteen. Other than that, I know pretty much nothing on this subject.
"Yes. And each region is responsible for something different. The affected one, in this case-" she trails off for a moment. Then, in a softer yet shaky voice, she continues. "It's known as the hippocampus, and it's responsible for long-term memory."
"Long-term-?" I begin, wondering why my mom is giving me a science lesson right now. Then, it dawns on me. "So, what you're saying is,-" But I can't bring myself to say it. It's almost like if I say it, it's real, irriversible, and if I don't, I'm wrong. "what you're saying is that his long-term memory is damaged, too?"
"It isn't just that, Katniss," she says, putting a comforting hand on my shoulder. "It seems to be completely gone."