An hour later, Dan was just as lost as ever. They kept mentioning things he'd never done, places he'd never seen, people he'd never met. His mother was becoming increasingly frustrated by his lack of response to the conversation, and his father kept muttering things in her ear. When Dan began to feel sleepy, he didn't even bother trying to hide a yawn. Thankfully, his mother saw and took that as her cue to leave. She reminded him that she loved him and that they were there for him, and then led his father out of the room.

His head was still aching, but it wasn't from the lump on his forehead. His brain was exhausted from straining to remember things. It was like he was in a nightmare and couldn't wake up. The more he thought about it, the bigger a chunk of his memory was missing. He didn't remember the accident, but he also didn't remember getting into the car, and he certainly didn't know which of his friends had been with him. None of his friends could drive yet, and he didn't know anyone who had their own car yet.

Before he could ponder the enigma any longer, he was shaken from his daydream by shouting outside his room.

'I don't care, I need to see him!'

'Mr Lester, please, stay calm.'

'No, just let me in.'

'He needs his rest; he's not ready to see you yet.'

'He's already had visitors today, why not me?'

'They were family.'

'Well, I'm closer than family. Get out of my way.'

'Sir-'

The door was ripped open and immediately slammed shut. Dan watched the man lean against the door for a few seconds, before slowly turning around to face Dan's bed. Dan's eyes widened as he took in the stranger's appearance. This must be the nameless friend, Mr Lester, the one in the car with him. There were cuts and bruises across the man's pale skin, and his eyes were searching Dan's face, but a sinking feeling warned Dan that something wasn't right. He'd never seen this person in his life before. How had he convinced the nurses and his parents that he was friends with Dan?

'Dan, I'm so sorry.' His voice broke on the last word, and he stepped forwards. Dan sat up and shuffled backwards, ignoring the searing pain in his chest from the movement.

'Sorry for what?' Dan said cautiously, his eyes narrowing as the stranger came closer.

'It's my fault. I wasn't paying attention to the road, and now look at you. I thought...' He stopped at the end of the bed and squeezed his eyes shut before carrying on. 'I thought you were dead. They took me away and no one would tell me where you were.'

Dan stared blankly at him. He had no memory of this man, and yet the stranger seemed to care a lot for him, judging by how upset he was about the accident.

'I don't understand. Who are you?' Dan thought aloud. The man opened his eyes and blinked slowly as he studied Dan's face.

'What? Is this a joke Dan, because it's not very funny?' The man looked as if he was going to get angry again.

Dan shook his head hurriedly; afraid this man was actually crazy and might attack him. After all, he seemed to think he knew Dan.

'It's me, Phil. Don't you recognise me Dan? I'm not that badly injured…' Phil looked almost as confused as Dan felt.

'I don't know anyone called Phil. I've never met you before in my life.' Dan glanced around the room. There must be a panic button somewhere, a cord to pull which would alert a nurse.

'Dan, stop it now. This isn't funny.' Phil stepped around the bed and came closer.

'Get away from me! Don't come any closer or I'll scream.' Dan warned, his breathing quickening as he realised the danger of the situation. He was all alone in this room with a stranger, and with the amount of needles and tubes, he couldn't exactly make a quick escape if things turned ugly.

'What are you talking about Dan? It's just me; I'm not going to hurt you.' Phil placed his hand on Dan's leg.

'Help me! Nurse! Someone help me!' Dan screeched, kicking and flailing. Within a few moments the door was slammed open and Phil was dragged out of the room by Dan's father. Dan heard his father shouting all the way down the corridor, but he couldn't bring himself to feel bad about it. His heart was thumping in his chest.

A nurse and his mother rushed into the room a minute later, both fussing over Dan unnecessarily. He had to admit to them that Phil hadn't actually hurt him or done anything except touch him.

'Oh Dan.' His mother shook her head in exasperation. 'You had us all scared then. Why were you kicking up a fuss if it was just Phil?'

'Who the hell is he?!' Dan exploded, fed up of feeling completely out of the loop. 'Why do you all go on about him so much? I've never met him before in my life, and you're all suddenly his best friend. Isn't anyone else worried about the fact that he attacked me and took me away in his car? It's lucky we crashed, or I'd never have escaped.'

'What? Dan, what are you talking about? Are you saying that Phil attacked you?' His mother dropped into the seat beside the bed and placed her hand over his.

'It's the only explanation. I don't remember it, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have just gotten in a car with a complete stranger. I'm not that stupid.' Dan couldn't believe he was the only one to have even thought about how Dan had been involved in an accident with a stranger.

'A stranger- Dan, are you saying that you don't know who Phil is?' The worry in his mother's voice was infectious, and suddenly Dan felt as if maybe he should be worried by this too.

'Yes. Finally, someone's listening to me.' Dan rolled his eyes, but his mum didn't even break a smile.

'Dan, what is the date today?' The nurse piped in suddenly.

Dan blinked at her random change of subject, before answering.

'Well, my birthday was a couple of weeks ago, so I think it's around the 20th of June. I'm not sure; everything is a bit hazy at the moment.'

She nodded slowly, before speaking again, very slowly.

'And what year is it?'

Dan laughed, expecting her to laugh too, but her face was deadly serious.

'It's 2009.' He stated. His mother gasped loudly, and before Dan had time to ask what was wrong, she had fainted.