The cold, harsh winds of winter swept past Annabeth as she clutched tightly the warm material protecting her. She's walking down the people filled streets of New York, bustling with merchants selling artifacts of clothing to cover one's shivering body. It was pretty much a normal weekend for Annabeth, except for the fact that it was freezing cold outside and she had a scheduled meet up with her doctor, Dr. Swiss.

If Annabeth had known earlier, she would have re-scheduled the check up for some another day other than this. She really didn't want to have another disease bugging her. Hypothermia was one of them.

As she trudged the familiar streets of the city, Annabeth looked back to the memories which seemed to occupy her thoughts for the time being.

A lot had changed. Seriously. The whole working-in-an-architectural-firm scheme she had planned brought the initial turn of events in her life. Her world had taken an upside turn, shaking all her pre-planned thoughts. As a matter of fact, Annabeth was scared. Terrified even. How could she handle a world full of chaos, of unlimited packs of surprises and of various changes she didn't want to take? All her life was built on dreams, on plans and failures. Every time she decides to battle with life, she doesn't go unprepared. Annabeth had observed all of its tactics, of its planned schema waiting to unground her. She too, had a set of plans more than the number of letters of the alphabet had. That's how prepared Annabeth was. Well, was.

She didn't thought so now. How the passive, ignorant and aloof Annabeth had transformed into an active, knowing and lively Annabeth, she didn't knew. Though the sudden change was very much unplanned, it wasn't said that Annabeth didn't liked it. Annabeth loved it. It brought a new and refreshing aura around her, making her glow even more.

But one thing Annabeth really feared was that she's drawing near, closer to that same pitch black hole that she fell before. The unwavering attraction and pulling sensation of curiosity sprung from its depths, tugging her towards the unknown end of the hole. Annabeth had fallen in the same hole before and it wasn't good.

She was broken, unmended and shattered.

And again, for the second time around, she was lead on the nearing edge of that same pitiful hole. That same pitch black hole they referred to as love.

Love. The all too familiar warmth of the word was long gone. To tell the truth, Annabeth had encountered that before and wondered how they didn't become friends. How was she always out of luck when it comes to -?

"Ow!" Annabeth was jolted out of her thoughts when something hard hit her head. She looked up to see that she collided with a telephone post, particularly the post outside Dr. Swiss' office. Just in luck.

She pushed in the massive glass doors while soothingly rubbing the soft spot in her head. The doctor's secretary greeted her warmly.

"Good morning, miss. Appointment for Dr. Swiss?" the woman asked politely.

"Yes. It's Annabeth Chase." She pushed the white envelope towards the woman and read it silently. After a few silent beats, the secretary nodded affirmatively.

"Second door on your left," the woman said.

"Thank you."

Annabeth walked through the same path over again, that she did not need the woman to tell her where to go. Dr. Swiss' office was one thing she liked to call home, where she was appreciated in full understanding. Dr. Swiss was like a mother she never had but longed to. After all, Annabeth didn't appeared to have any blood related parents except for those who truly cared for her. Her real parents were more like familiar strangers in her clouded memory and no more than that. Dr. Swiss though, she knew her face by heart, that even Prosopamnesia couldn't erase. She opened the door to Dr. Swiss' office.

There, seated in a black swiveling chair was a woman in her late 40's, brown hair cut short, but either way resembling a very matured and respected woman for her age. Black rimmed specs were seated on the bridge of her nose, her hazel eyes crinkling a little from where she smiled and her lips quirked on recognition, She put down the book she was reading earlier and moved up to hug Annabeth.

"Oh, Annabeth dear," Dr. Swiss said as she encased the young lady in her tender embrace.

"Yes, Dr. Swiss. I missed you too."

The doctor stepped back and observed Annabeth with happiness.

"How much you have grown!" Dr. Swiss exclaimed. Annabeth laughed.

"And you are certainly more charming too," the doctor praised.

"Of course, I am," she joked.

"To what do we account this sudden change, Annabeth?"

"No…one." Annabeth replied as she comfortably seated herself.

"So, it's a person huh?"

"Oh, no! It's…nothing." She stuttered.

"Oh, please Annabeth. We all know you are a terrible liar." Dr. Swiss said as she went back to her chair. "Spit it out."

Annabeth was somewhat happy that Dr. Swiss knew all about her. However, she did not need to apprehend her on being a terrible liar.

"You know Dr. Swiss, we can start now. There are other patients waiting." Annabeth suggested, trying to change the subject.

"No. I don't have patients for this particular day other than you. And you are more than a patient to me. You are like my daughter. Vitals and tests can wait. I want to know what goes in your mind and your heart right now. Tell me my dear."

Annabeth, feeling that this was the inevitable, trusted her voice to speak out her thoughts that remained unheard and the feelings she couldn't describe. She voiced this out in one swift motion, pausing at a point or two but nonetheless speaking with utter confidence Annabeth never thought she held.

Aside from that, Dr. Swiss was the very first person she trusted enough to tell of her story. She confessed everything. From the very first day of her existence and the day her mother hated her. How she struggled with difficulties in remembering people. She recalled the very first moment she realized she was sick. Not a normal sickness but so, so much more.

Flashback

Annabeth was sitting on one of the school benches, waiting for her father to fetch her. Most of the kids had already gone with their parents, and she was left with the other kids who were busy playing tag.

On that moment, a woman in a business suit came up to her, brunette hair tied in neat bun, as opposed to her golden blonde locks, and with the same intensity of gray eyes like her. In any instinct, they were easily recognized as a mother and daughter, so all were shock, especially the woman when Annabeth uttered: "Who are you?"

And life had never been the same.

She was never included in any family events or gatherings. Her classmates steered away of her. Her mother despised her. She never recalled anyone except her father, who was kind enough to let Annabeth stay, but no other than a ghost in the household. She had no one to hold on to. No one to cry on to.

'It's better to die than to endure these pains for the rest of my life.'

But, Annabeth never feared death. At least, that was she thought. And so she went on. Until she reached here.

She was no longer bounded by the chains of her family. After successfully finishing a degree, she moved and started a life on her own. On her own alone.

"So," Dr. Swiss began, breaking her out of her thoughts. "You have met a guy whom you see every day and is… super nice to you?"

Annabeth nodded.

"And you have developed a certain liking but you couldn't remember him clearly and you're afraid he'll be shocked to know what you have?"

She nodded weakly.

"Oh dear. I could never tell." Dr. Swiss hugged Annabeth. "Perhaps, you should give it a try. If he changes you for the better, then good. I could never wish more for you than your happiness. Don't worry. I'll be always right here to support you."

Tears were glistening her eyes, but she held them back. She needed to be strong by now.

She needed to show she was strong.

Like her family never did.