“Give yourself a chance. You’ll remember when you’re ready. In the meantime, take care of yourself. And by the way, I liked all your story outlines. When you’re feeling better, we can talk about them.”
“What outlines?” Kaden asked.
“Ah yes, you don’t remember. When we finished the last book, we discussed another. Aya taso woqia kha yast? Aya taa tar fashar landy yay?”
“Zaa kha yam. Naa, zaa tar fashar landy naa yam.”Oh fuck.Kaden’s breath punched out of him.
His dad’s eyes widened.
Alistair chuckled. “Semantic memory intact, but not autobiographical. Fascinating. You know where I am if you want to talk.”
“Thank you.”
The call ended. “What language was that?” his dad asked. “It wasn’t Russian. What did he say? What didyousay?”
“He asked in Pashto if I was really all right or if I was being forced to say that. And I answered.”
His dad gave a sigh of disbelief. “When did you learn Pashto?”
“No idea.” He sipped water.
“Why wouldn’t you tell me you were learning it? It isn’t something you can pick up overnight.”
“I don’t know, Dad.”
“You said Jalis spoke excellent English. Did he teach you Pashto when you were gaming?”
“I have no idea who Jalis is.”
After his dad explained, Kaden was even more confused.
“You don’t remember inviting him to stay with you?”
“No. If it happened since I went to Lixian, that would be very quick, not just to know someone well enough to let him stay with me but to learn a language. And I don’t recall playing on my PS4 for ages. Harris wasn’t a fan.”
His dad hesitated. “Which brings us back to Harris.Couldhe have assaulted you? I’m asking for the possibility here.”
Kaden tensed.
“Kaden!” His dad almost growled his name. “Has he hurt you in the past?”
“A few times.”
“Oh my God. Don’t you dare tell me any of it was your fault.”
Kaden shook his head. “Only for staying with him after the first time he hurt me. But if I finally dumped him, that’s good.”
“Then why did he come to the hospital? You think he was making sure you weren’t going to report him?”
“His name and yours were in my phone. The nurse said they’d called you both. You were probably in class with your phone off, which is why they phoned him. But I don’t think Harris did this. Something he said to me…” Well, he wasn’t going to repeat the monster cock comment to his dad. Harris might not care that he’d been hurt, but this time, Kaden really didn’t think he was responsible. “I don’t think it was him.”
“Maybe it was this Afghan. Jalis.”
“Then why didn’t he take my phone and wallet? There was cash in it.”
“You want to hear my theory?” His dad stirred the risotto and added a splash of white wine. “I think Jalis used you to get into the country. Told you he was gay when he wasn’t. You met. Maybe you tried to kiss him. He’d have reacted badly. He might not have meant to hurt you but he did, then he panicked and ran.”
“But what did he do to me?” Kaden’s hand slid onto his throat.
