But no one jumps out of a corner to arrest me, so…
My inquiry is met with a portion of her life story. She’s been throwing herself at a guy who doesn’t know she exists. Her parents are angry at her for falling behind in her classes. She’s lost the only two friends she’s made because she hates pretentious food bloggers. She’s here to see her advisor, Dr. Fraine, in hopes that she’s not booted.
I chew my thumbnail while patting her back with my other hand. Each time I open my mouth to offer her encouraging words, she starts in about something else.
“You’re sweet. What did you say your name is?” she says between hiccups.
Well, I didn’t get a word in edgewise.
“You can call me Bizzy.” We’re not likely to ever cross paths again, but I don’t want to seem rude by pointing that out to her.
“Really? Is that a nickname? I’m Jen, by the way.” She never lets me answer any of the questions before launching into how crushed she is that one of her former friends called her too emotional.
The doctor’s assistant appears from the short hallway outside his office. “Elizabeth Ahrens?”
Jen stops mid-thought in confusion, “Is that you?” She sniffs, bringing her hand up to wipe the tears on her cheek. My eyes snag on the bracelet adorning her dainty left wrist.
A unique figure eight gold chain with an infinity symbol and a green stone. My stomach plummets at the mere sight of it. It has to be the one I passed off at the airport.
As the smartly dressed, middle-aged woman calls my name a second time, I can’t pull my eyes from the jewelry.
Why does it freak me out?
Jen taps me. “Hey, is that you?” She points to the woman walking our way.
Murmuring yes, I snap to attention.
I turn to wave at Jen, but she’s busy texting when I look back. The damn bracelet draws my eye again, sparkling under the light coming in from the window.
Dr. Fraine’s office, tucked behind French doors, is all dark wood, deep greens, with touches of purple. Regal is the word that comes to mind. The accolades and degrees dotting his walls reassure me that I’m in experienced hands, even if my stomach is rioting from being on this campus.
“Have a seat. I’ll send Emily, Dr. Fraine’s nurse, to check you in.”
She opens a door off his office that reveals a clinical exam room with a rolling blood pressure machine and a large computer screen on one wall. I see the painting of a stone bridge over a stream, my mouth drops open.
I know that… I think?
I’ve been aggravated before over my unpredictable mind. The memories that have disappeared, and certainly the strange resurfacing of some. But the shock of seeing that picture brings on a vivid memory.
“Why would you do that?” I laugh at him, his hand tangling with mine. “No one is buying any of my work.”
“You underestimate yourself.” Kissing my hand, he pulls me close. His half smile and blue eyes make my heart flutter.
I can’t hold him tightly enough as he kisses the top of my head. The painting lying on his desk, of the stone bridge over the Untuga stream at Rock Am, has been wrapped with a silent auction tag on it.
The door to his office shuts, pulling me back to the present. Tears fill my eyes over these unexplainable memories. They don’t make sense. But neither does the connection I have to this mystery guy.
After taking my vitals and having me fill out a questionnaire, the nurse leaves me to wait for Dr. Fraine. I slip out of my clothes as directed by the nurse, donning a scratchy hospital gown. My heart pounds, the rhythm radiating up my throat as my nerves work double time. I just want answers… is it leukemia?
I find myself staring hard at the painting that made me remember him. The dark-haired, elusive ache. But it doesn’t trigger any more memories… or hallucinations, which leaves me frustrated.
The teasing snippets of memory are getting to me.
I hear the office door outside the exam room open as Dr. Fraine says, “Thank you for your patience.” He takes off his green faculty blazer as he walks in.
A distinct air surrounds me. Warm and all-consuming.
My mouth drops open when he looks up.
