Page 25 of Written In Flesh

Skully

LESS THAN 48 hours after Aunt Loreli discovered that my dad had been having me investigated, the spell that Madden cast on me was lifted, and the gates of the past were broken open. My social media is flooded with people reaching out to me, mostly being nosey about my memory, and many more are being cruel and bullying me about what happened. My dad was finally able to reach out, and now I am being summoned back to River Falls. I had fought against it with my aunt, only to discover that she was being compelled to send me back, and every time we challenged his decision, it caused her pain. I could not understand my dad’s adamancy about needing me to live with him in that terrible town where something bad clearly happened to me. A parent should care about their child’s well-being; mine only seemed to care about appearances.

My bags are packed, and my flight is booked, yet I still can’t wrap my head around the cross-country move. Simple. Unworthy. Playtime. Were all words my dad used to describe the life I’d been building here in California. He looked down on my choice of education at the community college and reiterated that this was the reason Aunt Loreli shouldn’t have ever been my guardian. He forgets that he abandoned my mom when she was pregnant with me in order to protect his family name. As much as I want his approval and love, I will not sacrifice who I am to get it.

Right as I shove my favorite pair of boots into the suitcase, there’s a knock on the front door, followed by a chime of the doorbell.

“Skully, can you grab that?” my aunt calls from the back of the apartment, where she’s washing the last load of clothes before I’m done packing.

Hurriedly, I jog down the hallway and open the door.

“Oh my gosh! You’re alive! You’re here! I missed you! You look so tan!” A girl about my age, with rich, olive tan skin and light blonde hair jumps up and down, clapping her hands. My eyes widen, taking in her bright yellow sundress and white cardigan. The heels on her feet click against the floor with every step she takes. The little pearl earrings she wears glint in the lights. She watches me expectantly, waiting for me to recognize her, but I don’t. Slowly, the realization dawns on her, and that big, hopeful smile dims. Her eyes turn glassy, like she might cry.

“I’m sorry,” I blurt out, just hoping she doesn’t break down outside my front door.

She waves me off and blinks rapidly. “It’s okay. It was stupid and impulsive of me to just fly here without checking to see if you might remember me. I thought that was just another nasty rumor.” She pulls a hankie out of a hidden pocket in her dress and dabs under her eyes.

“You’re from River Falls, I take it?”

She nods her head and gives me another huge, tearful smile. “I’m Baylee. We were pretty much best friends when you lived there. I heard that your dad and the council wanted you to come back. My dad is on the council too, and I had him get your aunt’s address so I could surprise you. I hope that doesn’t sound creepy or anything. I hadn’t heard from you and was worried.”

I wait for her to be done; her hands move the entire time she talks until my lips kick up in the corners. “I wish I remembered. There were some interferences, and I wasn’t able to contact anyone in River Falls.”

I explain the best I can without mentioning Madden and his curse. Baylee nods her head and gives me another warm smile. “After the way things ended, it’s nice you had the reprieve. Still, I missed you. Freshman year of college was not the same without you and the plans we made.”

I hear my aunt moving in the apartment behind us, followed by the sound of packing tape. Even though I have tons more to pack, part of me really wants to talk more with Baylee. My brain may have forgotten her, but my magic is getting warm fuzzies in her presence. Lately, I’ve been trying to reconnect and trust my magic. With Baylee, I think I can do the same.

“Do you want to come in?”

Baylee lights up and nods her head. “Yes! Do you need help packing or anything? I can help.”

“I think we got it covered.” Loreli comes breezing in and holds out her hand to Baylee. “I’m Skully’s aunt. It’s so nice of you to come out and see her.”

“I missed her. Thought maybe it would be nice to see a friendly face before coming back. It’s been a long time.” Baylee smiles at my aunt, and we both follow her farther into the house.

“Well, if you girls want to go hang out, I was planning to just order Chinese for dinner. Baylee, would you like to stay?”

I glance at the girl claiming we’re best friends and see the way her eyes round; it looks like she may drool a little bit. “You should definitely stay.”

“I would love to. Can we get General Tso’s chicken? Do you eat that?” Baylee is practically bouncing on her toes, and it hits me suddenly that yes, we are friends. I don’t need a memory; I can feel it.

“It’s a staple in this household,” I reassure her before leading her upstairs. “Thanks, Aunt Lore!”

Baylee follows behind me, taking in the pictures hanging on the wall that document my life growing up with Loreli. It isn’t until we get to my room that I remember how bare it is. Everything is packed away except the bed and the vanity chair. Loreli plans to keep my room set up for me if I come to stay, though both of us know there’s a chance my dad might not let me leave again.

Baylee sits gingerly on the edge of my bed, and I lean against the now-empty dresser. I don’t know why I feel nervous, but I do. “So how are things back in River Falls?”

Her perfectly-shaped blonde brow lifts. “River Falls is the same as ever. The council is preparing for the annual fall festival. At the university, classes are starting next week, so everyone is getting ready to head back to campus. Except the athletes. They all went back this week.”

My eyes flick to the window while I process what Baylee has told me so far. None of her words have pierced my memory. “I don’t remember.”

Baylee sighs, and I watch as her hands move into her lap, folding neatly. “Honestly, it might be better that way before you come back.”

“Was I an awful person?” I ask the one question that’s been eating at me since I woke up, when I came face-to-face with Madden.

She’s silent, and it’s enough to bring my eyes back to hers. Baylee’s thoughtful gaze flicks over my face, and I see the way she’s contemplating her words. “Not to me. I never saw you be mean or awful to anyone. You’re different. Or you were different then, maybe. You were more prickly but never mean. It was like you carried the weight of the world on your shoulders, and you were trying your hardest to take on the role of a future council member that your dad wanted for you.”

“No wonder I was probably a bitch all the time,” I scoff, a smile tugging at my lips. Baylee giggles lightly before taking her cell phone out of her pocket.