Page 41 of Forgotten
Ford gets up and walks out of my bedroom. “Besides, it was too much tongue. Get up now, I made us toasties. Wanna piss about the twins’ PlayStation?”
Chapter 15
2024 - Ashford
When I wake up, there’s a warm body wrapped around me. One heavy arm is holding my hip in place and one leg cages me to the mattress. A soft, regular breath tickles my neck, and I’m comfortable. Cosy. The soft brace is much better to sleep in, or maybe it’s the feeling of Ash sleeping with me. Or the overwhelming feeling of home.
I don’t want to move. I don’t want to face the day, be reminded every second that I have a faulty brain and a broken body.
So I don’t.
I slow down, I take it easy. Pushing the questions away, I close my eyes and I snuggle into Ash’s embrace. Uncaring of the time, of the weather, and of the day.
Ash is where I belong, no matter my relationship with him. No matter the year.
When I stir and turn onto my back much later, something is off. I’m alone in bed, and knowing Ash got up and left me here alone stings. I flex the fingers of my right hand, bending the wrist back and forth expecting a different kind of pain to hit me, any pain other than theone in my chest. I guess I have to agree with Doctor Parker: I’m doing great, just my brain is crap.
When I finally leave the soft bed the house is silent. I don’t waste time exploring further. My first and only mission is finding Ash.
With bare feet and boxer shorts, I walk through the hallway and downstairs, sleepy eyes scanning the space. When I reach the kitchen the smell of coffee hits my nostrils and I have to pause operation Ash. Without thinking, I open a cabinet where a collection of mugs of various colours and shapes stares back at me. I pick the only black one and start the espresso machine.
And maybe it’s a mixture of somnolence and old habits that lead me and my mug of coffee through the doors leading to the patio.
I’m about to slide it open when I catch Ash on his way back inside.
“Good morning!” Ash greets me with a smile.
“You smoked?” I ask, and I’m not sure why exactly.
Guilt paints Ash’s features and his eyes lower. Clearing his throat, he blinks. “Yeah, sorry. It’s been hard.” And then, Ash looks up. “You remembered?”
I study the planes of his face, dread and hope warming his cheeks. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be remembering, so I shake my head.
Ash opens his mouth and then closes it again. He spots the black mug I’m holding and he takes a step back, letting me out on the patio with him. “Sit with me?” Ash holds a chair out for me.
It’s a simple offer, and I’m curious how many times we have sat at this very table together, sipping our drinks early in the morning or late at night. It’s almost a relief to see that England has decided to welcome me home with overcast skies and a drizzle. Ash and I sit in silence, staring at the red bricks of the house behind ours. After weeks of sun whilst I was trapped in the hospital, I’m thankful for the familiar weather.
“How did you know which cabinet?” Ash is tapping his fingers on the table, avoiding my gaze but I know he’s referring to the black mug I’m holding. I take a sip of coffee and savour the way it shoots adrenaline and anxiety straight to my veins.
“I didn’t.” I pause. “I don’t.”
Popping his tongue, Ash argues, “But you do.”
“Mmh.” I guess?
“And you also knew I’m not supposed to be smoking,” Ash adds.
“Why did you stop?” I ask, and when Ashley doesn’t reply, I look up.
Blue eyes are looking at me patiently, offering understanding and all the time I need to catch up with myself.
I’d do anything for you,he’d told me at the hospital. I know it’s the truth.
“The kid?” I guess and it’s a safe one.
Ash hums. “And you.”
“Me?”
