Unexpected

The next morning Adelyn's going out of her mind with anxiety. She wanted this, a chance to talk to her, to apologize, to explain. Scrambling around her room with an utter lack of organization she clamors through troves of clothing, throwing shirts around left and right.

"No too ugly, too long, too bright. Ugh why are all my clothes so bad!" she fumes. Her desire to find the perfect outfit was entirely irrational and even she couldn't understand why it mattered so much. She tries to reason with herself "Just get in, apologize and get out. That's all you have to do. You could look like utter crap and it wouldn't matter. That's how short the interaction will be. She won't even remember your face after you've left." that last bit gave her heart a twinge of pain.

"Do I want that?" she stops walking and shakes her head "It's not about what I want here" she begins pacing again "What do I want?" with that developing thought she contemplates why she wants to go speak to Sandra so badly. Was it to get a sense of reprieve from her guilt, was it for her own selfish desires or is it really to help Sandra get closure and get back to her life. These thoughts fogging her mind "Am I really just as selfish as Mary had said." she asks aloud, the sounds of her voice trailing off in the silence only interrupted by a gentle ticking of a clock that sits upon her dresser.

She glances up at it "Shit he'll be here any minute" she hurriedly grabs the first semi-decent, non dirty piece of clothing within arms reach. She throws it over her head while simultaneously searching for her jeans and shoes. Rushing into her on-suite bathroom she runs a brush through her long strawberry hair catching only a few times before tying it up in a pony tail and blandishingly tossing her bangs about trying to add the right amount of flare to them. The loud banging sound echoing in the living room signals that her ride as arrived and that she was out of time. Rushing from her room, passing the living area she almost forgets her purse lying on the kitchen island. While reaching for it she spills a tall thermal of coffee splashing warm dark liquid all over her bag. The spill going unnoticed in her haste.

"Hey sorry, I'm ready." a stray hair falls in front of her face, she's noticeably anxious.

"Alright, you OK? " Lukas asks as he notes the disheveled clothing.

"Yeah, perfect. " they pile into the car. Adelyn sitting across from Lukus in the drivers seat. Adelyn sets her bag on her lap as they pull out of her driveway gently accelerating down the street.

"Does she know I'm coming? " her knuckles turning white as she grips the leather strap of her bag.

"Yeah, it was her idea mostly." noticing the paleness of her face he asks "Are you nervous?"

"No" she says quickly "Maybe a little." she looks down at her hands relaxing them slightly, at this moment she notices a moistness on her fingers. At first she disregards it as sweat until she smells the heavy scent of coffee. Raising one hand to her nose she begins to pin point the scent. noticing the glossy brown moisture on her palms she asks Lukas "Do you happen to have any napkins?"

"No, why? " he asks while concentrating on the road.

"It seems I have spilled coffee on myself somehow" her voice hesitant like a child admitting she had wet herself.

"Oh, um... Here." he reaches behind his seat with one arm retrieving a large wrinkled t-shirt "It's clean I swear " noting the almost disgusted look upon her face when handing it to her.

"Uh.. thanks" she wipes her hands on the white shirt contrasting it with subtle brown patches. She investigates the source of the moisture opening up her purse to discover a soupy brown liquid supporting multiple lip balms and plastic wrapped tampons that has risen to the surface. She fears to wonder what happened to the rest of her belongings. Debating on whether to mention the soup or not she tries to think of how she might be able to resolve the problem on her own. 'I could go to the restroom and pour it out there, but what if it seeps though to my clothes? I could open the tampons allowing them to soak up the coffee? but what if it's not enough? I could use the shirt Lukas gave me to dry up the rest, but it will completely ruin his shirt... " as she stares into the dark sloshing liquid contemplating what to do next Lukas pulls into a gas station.

"There's a bathroom over there if you want to wash up, I gotta get gas anyway."

"Thank god" the words escaped her, most likely seeming over dramatic. Carefully she totes the bag into the bathroom dumping it's contents into the sink, careful not to clog the drain with her products. A quick rinsing was good enough for most of the odds and ends, the rest ended up in the trash. Adelyn filled the bag with paper towels resting in between anything she could salvage. Afterward the strong coffee smell was lesser but not quite gone. She spots her hand cream, the kind her grandmother always used before she passed away, and decided to apply an almost excessive amount to her hands and arms in attempt to cover up the coffee. When she got back in the car she realized it only mixed the smells, now the vehicle is filled with the smell of coffee and cucumber-melon. The scents assaulted the senses with shear potency so much so that Lukas promptly rolled all the windows down. Not saying a word but wearing a smirk that threatens a hefty laugh waiting underneath the surface. A slight chuckle escapes as they speed off once more toward their destination. Conversation was minimal restricted to the weather and how it seemed like summer was never going to arrive.

__________

The night was a sleepless one, Sandra couldn't seem to get comfortable as the anticipation of their meeting seemed to keep her awake. She often finds herself seeking out her partner in the middle of the night just to find the edge of the small hospital bed and the small blinking lights of the monitors staring back at her. The cold lonely room giving no comfort in the way she craves, the closeness and warmth of her memories are the only kindness she sees during the long stretches of darkness.

As morning rises so does her excitement for the upcoming day. A small smile graces her cheeks, growing slightly every hour that passes by. Physical therapy seemed to fly by with relative ease only confirming the doctors decision to release her today. Her aptitude with the arm crutches is quite high allowing her to focus only on strengthening her legs and ankles. Once back in her assigned room her mind races imagining walking around outside and how the breeze will feel against her skin. She misses the smell of nature, the feel of grass on her toes and the heat of the sun on her skin when she hikes up trails side by side with Del. Suddenly she notices a familiar scent permeating the air, cucumber melon with a hint of coffee. Her heart rate increased rapidly as she breathed it in. Fond memories of spending time with Del raced through her head.

"I don't know, maybe I shouldn't" Adelyn says stopping right in front of Sandra's door.

"Too late" Lukas pushes her through the door and closes it behind them.

"Um...Hey.." is all that Adelyn can seem to say.

Sandra's eye's look at her intently at first, then ease into a smile "Hey there."

"I uh... I just wanted to tell you.. I'm sorry.. for everything that.." Adelyn stutters out her apology.

Sandra interrupts "I'm not angry at you, sweetheart" her words soothing and gentle.

"Um...uh.." Adelyn twists at her fingers poking out of her cast with nervousness "You're not?"

"No, how could I be? Baby come here, why are you standing so far away?" Sandra stretches out an arm towards Adelyn.

Adelyn walks over and sits in the chair nearest the bed like so many times before "I'm so glad you're ok."

"Of course I'm ok, much better now that you're here. I'm ready to go home." Sandra says while gazing lovingly at Adelyn.

"Yeah, after being here so long I'd bet you really miss your own home." Adelyn trying to keep the conversation going.

"Our home silly" Sandra giggles then becomes serious "or... perhaps you moved on since my absence?" the color in her eye's turning a dark green as she begins thinking of all the scenerios.

"What? no that would never happen" Adelyn adds nervously "...it's just....it's just that um, well you see. How do I explain this..." she rubs her fingers across her brow.

"What is it? I know there are gaps in my memory, but I remember you clearly. You're my wife, my love, my everything....I need you to be honest with me." the fear in Sandra's voice increasing. Her hand grasps Adelyn's firmly.

"We aren't... married" she looks away "We weren't even seeing each other when the accident happened..." she couldn't bring herself to look in Sandra's direction anymore.

Sandra gently pulls Adelyn's face towards her with the soft touch of her fingers upon her chin. "Please look at me, Del... I don't know what happened before but I know what I feel right now." her eyes full of fervor. "Do you not feel the same?"

Adelyn looks into Sandra's eyes for a long time contemplating her response. Being so close to Sandra, her touch. It's affecting Adelyn's ability to think properly. She stares at Sandra, the intense green eyes staring back at her. She feels so close but so far away at the same time. Wanting to reach out and wrap her arms around Sandra yet feeling as though she doesn't deserve to hold Sandra either. Her mind went blank, her gut feels full of butterflies and her skin is warm. "I....I don't know." realizing she was holding her breath she releases a large shaky sigh.

"I see... so... everything that I'm thinking and feeling, all my memories of us...are fake?" the overwhelming feeling of despair fell over her then anger "How do I know so much about you then? How do I know about Ben, or that you wake up with nightmares, or that you take your coffee with too much sugar? How come I have all these memories of you, of us!" angry tears fall from her eyes.

"I don't know..." Adelyn needlessly says.

"Do you know anything!" Sandra snaps, unable to bear the reality. She struggles with coming to terms with this new reality and wishes it wasn't true, damning it.

"I'll give you some space.." Adelyn quickly walks out of the room tears in her eyes.

A deep voice breaks the silence "That....went well." Lukas stands there awkwardly, not knowing what to do.