"B-because the monsters will get me..."
"Monsters?"
"Y-yes...mommy told me the monsters will get me if I don't go to sleep."
The unknown person sighs. "There is no monsters, Dani. She's just playing around, okay?"
The sound of a loud thud occurs somewhere inside of the house, which was quickly followed by the faint noise of whimpers and groans.
"W-what is that?" I ask with a shaking voice. "I-Is it-"
"Dani, maybe you should go to sleep."
"B-but is mommy okay?"
"Dani..." the person pinches the bridge of their nose while looking as if they were questioning life. "Please...just go to sleep, okay?"
I slowly nod as I slip under the covers. "Sorry..."
"Dani, don't-don't apologize. All you need to do is go to sleep for tomorrow."
"Yes..." I duck my head under the cover and heard the sound of their footsteps heading to the door.
"Goodnight Dani, sleep well."
The door closes and I tremble while I silently sobbed.
"They're fighting again...i know it." i mumbled before I drifted off to sleep.
-----------
"This is Miami local news, and our latest report is an middle-aged woman by the name of Daniella Hills was found dead this morning. It seems her case is being determined at the moment, and her family is currently mourning over their loss. Not only is the family affected, but also the victim's only daughter, Dani Hills. Please give your prayers to them and the child to heal. Back to you Myers."
I remembered sitting on the couch next to my grandma crying. My grandma had a neutral expression as she comforted me. I couldn't figure out why she looked like that, but it must've been serious for her to not cry over her only daughter dying.
That memory is engraved into my mind like her name on her tombstone.
'Daniella Hills'
I was named after her, but fuck-her name reminds me over her more than my own face.
Back then I rarely recognized my own name.
Was it even my own? Who was I really? Am I human?
Did I deserve to be alive?
But as a kid without a mother figure besides your own grandma, and your friend's mothers. It wasn't easy growing up.
"Dani..."
Who is that?
"Dani, can you not frown while reading?"
"Frown? I'm not frowning." I replied.
"Yes you are..."
My eyes trailed to the book the unknown person was reading 'Pleurer'.
"Cry? What is that book about?"
"You knew what Pleurer meant in English?"
"Yeah, grandma helped me with foreign languages."
"Oh well, 'Pleurer' is about a male explorer that lost everything. His family, his wealth, his pride, and his own soul-all because of his greed that lead him to sign away his humanity to the devil. His town made fun of him for it. They called him stupid and foolish. He believed them because he did mess up. He was on the verge of giving up, but through it all-he did not cry once."
"Why didn't he cry?"
"Because he wasn't ready to admit defeat of his own mistake. He decided to keep his head held up high one day, and traveled miles on bare foot to find the one responsible for his loss." The person turned the book to show the page. "The man asked for his life back-his family and his soul but not his money. The one responsible asked if he wants his money back too, but the man declined saying money is not important. The one responsible smiles for the first time in front of the man and told him wise choice before giving him his life back. And that's when the man finally cried-for the first time in his life. He cried. He realized life meant finding what made you happy, and his family made him happy."
"...family?"
---------
I woke up to the sound of metal, and looked towards the sound to see a doctor.
"Oh, you're awake now Dani?" The doctor places the object onto the counter. "Well then we can get started with your diagnosis results."
"Diagnosis?"
"Yes Dani, it seems you're dealing with amnesia, but not just any kind of amnesia...retrograde amnesia. At first we thought it was psychogenic amnesia, since you dealt with very emotional times throughout your life, but you can remember the most tragic parts clearly. Actually you can remember almost everything."
"Almost?"
"We don't have to pressure you to remember what you forgot, but we'll recommend not trying to remember it. It'll cause you to go into a seizure, which we will prescribe something for."
"Oh okay..."
My eyes shift to the curtain to see it move a bit, and saw someone with long curly hair standing there with their back to me. It looked like they were trying to hide, but didn't know they weren't that well hidden.
My eyes stared at them for a moment before I grabbed my head in agony. The person flinched and quickly left.
In my mind, I thought they were in the wrong room, but now that I think about it.
Her hair looked familiar.
And the scent that filled the room-it over-rided the hospital smell.
That Vanilla scent.
Where have I smelled it before?
Vanilla...long curly hair...that book...
Then it hit me.
My world flashed before my eyes as a handful of memories occurs in front of me.
One memory caught my attention.
The elementary school talent show.
I decided to draw my mother's face for the show, and instead of making fun of it like the rest of the guests.
Lauren stood beside me, wore a soft grin on her face, and said. "You know, you have something your mother would be proud of. I wish I could paint like you."
In response to her words, I said; "Thank you, I hope you're right."
I don't remember what made me put down the paint brush for the last time, but all I can remember is that-I never touched a canvas again.
Another memory flashed before my eyes-that song Lauren cried over at the concert.
I remember we danced to it all the time.
How could I forget that?
----------
I jolted awake with tears coming down my cheeks as I was panting.
I grabbed my pounding head and tried to catch my breath.
I groaned as I attempted to crawl out of bed, but my legs failed me as I fell to the ground with a thud.
I clenched my shirt and felt myself tremble. I couldn't hear nor see anymore.
What was happening?
"Dani!" I could hear Nyree's voice faintly, but it soon tuned out.
I blacked out.
When I woke up I was in the hospital with tubes sticking out of me, and Nyree stood beside my bed with a worried expression on her face.
Her eyes locked with mines and she cried. "Dani! Are you alright!? Are you hurting anywhere?"
I shook my head slowly. "N-no, i'm fine...what happened?"
"You fainted."
I looked down at my arms, and out the window-it was light outside. "What about school?"
Nyree sighed, "You can't go for a while, Dani. The doctors said you might faint again from overstimulation and stress, so you'll be here to be watched for a few days. Seizure watch and other things."
"Does grandma know?"
"Yes, but due to her health she can't come."
I look up at the ceiling. "Thank you Nyree."
"For what?"
"For saving me, for being there for me, for helping me when you don't need to, basically everything."
Nyree grabbed my hand. "Anything for you, Dani. You're like a little sister to me."
I sadden my expression. "Really?"
"Yes."
I felt my bottom lip quiver. "L-little sister...m-me? I-I..." I felt the tear betray my eye and slide down my face. "You're like a big sister to me too."
"Really Dani?"
"Yes."
Nyree carefully hugged me. "Thank you for accepting me in your life."
"Thank you for being in it."
"No problem Dani."
We stayed like that until the doctor came in.
All I could remember was the doctor telling me my health was in a good state at the moment, and everything was going well.
For now.
-------------
"Dani!"
Lexie jumped into my arms and sobbed. "I was so worried when you didn't get off your morning bus today."
Melanie walked in. "Lexie noticed after four days. Isn't that sad?"
"It's not my fault that I had to do tests and quizzes. They overworked me!"
"It's been four days already, huh?"
Melanie nods, "Did Lauren visit?"
I shook my head. "I didn't even receive a text or call from her."
"Why not?" Lexie asked.
I shrugged. "Beats me."
Nyree walks in wearing her nursing clothes and carried my school work in her hands. "I know why."
I looked at Nyree. "Why?"
"It's because she found out you recovered your memories."
"Why is that the reason?"
"Because she's the main one you forgot and when you finally remembered her-you ended up in the hospital so now she feels guilt. Guilt thinking she's the reason you're in the hospital now."
"Lauren..."