chapter 12

All our parents arrived almost the same time—by ALL I mean All! Timothy called my parents first (despite my pleas) and they came with Becca's parents, then Prisca's parents came followed by serena's divorced mum.

Her mum gave me the slap of my life immediately she came in and no one said anything about it cause even I know it was very well deserved. But after that, no one had any time for me. Immediately, they began to think of ways to find the hospital she's currently at and rescue her.

And that's the stage we're at now. Everyone is seated in the living room, calling doctors and nurses they know, tracking down old and new hospitals, calling officers to file a missing report with this new lead. While I'm seated over here, at the dining table forgetten by everyone—except Prisca that comes to tell me their progress in the search—but I don't blame them because until it's confirmed that she's still alive, even I won't let myself off.

"Is anyone hungry? Would you like to eat something before you continue searching?" I stepped up to them and asked, interrupting their heated "argument"

"Hungry!? There's finally a lead on her whereabouts and you're asking me to eat?" Aunty said sadly making me flinch

"She's right ma, we should stop and rest for a while. You all are looking tired, let's eat then rest before we can come back to this." Timothy said and I looked at him gratefully

"But.."

"Come on sis, don't be so headstrong and listen to the boy. You may get sick if you on like this" mum said pulling her to the dining table and others followed.

I walked up to Tim and noticed how disorganized the whole search looked.

"How's the search going?" I asked picking up and pice of paper that says "Names Of Doctors And Nurses That Everyone Knows"

"It's leading no where. We searched all around this state and we still can't find her. Is it possible that the transfer was to a different country because to me it seems to be a far and risky move because of the patients?" Tim said and I paused

"What do you think?" He asked looking up to me. My husband is in a very sorry state but before I can do anything about that, I need to solve this mystery and find Becca.

"I'm trying to remember their affiliate hospitals. Rose told me about some hospitals that they transfer patients to when their full or if it's beyond their facilities" I say to him when he raises his brow at me.

"I think I need to go upstairs to check, I remember she gave me her number incase I changed my mind at the time" I said with my hands on my chin, thinking

"I'll be right back!" I run quickly upstairs to find the journal I used to plan our wedding

If I remember correctly, she called two days after I sent Becca to the and at the time I was writing a different guest list—i tore the previous one cause Becca was the one who wrote it but it eventually turned out the same when I did— and I wrote the number behind the book

"So where is it? Where did I put it?" I paused to think after searching the reading table.

Something to flashed in my memory then I quickly moved to my pent box that contains virtually every precious gift I've gotten. I got the book out and quickly turned to the back page

ROSE ADDISON

+1******

CALL AFTER WEDDING!!!

"Oh?"

I actually told myself to call her but I forgot and called stupid Maggie imstead. Well, this will definitely make everyone happy.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah just checking for clues here. Why?"

"Well, you're seated on the floor with a daze and got me worried. So, did you find anything?" She asked as she sat beside me

"Mm. I found the number one of the nurses gave me then. If I had called her instead of the crazy one that talked me into it, we won't be going through this right now right?" I looked at Serena to see her answer but she just frowns and says nothing

Sigh! "I need to give to them so they can find her" I move to get up but she pulls me down again

" They're currently eating abd talking about something else. If you go there with this now they won't eat anymore, some might even choke from happiness" she laughs and I smile too

"Did you dial the number yet?" She asks and I shake my head

"Actually, I just remembered and came to check for it. And you're right, I should check the number before giving it to them to prevent further issues" I said as quickly picked up my phone and dailed

She did pick up till the third ring.

"Hello?"

"O my God it works!" Serena says and I nod, also relived

"Hello Mrs Patson?"

"Yeah! Hello how… how are you doing?"

"I'm great actually. So you finally decided to call, I wonder why, she's not at our hospital anymore" she says and I nod forgetting she can't see me

"Yeah I know I know, I just… I want to ask you a very important question and I know I'm like two years and four months late, I hope you can answer me truthfully"

".... God ahead I'm listening"

"Okay. I know it weird to ask but, have you heard from Rebecca since the fire accident? Like is she okay or injured? Please be sincere with me, I really need to know"

"Um actually… she… I don't know how to say this now but I'm she's no longer with us"

"I know that already, I saw the news on TV but I…"

"You don't understand miss Sarah. I mean Becca is dead. She got seriously injured in the fire and was in the hospital for a while but eventually she couldn't bear the pain anymore so she died"

"What?"

"Yeah, it's been like two years now.."

"O my God… Serena what have I done?"

"What is it? Is she close by? Did she say she's not coming back?" Serena asked but I can't move or speak.

I feel so cold and scared at this news. What will they say? What my parents think of me now; a murderer? Though the fire was an accident, if she wasn't at the hospital at the time, she wouldn't have died. It's.. it's all my fault!

"What do mean by that? You're trying to scare us right? Please tell me the truth, her parents are waiting for us after this call Do you want her frail mother to faint from heart attack?" Serena said to her— I didn't even notice when she picked up the phone.

"It's okay Serena, we should be brave and tell them the truth. It might get worse but at least they'll be able to mourn their daughter well"

Taking the phone from her, I say to Rose

"I'm sorry about my friend, she just doesn't want to believe it that's why she's threatening you. I.. I don't want to believe it either but, I dont have to act surprised right? I brought this upon all of us so I shouldn't regret it now. Please I'll need you to send me the address of where she was buried so we can go there to pay our respects and hopefully ask her to forgive me"

"Hello are you still there?" I ask when the phone goes quiet

"Yes, I'm thinking. Actually she not dead, I just said that to know if you still have any bit if humanity in you"

"Oh… wait so she's really not dead?"

"Nope. She changed her identity though so it seems like to her, red-haired Becca is in a coma while Brunette Richie is alive"

"Richie? That's her new name?"

"Yes. But I'll need to call her to ask if she wants to meet with you all before I can tell you her address"

"Oh! Oh wow! Thank you! Thank you so much!" All my tears from the emotional blackmail and good news began to pour out of my eyes.

"She alive isn't she?" I nod and Serena and she jumps

"I knew it! I knew that she was just trying to get on your nerves!" She said angrily but I'm just still crying with all my emotions running widlt inside.

"What!? What happened? Why are both you shouting?" Mum ran into the room with fear on her face

"Mum… mum Rebecca… Rebecca…."

The more I tried to speak theore tears flowed from my eyes. I don't think I've ever cried this much in my life before.

"Talk to me honey, what's wrong with Rebecca?" Mum kneels before me and I hug her immediately. I don't want her to keep looking at my teary and probably snotty face.

"It's okay mum, she's just very happy. Just give her a few minutes" Serena says

"Happy? I've never seen my daughter cry when she's happy before. Are you sure she's happy and not sad? Honey talk to me, what's wrong with you?" Mum asked again patting my back to calm me down

"We called a doctor um Rose, that worked at the hospital I took her to and she said um… *sniffles* she has been in contact with Rebecca * sniffles* Though she said Becca changed her name and may not want to see us so she needs to talk to her first…. Mum, it's a miracle isn't it?" Another round of tears threatened to fall as I gazes at my mum with a smile

"Mm it's a miracle dear, so don't cry anymore or you might get sick" she smiled and rubbed my hair and I smiled

"So what do we tell the others now?" Serena asked

"Exactly what she said…"

" I think it's better to let everyone hear her speak" mum said cutting me off

"Cause sincerely speaking and at this moment, not everyone trusts you hundred percent; especially your aunty. She's still mad at you so she may think you're just saying it to apease everyone. So when get down, call the lady for us to hear ourselves so everyone will really believe there's a chance to find her"

________&&&________&&&________

"..... That's about it. I hope you all can be patient though, so I can speak to her first before you do" Rose said over the phone that was placed on speakerphone on the dining table.

"Why do we have to wait for you to call her? How can we trust that you don't want to take her further away!?" Aunty asked

" Ma'am I understand what you're asking and I know you're concerned about her, but all these is two years late. Rebecca lost memory before the fire accident…"

"What?"

"No!!"

"... Due to the drugs she was fed by Miranda. We were trying to fix it before sending her back home when the fire happened and if you didn't know, the fire was set in her room by Miranda"

"Oh my God" I gasp unable to stop myself from trembling

"How could you do that to my daughter? How could you!? Did she anything wrong? Did she anger you in any way for you to go as far as trying to kill her?!" Aunty pushed and pulled on my hair, my clothes and I just let her

" I didn't… I didn't ask her to do it…. I'm sorry… I… I didn't know… I'm sorry" I pleaded with no one in particular, I don't even have look at their faces of shock or anger towards me

" Hello? Is anyone still listening? I have cliebt coming soon so I need to wrap this up" Rose said over the phone and all the crying and wailing ceased

"We're sorry, please continue." Prisca said

"Thank you. Like I said before, Becca lol her memory but that doesn't mean she doesn't remember now. I've been treating her all these years so she remembers a little now. I've said all these because she might not recognize anyone of you and you shouldn't force her too. When you see her, talk to her like you didn't know she's forgetten okay?"

"Yeah"

"Sounds reasonable"

"Okay. I'm saying this because we need to know if medication we prescribed is suitable for her. If you talk to her and she says she finds you familiar then we will continue giving her the medication but if she does otherwise, we will have to do a scan along with some tests to know how else to bring her memory back. So just give me a few days, I'll bring her home so we can to you all together first before you see her"

"Thank you so much, thank you…" I say to her

"Don't mention… she's my friend and it's my duty to help her reconnect with her parents. I think my client is here know, I call you if there are any developments"

" Okay thank you, bye" and I hang up

" So all we can do now is…. Wait" I say to everyone.