Every Memory Repeats

Chapter 4

Marlena watched as John's eyes darted back and forth under his closed lids, and his breathing increased. She was concerned. It was difficult to remain detached when you actively cared for a patient. "Can you tell me where you are, John?"

"I'm outside. Near a pool," he said quietly. "My brother is there... we're... he's angry."

"Do you know why he's angry?"

"I said, I was faster than him on my bicycle, because I'm faster," John said in a childlike voice, with a small grin.

Marlena smiled, "Can you tell me what's happening now?"

"I'm going to race him, to prove I'm faster than him," John replied as if his intent were obvious.

Wanting to dive deeper, she asked him, "John? Do you know your brothers name?"

"Lawrence."

"Do you know your name?"

"Forrest...I'm Forrest," he said proudly. He grinned widely, still with his eyes closed. "I'm going to beat him. I know I am!"

Marlena noticed that John's legs were twitching, "John, honey, slow down the memory. Can you do that for me? Can you slow it down?"

His breathing had picked up, and he said breathlessly, "Yes..."

"Can you remember your last name?" She knew asking him might be a long shot, but if they were trying to find his origins, a last name would help.

"Alamain," he whispered.

She gasped slightly, immediately putting the pieces together. Lawrence. Alamain. Lawrence Alamain. Stunned. Stufified might be a better word for how that information made her feel. Taking a deep breath, she told him, "What's happening in your memory now, John?"

"I'm going to win," he said excitedly. "I'm going to win because I'm faster! I just have to go around this corner..."

Suddenly John's body jerked violently, and he started to struggle, panting heavily. His arms flailed, as Marlena rushed to sit on the couch beside him. "John, this isn't real, honey. It's not real. It's a memory! John!" But he wasn't responding, so she decided she had to bring him out of hypnosis. "I'm going to count back wards from five, and you're going to wake up remembering everything you just saw... five ... four... three.. two.. one."

He sat up violently, gasping for air, and clawing at his throat. Marlena reached for his hands, pulling them away from his skin. John cried, "Doc! I'm drowning... I—I can't breath!"

"John, John, honey, yes, you can," she said softly. It wasn't lost on her that her voice had taken on a soft, breathy texture as she cooed and tried to calm him. "Shhh... Take a deep breath for me, look at your surroundings... take a deep breath..."

He fell into her, wrapping his arms around her waist, while breathing deeply. Her soft floral scent surrounded him, and he breathed her in deeply, if only to ground himself in reality. "I was drowning. I was drowning, Doc!"

She could feel his fingers clenched in her jacket at her back, and hot breath permeating the fabric of her blouse. She shivered. Her hand held his head to her chest, her fingers threaded through his jet black hair, as she whispered, "You're in my office, John. That was a memory... but right now, you're in my office."

He continued to take long, deep, breaths of her, using her scent to calm his mind, and lower his blood pressure. At one point, he knew he should let go of her, but he didn't. His arms wrapped around her tighter, low on her hips, like she was the tether holding him to that room. After several long moments, John looked up at her. It felt surreal. "I remembered my name."