Forget-me-not

Prologue

The first snowfall in Seoul was quiet. Large white snowflakes lazily drifted down from the sky and hit the ground without a sound. Within a few hours, the ground was covered in a fine dusting of it. The sky was smeared gray and a bitter wind nipped at everyone's faces.

When Cynthia Jones peeled open her eyes after careening into a utility pole, she seemed to be trapped in a snow globe. Beneath her, the ground was cold and hard. Pin-pricks of snow on her face caused a chill to trickle down her spine. The snow melted on impact with her skin and left behind watery trails.

It hurts.

It was the only thought that came through while trying to breathe. It ached and the pain gnawed her straight to the bone. Forcing air into her lungs was like trying to blow up a balloon with a hole in it. She was trying to get air, but her lungs refused to expand.

The memories swarmed together. They were in her clutch and then they slipped through her fingers. She barely had time to string the thoughts together. There was one right after the next and then the next and then another.

She kissed her boyfriend good-bye to go Christmas shopping. A group of girls started screaming her name and chasing her. She threw herself into her car and flew out of the parking lot. She may or may not have buckled her seat belt.

Desperate to get away, she was speeding; zipping down roads and jerking the steering wheel. Hitting the gas pedal and going faster and faster and faster. Her heart hammered in her chest and her fingers clenched around the steering wheel. The group of girls were hot on her trail.

Something went haywire and the car behind her slammed into her back bumper. People screamed. The cars veered off in two different directions. Cynthia jerked the wheel and then she was weightless.

Suspended in mid-air and frozen in time. Wide eyes and clenched fingers. As her car tilted, so did she. Without a seat belt, there was nothing to stop her free fall. The windshield glass glistened like diamonds before it cut into her skin; the stingers of multiple angry bees.

Everything was dark and then it was light. Too light and too bright. The sky was pale gray and the snow drifted down. Down, down, down. Everything hurts. She was warm and sticky. December's first dusting of snow was stained metallic red. The snow was cold, but the liquid oozing from her head was the polar opposite.

Condensation swirled from her mouth. She could see it wiggling above her and disappearing up into the sky. She blinked and tried to move her arm. The moment she did, pain shot through her wrist and into her forearm. Her teeth gritted and an annoyed huff left her body.

They say the third man syndrome often occurs when humans are in life or death situations. Whether it's nearly drowning, a car accident, or a treacherous mountain climb; humans realize they are not alone. A stranger appears, seemingly from thin air, and is able to provide assistance. After the event, the rescuers usually have no idea who the injured person is talking about.

Before they disappear, they radiate calmness and compassion. They often reassure the victim that things will be okay. Realizing they're not alone, the injured take serenity in this. Sometimes these phantom beings offer advice that helps the injured think straight.

Nobody really knows why this happens. Some people believe these people are guardian angels. Others believe during the intense state of turmoil, our brains conjure them up via hallucination to try and rationalize the situation. There's even a conspiracy that perhaps these are unknown supernatural beings who appear from the other side to help humans.

Whatever the case, the existence of these beings ultimately remains undetermined. They've saved multiple people in a variety of ways. Real life angels, phantom beings, or something else inexplicable, nobody knows for sure.

Cynthia didn't know how long she laid there with the only comfort being the soft dollops of snow on her skin. She struggled to breathe and tried to move a few more times to no avail. She attempted to call out for help, but the only response was the silent snowfall.

Eventually, footsteps crunched over the snow towards her. She tried to pick up her head until pain made her stop. Her vision began to speckle with black dots. She could just barely make out the face of a man leaning over her.

His voice was soothing as he spoke. He kneeled down beside her. "It's going to be okay." His hand slipped into hers and its warmth was comforting among the winter chill.

"It hurts."

"I know it does, but help is on the way." The man smiled and reached down. He placed his other hand on hers. Both of them gently grasped her right hand.

"I don't feel good," she muttered.

"You're alright, try not to worry too much." He gently squeezed her hand. "They're coming as fast as they can."

"Am I going to die?"

It was getting harder to keep her eyes open. They began to slip shut, but she kept forcing herself to crack them open. Her hand twitched beneath his.

"Of course, not."

The fear and adrenaline coursing through her shifted into something else entirely. She didn't know who this stranger was, but she didn't mind him. His rationality helped her feel calm. A soft sigh escaped her lips and she finally let her eyes close.

"My head hurts."

"They'll be here soon."

"I don't think I can..." Her voice trailed off. Her body began to relax. Unconsciousness was on the verge of taking over.

"Rest now, I'll keep an eye on you. You don't have to worry, I've got you. Let yourself get some sleep."

The last thing she felt was the man squeezing her hand reassuringly again before the world went dark.