Forgotten

Chapter Twelve- Tamara

The grass was damp from morning dew, as I collapsed on the side of the road. Walking all night strained my already hurt muscles. I had nowhere to go and yet I couldn't stop myself. I knew how dangerous stopping for even a moment could be, but as my eyes shut there was no way I could open them again.

"Hey," A man's voice whispered in my ear. It didn't sound threatening, but everything scared me at this point. I jerked my head up to meet two strangely familiar eyes. Looking at him I soon realized he was the grown up version of the boy I saw in my memory. He had the same brown eyes and hair.

"Hello... Jay?" I hoped that I was correct about my assumption.

"Tammy!" Jay hugged me tightly, "I thought they had got you. I thought you were dead!" His voice cracked as pain leaked through.

"A-about that," I wasn't quite sure how to explain to Jay that I didn't know him. It's not the kind of thing you just know how to talk about. "I-I-I lost most of my memory. I only have one about you and even so I'm not completely sure who you are." His face dropped and his eyes filled with pain.

"Really?" His voice sounded heartbroken and lost, did I really mean that much to him?

"I'm sorry," I wanted to remember him, I wanted to be in a world where he knew me, where I knew him.

"It's-It's okay,"Jay closed his eyes and when he opened them they no longer held sadness, "I'll tell you who you are if you'd like." My eyes widened and my heart beat slightly faster.

"You... You can tell me what's happened to me?" Excitement pumped through my veins and I stood up quickly. Jay sadly shook his head.

"Not.. Everything," Jay picked his words slowly, deliberately, "Our parents never told me exactly why this was happening. They claimed the less I knew the better, but I do know who you are, and I won't keep it a secret." I was disappointed, but I didn't give up. Maybe listening to him will give me another flashback, and if not at least I'll know who I am. I sunk back to a sitting position and looked eagerly at Jay. He laughed and took this as a hint to start.

"Your real name is Tamara Talbott, but after my parents adopted you your name changed to Tamara Birch. Your biological parents weren't right in the head. At least that's what I've been told. When we got you, you were covered in bruises and cuts from head to toe. You weren't sure how to communicate with people. When I first met you I told you, you were cute, because I always wanted a little sister and you responded with-"

"I'm what?" I spoke from my memories, "I remember that. I have three memories so far. That's how I know your name.

"That's awesome!" Jay said excitedly, he seemed like the kind of person who did that. Someone who was happy about everything he can. Looking at him I noticed he was practically vibrating with pent up happiness. I laughed, he almost looked like a hyper puppy. I half expected him to start panting.

"Are you going to continue?" I asked still laughing a bit,

"Oh right," He smiled, not an exciting smile, a reminiscing smile. I wondered what could be so great about our past, I wanted to know that past. "You took a while to open up to me. Actually, you took a while to open up to anyone. It was clear that you had been abused in your old home, and you never told anyone why. Between the constant doctors appointments and counseling sessions I don't think you ever got a chance to get to know anyone.

"Eventually though I think something in your head clicked. There was this one day when you woke me up by knocking softly at my door. I don't know how long you had stood out there waiting for me, but I do know what you said you said-"

"You're not going to leave me, right?" I don't know how but those words rang out in my mind. All this time the one thing I was afraid of was someone leaving me again. It seemed to be the problem that came back again and again. It's what linked the me without memories to the one who did. The constant pain of loss, the sorrow of loneliness, and the joy when someone is near.

"How.. Is that one of the memories you got?" He asked quietly, and I shook my head.

"I just know," I spoke, "It something cemented into my brain. Something... Something that defines who I am." My voice was choked as fear crept into me. Did I want to remember who I was? Forcing back tears I looked at Jay, somehow I knew that he could tell what I was thinking. He hugged me and I felt the bond that we must have shared. Even if I didn't remember the days we spent together I knew that he was there for me.