Finally her hand formed a fist and made contact with the door. After a minute there was still no answer from the other side. Hesitantly, her hands reach for the knob; with a gentle twist she found the door was unlocked. Peering into the room, she found Gillian seated on the floor next to a huge glass jar that was up to her shoulder in height, her eyes staring at the colorful marbles inside.
Approaching her sister slowly, she noticed Gillian's watery eyes and flushed cheeks. She vaguely heard Gillian murmuring words of guilt and self-blame.
"Gill," she called out quietly.
"It's all my fault. If I weren't so rebellious, Mom and Dad wouldn't have died. I am so sorry," she heard Gillian say weakly.
"Gill, it's not your fault. You didn't want it to happen either. It was an accident,"Charlene cried, moving closer to her sister until she was finally kneeling in front of Gillian. "I'm so sorry for lying to you. I already lost Mom and Dad. I didn't want to lose you too. After their deaths, you were so devastated. You didn't eat or drink, just locked yourself in your room all day. No matter what I say or do, you refused to come out. Then one day, I came home from running an errand and you were gone."
Charlene's eyes became distant as she relived the dreadful day, "I searched all around for you until the police called and told me you tried to drive off a cliff. Luckily you only suffered minor injuries but when you woke up you couldn't remember anything. I thought that it was God giving you another chance, if you didn't remember then you wouldn't have to suffer anymore. That's why I threw away everything and moved us into a new apartment. I even lied to you about Edison because I couldn't take a chance. I couldn't let you remember the past," her sobbing becoming evident, "I was so afraid, Gill. I was so afraid of losing you again. You were my big sister. You always protected me when others tried to bully me but after Mom and Dad died it was like you were gone too." When the last word was finally out of Charlene's mouth, she broke down, sobbing painfully.
Gillian raised her tearful eyes to look at Charlene, finally realizing all the pain that her younger sister had kept buried inside, all in effort to protect her. Still, there was something she didn't quite understand. "But my medical report says that my amnesia was from a car accident."
"I tampered with your medical report. I didn't want you to have that hanging over your head," Charlene confessed, adding "I had the opportunity since I worked at the same hospital you were sent to."
Charlene felt the relief that she had long yearned for, to stop the unbearable feeling of being crushed by a boulder, she was able to breath freely again. For two long years she had hidden the terrible secret, living every day in fear that it would be revealed, her suffering had finally come to an end.
Gillian reached over, pulling her younger sister into her arms, arm in arm the two sisters cried, feeling the closeness that was once there for the first time in two years.
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"Yo Ed, what the hell is wrong with you? You drink yourself to death when Gill left. Now that she's back you still drink yourself to death," Steven said, throwing a hot towel at his barely conscious buddy. "You were lucky that Nic and I were around to drag your sorry @ss home."
Edison didn't answer immediately, just wiped his face with the towel, feeling some relief from his horrible hang over. On top of the hammering feeling on his skull, he also felt as if his eyes were being tugged right back into his sockets, even breathing brought pain but what hurt most was his heart, knowing that Gillian and him would never be the way they were again.
Nicholas walked over and sat next to him, "Did something happen between Gill and you?"
Slowly, Edison told his two buddies the events from the night before. Gillian's situation. Her amnesia.
"Oh cr@p," Steven cried. "$hit, what are you going to do now?"
Edison didn't answer. He didn't know how to answer. His mind was racing, all the images of his happy times with Gillian replaying before his eyes, but came to no conclusion.
Steven and Nicholas remained quiet as they both awaited his answer when none came Nicholas spoke up. "If you love her then you should try to win her back."
"But she doesn't remember me," Edison protested weakly, already admitting defeat.
"What does it matter if she remembers or not?" Nicholas's voice edged with seriousness, angered by his friend's attitude. He fallen for Gillian since the first time he set eyes on her but Edison had claimed her first. Obliging to the code of honor, he graciously kept his feelings hidden, giving the two his blessing. He had seen the love in their eyes during the good times, he had heard the anger in their voices during the bad times; how could they give up on each other now?
Edison nodded, his eyes coming alive as he looked at his friend, agreeing not only with what Nicholas had said but also what he had left unsaid. Regardless of whether she remembered him or not, his love for her was the same.
"Be careful, word on the street is Shawn had sent a few boys to cause trouble for you," Nicholas warned before getting up.
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On the very next day, Edison stood anxiously outside Gillian's apartment building, hoping for a chance to speak with her. His heart pounded as he thought of all the things he wanted to say to her. Will she accept him again? He didn't know but he prayed so.
When his wait finally came to an end, he was met with the faces of Gillian and Charlene. Charlene and him weren't exactly close even when Gillian and him were together. She was always timid and shy, spoke only when spoken to, the exact opposite of Gillian. It seemed extreme to him that she would go to such extend to hide Gillian's past but yet he understood her reasons. He had seen Gillian's self-destructiveness after her parent's death.
It was in each person's nature to protect the ones they loved. Perhaps if their positions were reversed he would have done the same.
Summoning his courage, he greeted them. Charlene smiled politely then excused herself, allowing him some time with Gillian.
All the while, Gillian remained quiet. She didn't protest when he suggested that they go somewhere to talk.
Arriving at the familiar location by the water, Edison stepped out of the car and walked over to the other side to open the door for Gillian.
He had taken them to the harbor, the very place that they had shared a peaceful night that changed both of their lives forever.
Gillian looked around taking in the sight of her surroundings. If she had been here before she could not recall.
Edison spoke up like he had read her mind, "We came here once a long time ago. At that time your dog died and you were very upset. We somehow bumped into each other on the streets and I followed you here. We sat here for most of the night. Do you recall any of that?"
She shook her head, apologetically, knowing how disappointed he must be.
They sat in silence for a while enjoying the sound of crashing waves until she turned toward him,"Can you tell me more about us?"
With a smile, he began retelling her their time together. From how he almost ran Charlene over to how she always had him twisted around her pinky, each word making Gillian smile wider.
In their own little world, they sat in each other's company until after the sun had set for the day.
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