VERMONT III

We Were Liars (ON HOLD)

 

 


 

 

IF I GOOGLE traumatic brain injury, most websites tell me selective amnesia is a consequence. When there's damage to the brain, it's not uncommon for a patient to forget stuff. She will be unable to piece together a coherent story of the trauma.

          But I don't want people to know I'm like this. Still like this, after all the appointments and scans and medicines.

          I don't want to be labeled with a disability. I don't want more drugs. I don't want doctors or concerned teachers. God knows, I've had enough doctors.

          What I remember, from summer of the accident:

          Falling in love with Taeyeon at the Red Gate kitchen door.

          Her beach rose for Jace and my wine-soaked night, spinning in anger.

          Acting normal. Making ice cream. Playing tennis.

          The triple decker s'mores and Taeyeon's anger when we told her to shut up, I told her to shut up.

          Night swimming.

          Kissing Taeyeon in the attic.

          Hearing Cracker Jack story and helping Grandad down the stairs.

          The tire swing, the basement, the perimeter. Taeyeon and I in one another's arms.

          Taeyeon seeing me bleed. Asking me questions. Dressing my wounds.

          I don't remember much else.

          I can see Tiffany's hand, her chipped gold nail polish, holding  a jug of gas for the motorboat.

          Mummy, her face tight, asking, "The black pearls?"

          Minho's feet, running down the stairs from Clairmont to the boathouse.

          Grandad, holding on to a tree, his face lit by the glow of a bonfire.

          And all four of us Liars, laughing so hard we felt dizzy and sick. But what was so funny?`

          What was it and where were we?

          I don't know.

          I used to ask Mummy when I didn't remember the rest of summer fifteen. My forgetfulness frightened me. I'd suggest stopping my meds, or trying new ones, or seeing a different physician. I'd beg to know what I had forgotten. Then one day in late fall---the fall I spent undergoing tests for death-sentence illnesses---Mummy began to cry. "You ask me over and over. You never remember what I say."

          "I'm sorry."

          She poured herself a glass of wine as she talked. "You began asking me the day you woke in the hospital.'What happened? What happened?' I told you the truth, Jessica, I always did, and you'd repeat it back to me. But the next day you'd ask again."

          "I'm sorry," I said again.

          "You still ask me almost everyday."

          It is true, I have no memory of my accident. I don't remember what happened before and after. I don't remember my doctor's visits. I knew they must have happened, because of course they happened---and here I am with a diagnosis and medications---but nearly all my medical treatment is a blank.

          I looked at Mummy. At her infuriatingly concerned face, her leaking eyes, the tipsy slackness of . "You have to stop asking," she said., almost begging. Like it hurts her as much as it hurts me. "The doctors think it's better if you remember on your own, anyway."

          I made her tell me one last time, and I wrote down her answers so I could look back at them when I wanted to. That's why I can tell you about the night-swimming accident, the rocks, the hypothermia, respiratory difficulty, and the unconfirmed traumatic injury.

          I don't want to forget any bits of it.

          After that, I never asked her anything again. There's a lot I don't understand, but this way she stays pretty sober.

 

 


 

 

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Comments

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Kmllstrd03 #1
Please do continue this and make a comeback.. chaeballlll
Taengoo98 #2
Such a beautiful and creative story I finally understood your hints and each sentences hurts and full of emotions please come back and finish this
alwaysdivine #3
Chapter 46: come back!
alwaysdivine #4
Chapter 36: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
alwaysdivine #5
Chapter 35: holy crap. yoonyul are so annoying!
Va_asianloverz
#6
Chapter 32: please update soon
jsy1989
#7
Chapter 25: That wouldnt be much of a twist, now would it? If Jessica is dying??
MaoMao_96
#8
Chapter 24: is she dying?
MaoMao_96
#9
Chapter 22: Woah !! Daebak !
MaoMao_96
#10
Chapter 14: Aww poor Jessica ㅠㅠ
i wonder where is Taeyeon could be