More Than Memories by Kristen James Read Free Book Online Page B

on.
    “There are around two million head injuries each
year, seven hundred thousand need hospitalization, and only about seventy
percent of those get PTA.”
    “And Molly seemed to have this?”
    “Several doctors agreed it looked likely, but they
agreed it was a tough diagnosis. Her symptoms weren’t consistent. So they
decided to wait a month, believing the condition would improve.”
    He wrote Symptoms? on the top of a new
page. “Do you remember the cause of her injury?”
    “She fell, they said. She couldn’t remember. I
think they said from a ladder several feet up onto pavement.”
    “So what happened?”
    “She went home. I checked on her daily. Frankly, I
was worried about her. She wasn’t afraid at the hospital, just confused, but as
she kept re-experiencing the confusion of not knowing who or where she was, she
started to panic.”
    Trent held his breath so his emotion wouldn’t come
through in his breathing. How horrifying . His poor Molly. He chewed his
lip, a bad habit that surfaced when he was having trouble holding in his
emotions.
    After the stretched pause, Karen continued, “She
did improve, but the strange part was her memory before the accident never came
back. I don’t think she has a clear memory of that month, either.”
    “But you said PTA lasts for about a month?”
    “Yes, only a third of cases usually go past that.
But she exhibited symptoms of retrograde amnesia, where she couldn’t remember
her past before the accident.”
    “So her case is unusual?”
    “To say the least. I asked the doctors a lot of
questions, researched myself, but science doesn’t have every answer. And all
these numbers haven’t helped Molly.” Karen paused this time before she asked,
“Am I speaking to a friend? A friend to Molly?”
    “Yes.”
    “I believed you right away because Molly told me
about how you’re helping her. So I’ll tell you what I really think. But this is
something I haven’t shared with Molly.”
    “Yes?” He felt sweat beads on his forehead.
    “This seems more like a case of not wanting to
talk.”
    “Excuse me?” Trent again told himself Molly
wouldn’t lie to him. “Why do you think she’s hiding something?”
    “Oh, no, not like that. Have you ever heard of
someone who wouldn’t speak after a traumatic incidence?”
    “Yes, in movies.”
    “I think Molly wants to regain her memory more
than anything, but she’s terrified of what she’ll find. I think part of her is
blocking her memory. You see, there wasn’t enough damage to her brain to
permanently erase her long term memory.”
    “Okay.” He digested her theory. “So, with support,
you think she’ll remember everything?”
    “Maybe, when, if, her mind decides she can handle
the event that made her want to forget.” When Trent didn’t comment, Karen added,
“This is, of course, my personal opinion, apart from medical science. I am just
a nurse. I’m not supposed to diagnose these kinds of things. But I’ve spent a
lot of time with Molly, and some time with her parents before they died, and I
think something awful did this to her.”
    Trent still couldn’t speak.
    “You’ll help her?” Karen asked.
    “Yes.” He swallowed. “I’m going to get to the
bottom of this. For Molly.” And for them, but he didn’t add that part out loud.
     
     
    Later Molly and Alicia headed back to Alicia ’s house la ughing about the movie and how they
spilled popcorn everywhere. Alicia had even thrown a few pieces back at a pesky
kid in front of them. Molly noticed popcorn stuck in Alicia’s hair and pulled
it out, holding it up for her to see and causing more laughter.
    “I want to show you one more place.” Alicia drove
into Ridge City and up a street Molly hadn’t seen yet, since she’d returned. A
few blocks up the road, Alicia said quietly, “That’s his house.”
    After a long driveway, a wide brick house sat
surrounded by rose bushes. Molly pictured them in bloom, thinking maybe they
were red