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  “Oh, don’t be silly honey. We need to shake things up around here every now and then. It keeps us nurses on our toes! Plus, now don’t tell anyone,” Violet met Ivy’s lean into her for the big confession, “I kinda like Rihanna!” She danced out of the room singing the song that the IPod was playing.

  “Hmmm,” Violet thought as she put the ear buds back into her ears. She listened to the song that was playing, the one that Ivy said was sung by Rihanna and said, “Yeah, I kinda like it too Ivy.” She continued listening to the music, enjoying each and every song and storing them in her memory bank. Her memory, although currently pretending it was impaired, was very much intact. The council knew Violets’ photographic memory would prove to be a valuable asset during her mission. Not for memorizing songs per say, but for information she would collect and store during her mission.

  The council saw Violet as a free spirit. She didn’t want to belong to any particular group when she came to them. But then, she met Gabriel and everything changed. Violet found a purpose in her soul and took every opportunity to show the council she was a unique and valuable asset that belonged with them. The journey Violet was on in this world would be the chance to prove to herself and to the council that she was exactly where she was supposed to be, with the Guardians. Violet believed with all of her soul that this was what she was meant to do, this was her destiny.

  Then she started singing the Rihanna song Nurse Ivy said she secretly liked. Violet was struck by the lyrics:

  “Yellow diamonds in the light, and we’re standing side by side.”

  “As your shadow crosses mine, what it takes to come alive.”

  “It’s the way I’m feeling I just can’t deny, but I’ve gotta let it go.”

  “We found love in a hopeless place; we found love in a hopeless place.”

  “We found love in a hopeless place; we found love in a hopeless place.”

  Violet thought for a minute about the song. It spoke to her. It seemed like the artist had a message. She thought it was quite interesting how people here shared their emotions through music since she herself did the same thing. Violet closed her eyes and laid her head on the pillow and began singing along with the lyrics, rocking to the melody and bobbing her head with each thump of the bass like she was the only person in the entire hospital. But, she wasn’t. When she opened her eyes, the entire nursing staff was peering in the doorway in amazement. Completely stunned and slightly embarrassed, Violet quickly yanked the ear buds out of her ears and fumbled to find the stop button on the IPod. Then something weird happened. They all started clapping like she had just performed a concert.

  “Violet, that was amazing! You were amazing. Your voice, my God, it is heavenly!” Ivy said with awe.

  “Oh, well thank you,” Violet answered humbly.

  “Seriously honey, I have two words for you,” Aida spoke now. “American Idol Girl!”

  “I’m sorry, I don’t follow? American Idol?” Violet questioned.

  “The TV show!” Aida shouted “Simon Cowell? Well, JLo’s running that show now, but Simon knows what real talent is.” She continued to preach his praises.

  “It’s a singing contest. They search the entire United States and find people, like you, that can sing like the angels.” Aida explained.

  Aida could still tell Violet was unaware of what she was talking about by the blank look on her pretty face. “Well no matter girl. All you need to know is if you decided to enter that arena, you would have all of our votes for sure. Well, I better get myself back to work, but thanks for the show honey.” Aida rolled her eyes, grabbed her metal charts, and hurried out of the room.

  “Ok ladies, back to work.” Ivy ordered. The crowd at my door began to disperse and Ivy walked over to my bedside and said, “You are just full of surprises aren’t you my dear?” she smiled at Violet, turned the light off and said, “Now get some sleep kiddo. Goodnight Vivian.”

  “Goodnight Ivy,” Violet whispered back. She waited for Ivy to close the door then reached over to turn the light back on. Violet hated the dark. In fact it frightened her to her very core. Before she could get to the light, she felt something like a presence in the room. Before she could speak, she heard a loud clap. It was not like before with the nurses, it was a slow, long, segmented clap that got louder and louder and louder. Then suddenly, a voice spoke out from the darkness. “Bravo, bravo Vie!” It was instant recognition for Violet. She knew immediately what body was attached to that strong beautiful voice that she missed so terribly.

  “Gabriel!” Violet jumped out of her bed and ran straight into her friend’s arms as the light switched on.

  “When did you…how did you?” she panted with excitement.

  “Easy, easy Vie, you’re going to alert nurse Ivy with all this commotion,” he said as he peeked out the door to make sure the coast was still clear.

  “I called for you but you didn’t come! I was starting to think I was flying solo.” Violet said.

  “You? Solo? Here? Without supervision? Really Vie?” Gabriel laughed a little just thinking about the notion.

  “Ha Ha Gabe!” Violet returned the sarcasm.

  “I’ll have you know, just for the record, that I have been doing just fine here on my own!”

  “I can see that Vie,” he said.

  “I have!” she questioned his sincerity.

  “I’m just surprised you can remember why we’re here, you know, with the amnesia and all.” Gabriel tried to look disappointed in the sudden agenda change by Violet.

  “Oh yeah, about that…” Violet suddenly went into defense mode and started backing Gabriel to the wall while pointing her finger into his chest.

  “You weren’t here! What choice did I have? I mean I couldn’t very well attempt to get close to the subject with a love sick boyfriend on my heels now could I?” she didn’t wait for his reply and continued her verbal assault.

  “And what would the great Guardian Gabriel have done? Come on…what?” she now had Gabriel pinned to the wall with her index finger still embedded firmly in his chest.

  Gabriel just looked into her beautiful electric eyes, put his warm hand to her cheek, and paused in the moment feeling her breath on his face. They both stood frozen, staring at each other quietly and intensely. Suddenly, Gabriel broke the lock and began to laugh.

  “What’s so funny?” Violet said annoyed.

  “You Vie!” he continued laughing.

  She folded her arms and turned away from him. “I’m glad you’re having so much fun at my expense. And if you have a better plan, let’s hear it,” she challenged.

  “Vie?” Gabriel moved toward her, placing his hand on the back of her shoulder. He then turned her around so the two of them were face to face.

  “I don’t” he said.

  “You don’t what?” she looked up at him.

  “Have a better plan,” he admitted.

  “Because your plan….was pure genius!” Violet’s eyes danced with joy and then came that smile. Even being in Vivian’s vessel, Gabriel recognized immediately that the smile on her face belonged to his friend Violet! There was no mistaking it, Gabriel thought as he watched her relish in the moment. That smile was truly one of a kind and he was glad he was the one that was able to put it back on her beautiful face. The inner being, the soul, was always the physical image Gabriel saw, no matter what vessel they were aboard. That was his gift….one of many.

  “Ok Vie, enough goofing around. We need to start working this new plan and figure out how to get you closer to our subject, Carter Stone.” Gabriel said plotting a revised plan with Violet. “First thing on the agenda is getting you out of this hospital!

  “No argument here, Gabe!” she said happily.

  Chapter 4

  The Truth Shall Set You free

  Today was the day Dr. Goodwin would have all the test results. He had called a meeting to discuss them. Violet wasn’t the slightest bit worried, having faked her amnesia, but Henry was distraught and anxious to hear
what the doctor had to say. Violet tried her best to calm him down, telling him she knew everything would be fine, but it didn’t seem to help. Henry just paced the floor like he always did when he was nervous.

  “Dad…come…sit” Violet told him.

  “You’re going to wear a hole right through the floor with your pacing.”

  Henry reluctantly stopped and joined Violet sitting on her bed. Then the door opened and Dr. Goodwin walked in.

  “How’s my favorite patient doing today?” he asked Violet.

  “She would be better if she could get out of here,” Violet responded.

  “I’m insulted. You’re not enjoying my company?” Dr. Goodwin looked at her with a slight frown.

  “Of course I am! Everyone here has been wonderful to me.” Violet felt the need to express her feelings of gratitude to override her previous comment.

  “I’m teasing you honey. I know you want to go home and I am here to tell you…Wish Granted!”

  Those were Violet’s two favorite words. Gabriel was the only person who had ever spoken those words to her. Whenever Violet wanted something badly, Gabriel would do his best to see to it that she got her wish. He always made her sweat before delivering those two magic words…Wish Granted. Violet knew angels had the power to grant wishes in their world but she didn’t expect her wishes to be granted here. Dr. Goodwin’s news was going to be good and Violet knew it.

  Henry took his daughter’s hand and squeezed it tightly while Dr. Goodwin opened his folder preparing to deliver his findings to them. Violet noticed Henry’s hands were wet with sweat and it was clear his nerves were getting the better of him. She felt horrible having to put him through all of this just so she could separate herself, intimately, from Vivian’s boyfriend Jeremy.

  Dr. Goodwin cleared his throat and then spoke. “We didn’t see anything in the tests that would be cause for concern.” Violet started clapping her hands and smiling at Henry.

  Henry was happy about the results but was still concerned about why his daughter was experiencing this memory loss. He expressed these concerns to his friend Dr. Goodwin, anxious for some answers.

  Doc directed his attention to Henry and said, “I believe Vivian has what is known as Dissociative Amnesia.” Henry looked confused and Violet thought that it was weird they had a name for her make-believe amnesia.

  “What is this Dis..assoc… whatever you called it?” Henry couldn’t even repeat the words back to the doctor they were so foreign to him.

  Dissociative Amnesia results from a psychological cause as opposed to direct damage to the brain. That is good news on that front. Vivian’s amnesia is most likely caused by a psychological trauma and is usually temporary, although every case is different. She seems to be exhibiting symptoms concurrent with repressed memory, which is a sub category of the Dissociative Amnesia. Doc could see that Henry was having a hard time processing the diagnosis.

  “In Layman’s terms doc?” Henry pleaded.

  “Let me see if I can explain it another way,” Doc said.

  “Repressed memory is the inability to recall information, usually about stressful or traumatic events in a person’s life. The memory gets stored in long term memory, but access to it is impaired because of psychological defense mechanisms,” Doc explained further.

  “I see,” Henry replied.

  “Will my daughter ever recover these memories?” he asked with hope in his eyes.

  “Well that we don’t know for certain. I’m told that people retain the capacity to learn new information and there may be some later partial or complete recovery of memory, but every case is different.”

  “But I can still go home right?” Violet felt scared about the release after listening to all of the information Doc was sharing about a condition that didn’t exist in her body.

  “Yes, BUT…” Doc was about to deliver the terms of her release.

  “He looked at Violet sternly and said, “I will release you on Friday as scheduled on one condition?”

  “Anything you want, I will do it!” Violet said eagerly.

  “We need to set up further treatment, in an outpatient setting, to get to the bottom of this amnesia. Would you be willing to meet with someone, a therapist, once a week and let her help you with your condition?” Doc looked square into my eyes pleading for my compliance.

  I looked at Henry and he shook his head up and down telling me to do the same. I agreed, accepting the fact that it was my only way out of this hospital. I mean how bad could it be? I sit and talk with a person once a week about my feelings…I mean her feelings? Piece of cake!

  “Done!” Violet said.

  “I’ll speak to Evelyn Dawson, she’s the best therapist around, and see if we can get you in to see her,” Doc said.

  “Perfect!” Violet answered back.

  “So I guess we have our favorite patient around for two more days. I’ll alert the staff. They will probably want to give you a Bon Voyage party!” Doc patted Violet’s leg and chuckled as he headed toward the door.

  “Thank you Dr. Goodwin!” Violet shouted at him, voice elated.

  Violet noticed Henry seemed a bit distant and wanted to know what was troubling him.

  “So dad, good news right?” she said digging for clues on Henry’s somber mood.

  “Yes honey, it’s great!” he tried to cover his obvious concern.

  “Well then, why do you look like you lost your best friend?” Violet questioned her father.

  “I just wish we knew what was causing your memory loss. I mean, Doc said stressful or traumatic events were to blame for this and…” he paused.

  “And what dad?” Violet asked him.

  “And I can’t help but think I am to blame.” He looked at her guilt ridden.

  “That’s ridiculous!” she said quickly, pouncing on the thought in Henry’s head.

  “Dad, whatever was going on in my life that created this memory block will work itself out. Maybe it was pressure at school, or things with Jeremy, or maybe coping with mom’s death? Who knows! But one thing is for certain, you are not to blame and I couldn’t ask for a better father.” Violet leaned over onto Henry’s shoulder and nestled her head into his chest like a baby bird. “You’ll see Dad; everything will be as it was. I Promise.” Violet spoke with conviction knowing that everything would be restored just as it was before she came to this world. Henry would have his daughter Vivian back and Jeremy would have his love. But Violet knew that while she would return to them, it would only be for a brief time and soon they would have to say goodbye to their Vivian forever.

  There was a knock on the door and Henry told them to enter. It was Jeremy, looking for answers of course. Henry told Jeremy about the doctor’s findings and for the first time there was hope in his eyes. His reaction was the complete opposite of Henry’s. He was excited that Vivian would be getting therapy and that gave him hope of her memory returning. He was very optimistic and eager to begin the process of her recovery. While it wasn’t great news, it was the best news he had heard in a while so he thought he would take it. Henry excused himself to give the two of them some privacy. Even though his daughter didn’t remember him, she seemed to enjoy his company.

  Jeremy came religiously every day, before and after work, to check on his girlfriend Vivian. It became so hard for Violet to see him and pretend that she had no idea who he was. Jeremy was such a good, kind person who loved Vivian deeply, without question. His loyalty and perseverance were undoubtedly Vivian’s motivation and strength throughout her illness. Her fight to remain here in this world seemed to be hinged on the love the two of them shared. No two people could have been better matched than Vivian and Jeremy. It seemed cruel to deny him these last few months with the girl he loved, but Violet had to focus on the bigger picture, the mission.

  Violet began to feel strange, almost drawn to Jeremy now. She knew it was Vivian trying to resurface. Whenever Jeremy were present she could feel a tug, which she learned very quickly, was actually Vivian t
rying to regain control. Violet knew she had to fight hard against these feelings that inched their way up because they did not belong to her, they belonged to Vivian. The only way Violet was going to be able to subdue these untimely emotions was to keep her distance from Jeremy. He was a threat to her mission and she would not have that!

  Jeremy could feel her uneasiness in his presence. He knew she was trying to push him away but he wouldn’t allow it. He was not going to go without a fight. Giving up on Vivian was not an option. Not now, not ever. Jeremy decided that even if Vivian never remembered loving him, it would be fine. He vowed he would make her fall in love with him all over again. So they both had a plan. The problem was, they were two very different plans and neither Jeremy, nor Violet, were going to stop until their missions were complete.

  “So Vivian,” Jeremy began to speak, “great news, you getting out of here and all, huh?” Jeremy broke the tension in the room with idle chatter.

  “Yep, two more days and I’m home free!” she responded fiercely.

  “That’s wonderful and just in time for school. Did Doc say if you could return to school? It starts in two weeks. Did you remember that?” Jeremy hoped maybe there were other things she couldn’t remember, other than him.

  “Yes, I do know that school starts soon and I am able to attend. Doc said so. That’s good, right?” Violet could detect Jeremy’s fishing expedition.

  “You caught me,” Jeremy confessed.

  “I guess I just think it is strange that I am the only thing you don’t seem to remember thus far?” Jeremy seemed so frustrated and Violet didn’t know how to respond.

  It is weird, she thought, only forgetting him. I guess I am going to have to make sure that I forget a few more things so I don’t blow this genius plan of mine. Jeremy was smart and now suspicious and those two things could prove to be very dangerous for me. I needed to do something to throw him off the trail of deception I’ve created before it backfires on me again. God, I just want to tell him the truth, but it was not allowed. So I am stuck in this web of lies.