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“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 trying 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.

“I’m sorry I don’t remember the ‘us’ part of our relationship,” Violet said.

“But I do feel something…a connection…a strong one…but it’s like, I just can’t get the details to come through.  I feel like I’m watching a video and someone hit pause on your face, but no more information is registered.  I don’t understand it and I wish… Oh God how I wish it were different.” Violet began to hysterically sob.

“Vivian don’t cry, please don’t cry!” Jeremy went into panic mode at the sight of her tears and raced to her side to comfort her.

Crying was the only thing Violet could think to do to distract Jeremy from the interrogation he had put her under. She knew humans resorted to tears when they were sad, but also when they were frustrated.  So she used her training to divert Jeremy and it worked like a charm.

Violet looked at Jeremy and suddenly felt the need to ease his pain. Maybe she could find a way to do just that. All she needed was to somehow convince him to be patient while she
inhabited
Vivian’s body. I know. I need to make a compromise with him. I will just appeal to him, as a friend, for some time…time to heal; he couldn’t refuse that concept, especially coming from his uncontrollably weeping mate.

“
Jer
…,” Violet started her speech. “I am sure, in time, I will remember you…I mean us.” I know this is extremely difficult for you but I just know if you give this thing some time you will see everything will be like it was with you and me.   I think it would be really hard to forget someone as wonderful as you Jer.” Violet really poured it on thick. But the truth was, Violet did like Jeremy a lot and hated being the cause of his pain. He was a beautiful soul and that was clear to Violet from the first time she looked into his soft, dreamy eyes.

Jeremy spoke back to Violet ashamed of his grilling about the amnesia.  “Vivian, you don’t have to be sorry, I am a horrible person.  You just had a major brain surgery and here I am making you feel guilty for something that is clearly out of your control. God, what is wrong with me?” He continued beating himself up. “I am so selfish!”

“No Jeremy, you’re not selfish.  In fact, you are probably the most selfless person I have ever met.  I am glad you love me with all that you are and all I can tell you is I feel it straight down deep into my soul.” Violet put her hand on his cheek to acknowledge she felt his pain.

“Vivian I need you to know something.  I have loved you forever, Vivian Thorne and nothing, not even a bum memory can change that.  I believe in our love and I know the love you have for me will be unlocked from whatever darkness it is trapped in.  Just tell me what you need and I promise whatever it is, no matter how hard it is…I will do it for you,” he said.

Violet thought that was the sweetest, most honestly pure thing she had ever heard any human being say to another. She looked at Jeremy’s distraught face and told him to keep his faith in them. Then the tears came again. They took Violet by surprise because she was not trying to cry any longer.

“Where did that just come from?” Violet wondered as she wiped the wet tears rolling down her cheeks on Jeremy’s shirt. Darn it.  These are not my tears.  Violet began to piece the puzzle together.  These tears belonged to Vivian and she’s shedding them for him. Why does she keep resurfacing? Am I really that weak? Violet started to second guess her ability to successfully complete the mission. What she really needed was to see her friend Gabriel again because she was starting to worry about her merge.

This merge was not going according to plan. Entering Vivian’s vessel was supposed to be
textbook
. This girl should have been weakened by her cancer, not able to emerge as often as she has been. Her soul is supposed to be submissive, but instead it fights against the domination that has taken over her body. This was a problem the council feared they might encounter sending Violet in. Her immaturity and lack of experience as a Guardian were cause of grave concerns with them. Watching from above, the council began to question whether they had made the wrong decision sending Violet out too soon for such an important mission. 

Violet would not give up so easy. While she felt something was spinning out of control at that moment, she was not going to let them ruin her chances to show the council that she was worthy of being a Guardian. This mission was her chance to prove everything to them and she was not going to let Jeremy destroy everything she worked for to get here. This was her destiny and Violet needed to change course and steer Jeremy out of her way.

Violet thought of her training with Gabriel.  “Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and focus,” he would say to her just before she entered the Guardian Arena. “There is nothing you can’t do.” Violet channeled Gabriel’s voice now. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and seconds later, Vivian was gone. She opened her eyes and saw Jeremy’s sweet face waiting for her to answer his question of what is it that she needed him to do to help her?

Suddenly everything became crystal clear. Violet knew what she had to do. Why didn’t she see it before? It was so simple.  She decided to tell him the truth.  She took his hand in hers and said, “Jeremy, I need you to be my friend, just my friend right now. And I promise you if you give me the time and space to do what I need to do, you will have your Vivian back.  Can you do this for me…for us?” Violet asked.

Jeremy knew he had no other choice but to honor her request. He was never able to say no to Vivian in the past and he could tell by looking into those beautiful eyes of hers, that it was something she needed him to do for her.  He would not deny her request now. He spoke softly.  “If this is what you want, then wish granted.”

Once again Violet was elated by those two magic words “wish granted!”  “Thank you Jeremy,” Violet said as she gave him a tender embrace before he turned and walked away, feeling defeated.

Violet couldn’t change the path she needed to take with Jeremy to fulfill her destiny and focus on the mission.  In two days she would be out of this hospital and on her way to doing just that. She was more determined than ever to move quickly now so that she could keep her promise to Jeremy and return to him. 
His love.
 
His Vivian.