Chapter 1 - The Beginning

Nicole Sandford's sleek silver Bentley cruised down the highway, its engine purring like a contented cat. She'd just spent a week lounging on the sun-soaked beaches of Seabrook and was now on her way back to Everglow, the city she called home.

Her mind wandered through the highlights of her trip when she saw something on the side of the road that made her slow down.

A young woman, barefoot and looking completely lost, was trudging along the shoulder. Nicole’s heart clenched. She’d always been the kind of person who couldn’t resist helping anyone in need.

She slowed down, rolled down her window, and called out, “Hey, you need a ride?”

The woman stopped and looked at her, eyes wide with surprise and relief. “Really? That’d be amazing. I’m Lila.”

“Hop in,” Nicole said with a smile. “I’m Nicole, by the way.”

As Lila settled into the plush leather seat, she let out a deep sigh. “Thanks so much. I didn’t think anyone would stop.”

“Where you headed?” Nicole asked, pulling back onto the road.

“Everglow,” Lila replied, looking a bit embarrassed. “I kinda got turned around.”

“No worries,” Nicole said. “I’m heading that way too. Just got back from a vacation. We can chat and keep each other company.”

As they drove, the two women started talking. Lila, around Nicole’s age, had been bouncing from town to town, trying to find a place to start over after some tough breaks.

“I was in Serenity Springs,” Lila said, “but things didn’t pan out. Everglow’s my next shot.”

Nicole nodded. “Everglow’s great. Lots of opportunities if you know where to look. What happened in Serenity Springs?”

“Just didn’t click with the people there,” Lila said, staring out the window. “Felt like an outsider.”

Nicole could sense there was more to the story, but she didn’t press. “Well, Everglow’s got a pretty welcoming vibe. I think you’ll like it.”

They chatted about lighter topics—favorite foods, travel stories, and music. Nicole shared some funny anecdotes from her vacation, and Lila opened up about her dreams of finding a place where she could finally feel at home.

“I went snorkeling and saw this huge turtle,” Nicole said, laughing. “It looked at me like, ‘What are you doing here?’”

Lila giggled. “I’ve always wanted to try that. Maybe someday.”

“Definitely. Seabrook's amazing. Have you ever been there?”

“No, but I’ve heard it’s beautiful. What else did you do?” Lila said, smiling and unable to hide her amusement at the kind person she had just met.

“Oh, lots of beach time, some shopping, and I even tried surfing. Wiped out pretty spectacularly, though.”

Lila laughed. “I can’t imagine surfing. I’d be too scared of sharks.”

“Yeah, that thought crossed my mind too. But the instructors were great, and it was fun once I got the hang of it—well, sort of.”

“So, you’re from Everglow?”

“Yep, born and raised. What about you? Where’s home for you?”

“Honestly, I don’t know anymore. I’ve been moving around so much, trying to find my place. Everglow’s my next shot.”

Nicole nodded. “I get it. Everglow’s got a lot of opportunities. What do you do?”

“Kind of a jack-of-all-trades. I’ve done everything from waitressing to graphic design. Hoping to find something stable.”

“I’m sure you will. Everglow’s got a pretty diverse job market. You just need to find your niche.”

They were both laughing, swapping stories about funny things that had happened in their lives. The car was filled with the warmth of newfound friendship.

Suddenly, a loud honk shattered their moment. Nicole looked up, eyes wide. A huge truck was barreling down the highway, heading straight for them.

“Oh my God!” Nicole yelled, panic flooding her voice. She slammed on the brakes, but nothing happened. The car kept speeding forward.

Lila’s eyes went wide with fear. “What’s happening? Why aren’t we stopping?”

“The brakes! They’re not working!” Nicole’s voice shook as she tried to keep control. “Hang on!”

With no other option, she jerked the wheel to the side. The car veered off the road, trees rushing towards them. The Bentley crashed through the underbrush, bumping and jolting violently.

Both women screamed as they braced for impact.

---

A Few Days Later...

Nicole slowly opened her eyes, her vision blurry and her head pounding. She was lying on a rough wooden bed in a dimly lit, old cabin. The smell of wood smoke and something savory filled the air. She tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness forced her back down.

An old woman with kind eyes and weathered skin approached her, holding a bowl of steaming soup. "Here, drink this," she said gently, offering the bowl. "It'll help you feel better."

Nicole took the bowl with trembling hands, sipping the warm broth. "Where am I? What happened?" she asked, her voice weak and confused.

The old woman sat down next to her. "You're safe now, dear. I found you after your car crashed. Do you remember anything?"

Nicole’s brow furrowed as she tried to recall. Everything was a haze. "No... I can't remember. Who are you?"

"My name's Brenda," the old woman replied. "I was out gathering firewood when I saw your car smashed into a tree. The engine was starting to catch fire."

Nicole looked around the cabin, her head throbbing painfully. Brenda had done what she could to bandage Nicole’s head and cheek, which had suffered burns from the fire. "My head... it hurts so much. Did I bump my head?"

Brenda nodded, her expression serious. "Yes, you hit your head pretty hard in the crash. And you got some burns on your cheek and arms when the car exploded. I did some first aid to stop the bleeding and clean up your wounds. But you need to rest."

Nicole touched her head gingerly and winced at the pain. "I can’t remember anything. Who am I?"

Brenda’s heart sank. "You don’t remember anything at all? Not even your name?"

Nicole shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "No, nothing. Who am I? What happened to me?"

--

Earlier that day, Brenda had been searching for firewood in the forest. She was about to head back to her cabin when she heard the crash. Rushing towards the sound, she found a car smashed against a tree, smoke and flames starting to lick the hood. Inside, she saw two young women, unconscious.

Thinking quickly, she grabbed a rock and smashed the driver's side window. She reached in, her heart pounding, and managed to pull Nicole out.

Nicole had a deep cut on her forehead from the crash. Just as she was pulling Nicole to safety, the car exploded, sending Brenda and Nicole flying back. The explosion caused burns on Nicole's cheek and arms. Brenda also got some burns but quickly patted out the small fires on both of them.

Gritting her teeth against the pain, Brenda managed to bring Nicole back to her cabin, where she treated their wounds as best she could. The other woman in the passenger seat didn’t survive. The explosion had engulfed the car, and there was nothing Brenda could do to save her.

Nicole listened to Brenda’s story, her mind a blank slate. "I can’t remember any of it. I don’t even know who I am."

Brenda placed a comforting hand on Nicole’s shoulder. "You were in a terrible accident. It’s not unusual to lose your memory after something like that. We can take things one step at a time."

Nicole looked around the cabin, her eyes wide and confused. "What do I do now? How do I figure out who I am?"

"We'll figure it out together," Brenda said softly. "For now, you need to rest and heal. The memories might come back on their own, or they might not. But you’re safe here, and that’s what matters."

Nicole nodded weakly, feeling lost and scared. As she drifted off to sleep, Brenda tended to the fire, her mind heavy with the weight of the tragedy and the uncertainty of what lay ahead for the young woman she had saved.

Brenda couldn’t shake the guilt she felt for not being able to save the other woman, a painful reminder of losing her loved ones in a fire long ago.