Chapter 6(Do I really exist)

...

My phone kept beeping but I was rather too occupied driving to pick it up, and besides it would be Emilia trying to find me, the ride from the city to my countryside felt like forever, whatever I need to do had to be done alone.

Finally, I arrived at my previous workplace, it was long but worth it,

"you hardly come around" I heard the familiar voice of Principal Judy as she slightly brushes Georgiana's back, I immediately froze at my spot watching my best friend and her mother

"You do not even wish to visit your mother any longer," she added with a frown

"Mom you know how busy I am, but I promise," Georgiana said, with a smile

A rare sight, she and her mom has always been in a very bad relationship and she refused to take the step to mend it but seeing them both like this warmed my heart, making me remember my mother, what a terrible daughter I am, I haven't even tried to go see her since, but I can't show up looking like this, how does she recognize that I am her daughter if I am like this?

"Hello, have we met before" The inquisitive voice of my friend interrupted my thought, and I immediately covered my face with the face cap trying to avoid her gaze

"No, we haven't," I said, thankful she isn't into celebrities, if not she would have recognized me

"Sorry you felt familiar," she said with a warm smile then waved to her mother before leaving, she was dressed in the style Georgiana would speak about quoting "If I had money" this Georgiana is rich, even her perfume smells like money, her car as well, I watched her drove off wandering what happened, what changed in the both of us

"I assume you are a visitor," principal Judy said smiling at me, she wasn't just my best friend's mom but my boss, and I had hardly seen her smile, she looks younger and warmer

"Uhm, yes" I answered awkwardly

"you didn't come with the others, they left a few minutes ago, I like when people remember to visit their Almamater," she said with a smile, I was a bit taken aback but smiled instead, it was better that way,

"You grew into a beautiful woman," she said while I only smiled

"Thank you, you are too kind," I said awkwardly

"Can I ask you something ma" I begin immediately after we arrived at the school hall, my eyes picking into the drama hall, that used to be my office,

"Of course go on"

"What happened to the drama teacher Rosa," I said while she stared at me confused

"Was she your teacher?" she asked me

"I have no idea of any Rosa, Rosa what?"

"Rosa Waltz," I said desperately looking at her

"I have never heard of her, but maybe my memory failed me, there is a document for every teacher, so if she did work here you will find her," She said staring at me awkwardly, at this point I am losing my mind, I get if nobody recognizes me but my name? That's extreme, she was almost my second mother and my boss, younger me spent so many sleepovers at her house and she doesn't know me.

"Here is a list of every teacher for drama and the years they taught," she said smiling, I collected it and furiously roamed through the pages.

...

Was it Ten, Twenty times I checked, there was no single sign of me, I know that book I have held in the past, I was in that book but today I nearly went crazy checking.

I sat with my head leaning on the steering wheel of the car, "What is going on?" I asked for the fifth time hitting " I should go home" I said looking at my wristwatch, exactly noon,

Without minding that it was a three hours drive I immediately set out to drive, the constant ringing from my phone made me switch it into a flight mood, and my mind filled with theories about what could be wrong, even if the world forgets you not your own mother, my parents would never forget me.

After a long ride, I finally arrived, I couldn't take a further step as I sat in the car reminiscing, that day I was so happy I was going home to visit my parents, I had a tiring day but I wanted to go visit them, I wanted to help her in the restaurant for a while before I go back to my job but I never arrived.

Finally, I did I took a step into the restaurant since I can't go directly into the house, I look different and would only cause confusion, I'm immediately struck with the warm and inviting atmosphere, the soft glow from the hanging light casting a gentle light on the wooden tables and chair giving the place a warm an intimate feel, oh how I missed home.

The walls adorned with old-fashioned photos, beautiful artwork, and rustic decor, giving the restaurant a nostalgic charm. Exactly the Aesthetic of my mother, the restaurants have improved a lot, to say the least, but the feels remained the same. The delicious smell of freshly made bread and roasted meat made my mouth water, lately, I no longer eat to enjoy but rather, to survive.

"Luci!" my mother's voice called out and just then, somebody brushed through me

"Oh sorry about that," I turned to look at Luci my cousin,

"Please have a seat, what can we offer you, coffee or tea?" she asked while I stood looking at her, she was cheerful, her red hair was healthy, and her skin warmer,

"Ma'am" she called me

"Uhm coffee.."

"Here you are, I will take care of this," my mother said behind me, I immediately turned as I felt my eyes fighting to water but like always there was resistance, for some reason this body hates tears

"Hello, Mrs. Waltz," I said while she squinted her eyes trying to recognize me

"do I know this young lady?" she asked with a smile,

"Oh I am a friend of your daughter," I said immediately reaching for her hand while she stared at me, how I miss her, how I want to hug her and tell her my crazy experience so far but I can't

"My daughter?" she asked

"Yes Rosa," I said but her face didn't change, she stared at me weirdly, I looked around to see Luci looking at me like that too

"What happened, did I say something wrong?" I asked panicking, what happened to my body, am I still in a coma perhaps? My thought went wild

"Am afraid you might have made a mistake somewhere" she said and paused while I held my breath in anticipation

"No daughter of mine bares the name, Rosa," she said...

As I ride back to the city my tears accompanied me, it was like I didn't exist like my whole life is a lie, I don't even know what is true anymore, did I really develop a mental illness that made up memory in my head, there was no way I didn't exist, my memories are too vivid to be illusion or lies, everybody from my memory exists except me, maybe a few things are no longer the way it was but they are still real.

By the time I arrived back in the city, it was late, and the thought of going back to that big house didn't excite me, but the thought of Emilia probably worried sick about me made me reach out for the phone to make a call, I have completely forgotten I left it on flight mood, immediately I removed it from that, it began to ring, without looking I picked it immediately cause I knew it was Emilia.

"Am sorry I can explain" I began but the weeping from the end of the line made me panic, "What is going on Emilia? I asked while she remained quiet

"Deme" she finally said

"What is going on, talk to me and quit weeping," I said losing my mind

"You know what I am coming home"

"No, she said defensively, meet me at Evergreen Hotel, it's urgent," she said before hanging up, Coincident or fate I could see the very said hotel from where I parked I immediately drove to the garage and walked into the front door only then did I realize that she didn't tell me how to find her, I pulled out the phone to call her and then everything felt odd.

Emilia never called me, slowly the voice weeping earlier began to recur in my head, it wasn't Emilia but very familiar, the person I just picked up her call was Amber, I took a few steps backward my body screaming at me a sense of danger took over me, as I tried to retreat, she hugged me from nowhere 

"You really came, Deme," she said while hugging me, I stood not reciprocating

"What is wrong?" she asked looking at me with teary eyes

"Amber why am I here and why are you crying" I forced myself to ask, I wouldn't have been here if only I took a look before picking up the call, or listened, I just heard a weeping voice and here I am without thinking, what if this was some stalker who wanted me died

"I have some confession to make Deme, it has been killing me and I think it has stained our friendship, I can't leave like this any longer," she said, my heart somewhat melted hearing her my raised shoulders lowered as I stared at her

"What is this about?" I asked her

"Let's sit down, it's about Carson," she said, she was finally tired of her stupid ideas, I highly doubt that but my curiosity grew to hear what she had to say,

"Let's sit down first," she said dragging me to a table, I looked at her red cheeks and her messy mascara, the thing is no matter how I scrutinized her face I couldn't tell if the tears were real or not, she just cried more saying she doesn't know how to begin

Already losing my patience I picked up the glass of juice in front of me and gulped it down

"Can you tell me what really happened Amber, it's getting late, and stop crying, you might be photographed unaware" I said

"You see Carson and I wronged you" she began while I nodded

"But I never had the intent to wrong you at all, I would never do that to you, you are my best friend"

"I know," I said and took another sip of my drink, letting the cool liquid slide down my throat. It was sweet and fruity, and I savor the taste as I sit back and observed her

But as I settle into my chair, I start to feel a strange sensation creeping over me. At first, it's just a subtle feeling of lightheadedness, but it quickly intensifies, and I begin to feel dizzy and disoriented.

My heart starts to race as I realize what's happening. My drink has been drugged, and the effects are beginning to take hold, "How could you?" was the first thought that crept through my mind as I looked at her, I watched her smile, how could I be so stupid to trust the drink she paid for

I try to stand up, but my legs feel weak, and I stumble backward, grabbing onto the table to steady myself. I feel a sense of panic rising in my chest as I struggle to make sense of what's happening to me. She didn't move a bit from her seat.

As the drug continues to take hold, I begin to feel a sense of detachment from reality. Everything around me seems hazy and surreal, and I struggle to focus my thoughts and gaze.

I feel myself sinking deeper and deeper into a state of relaxation as if all my cares and worries are slowly melting away. It's a strange feeling, almost like being in a dream, but I know that it's not real. "This can not be happening" a sense of fear began to creep in and out

Despite my growing sense of calm, I know that I need to act quickly. I can't stay here, trapped in this drugged state. I need to find help and get out of here before it's too late, who knows what she plans to do to me, I can still see her, her creepy smile happy that she easily fooled me

I take a deep breath, summoning all my strength, and force myself to stand up. My legs still feel unsteady, but I manage to take a few steps towards the door. With each passing moment, the effects of the drug grow stronger, but I push on, determined to escape this situation.

As I stumbled toward the exit, I felt a hand resting on my shoulder, a heavy one at that "Let go of me!" I shouted hoping I got the attention, I rather make myself known than allow anything happens to me

"Where is my phone," I said trying to find my phone

"Sweetheart it's me, do not worry," the voice said, my version and thoughts blurry but I know it was Carson when I forced my eyes open to take in the environment I noticed we were standing in front of what appeared to be a hotel room

"Let go of me!" I panicked again shoving him away from me, did I really disassociate for a minute,

"Don't fight it" his voice annoyed me and I kicked him where the lights don't touch and stumbled my way out pushing every door as I ran, I had no idea what I was doing but I need to get away from these people.

I know he was following me but the pain couldn't let him run fast, I finally was able to kick open a door and I immediately hide myself in there with my fingers crossed, slowly it went quiet.

Could he have given up chasing me?

"What are you doing here ?" A voice asked me...