The Gift

The shock I experienced was not seen on my face. It felt like a bucket of cold water was poured on my bare back. My brain was going on an overdrive and yet my body felt numb. I finally understood that you can be alive and still be dead. My life was taken away from me and a sham of a new one was handed to me. They erased me from the surface of the earth and left me with absolutely no one to pour out my emotions to. That was the worse part of this dilemma, I had absolutely no one to talk to. I had to find some trustworthy people that I can talk to or maybe they did give me a companion and all I needed to do was find her. I immediately put my mind towards finding this person.

I didn't really have enough time to collect ponder on where they must have kept this person or to even hear myself think or process my feelings because Becky's parents were always walking into my room to see if I am still breathing. I couldn't blame them though. I remembered when my mother died, I wished earnestly for her to come back to live and if she did, I was sure that I won't even leave her side.

I couldn't call them my parents yet to myself and I don't think I will ever be able to do that. I mean,how is it possible to address someone who has never had any impact on your life as mom? The singular thought of it was strange to me.

I starting thinking about my mother again and I could feel myself drifting into a bad place, but before that could happen, Becky's father spoke up and I was so grateful for the distraction it offered.

"How are you doing darling?" He walked close to my bedside and place his hand on mine. I slowly moved my hand from his. I looked up to see that my action did really hurt him yet I couldn't help myself. I just didn't want to be close to them at that point.

I couldn't even talk, I just looked at him. I honestly believed that if I opened my mouth to talk,I would start crying. I wanted to be alone for a few minutes to arrange my thoughts and it was like God heard my desperate pled and sent the doctor in at that moment. 

He walked into the room,scanned the environment and signed. Then he said, "No no no,you guys can't all be in here at the same time. I told you, only one guest is permitted to be in here with her at a time. She might get overwhelmed and slip into a coma if she is surrounded by so many people. Now please leave,I need to run some tests on her."

I was grateful that he did that. Becky's father assured me that he was just outside in case I needed anything. I nodded at him and he left. I don't think I've ever said anything to him. All I do is nod and wait for him to leave. I knew it was wrong and I made a mental note to myself to work on my emotions so that I could eventually start talking to him.

The doctor,who I later found his name out to be Llyod, started running some tests on me. I just took the opportunity to wander into my mind and start analysing the situation I have found myself in.

I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that my father killed me. And now that I have had some time to really think about what happened,he didn't kill me. He only pushed me to my death. If he hadn't come in to rape me,then I would have still been in my room and that car would not have knocked me out. I wondered how he was faring. I really hope the police didn't take him in for murder. He was a terrible man but he doesn't deserve the trauma of going to jail. After all,we are just humans and we all make mistakes at some point of our life. I was proud of myself for feeling this way, it showed that I was halfway to forgiving him.

The pain I felt when my mother pushed me is something I am still trying to come out of. Why would she allow something like this happened to me? Why didn't she just allow me die and go to wherever I was supposed to go to and spend eternity? But she said that they were higher powers,I wonder who she was talking about when she said that. Maybe it was God or maybe it was the angels. But whoever it was, I was prepared to give them a piece of my mind when I get to Heaven.

I had to get over that and start thinking of what to do now. I remember her saying that they will be sending me back in time. I will be totally honest and say that I believed that she was just pulling my legs at first,but when Jeff told me the century that I was in,I knew that she spoke the truth.

Now all I have to do is think of a way to get out of this mess. I started thinking of the things she told me when Dr. Llyod disrupted my thoughts and started telling me about my results.

"Becky,you are doing remarkably well. Your blood pressure is okay. Your sugar level is normal and your vitals are good too. I must say at this pace,you may be discharged soon."

I rejoiced at the last statement he uttered because if I am discharged it means no more disgusting hospital food. I can finally taste good food. I have been dying for some bacon or ribs. And it also means that I will get to explore the year I have been sent to.

I could already feel the excitement sipping out of me with just the thought of being able to walk the streets of New Orleans while soaking in the rays of the sunlight. My entire body was lit on fire with the excitement and I couldn't just wait for my freedom.

The doctor left the room and I was left alone in an empty room with only my thoughts to keep me company.

I believe a calamity is going to befall this land and I have been chosen to help them survive it. I couldn't think of how exactly I am going to do that because Becky's father stepped in again. 

I was unable to hide my anger at them always being in my face that I screamed out. "Gosh,can I not be left alone for few minutes? I know I rose from the dead and that is quite unlikely an event to occur but come on, give me some space. I am not going to die again,Dr. Llyod already said that so can you please stop coming in here all the time?"

Dad was surprised that I spoke in that manner to him and now that I think about it, everyone in the family is always surprised whenever I voice out my feelings. It made me wonder if Rebecca was the type to not talk when she wanted to or even stand up for herself.

This is just insane,they send me back in time into a body of a girl I barely know and now I am supposed to act like her? How am I to do that when I don't even know anything about her? I thought to myself. The entire situation was really getting me frustrated.

Dad finally found his voice after having stood there for a good number of minutes. "I am sorry darling,it's just that I didn't want you to feel alone. And your brothers have already left so I thought it will be best for me to come keep you company"

"I do not need company. I just want to be left alone."

"Well, I am sorry about that. Maybe I should just tell Amanda to go then."

At the mention of another girl's name, I became intrigued to know more. Maybe she is the one that was kept to be my companion. "Amanda,who is that?"

He smiled "She is your best friend. You have been friends with her since you learnt how to walk."

At the mention of the word "best friend",I knew I had to see this girl. Maybe she could give me some pointers on how to behave more like Becky. And I guess it will be better to learn about my family from her since I could not stand my brothers. 

"Okay,let her in. But only her."

Dad smiled,nodded his head and left to go call Becky's best friend.

Amanda walked in and I immediately liked her. She was a petite looking girl with a lovely blonde hair which was tied up in a scattered bun. The hair falling from the loose bun magnified her lovely facial features. She had almond shaped eyes and it reminded me of my mother. She looked so much like my mother and it was shocking to acknowledge it. I guess the only difference in their features was the bow leg she had that my mother did not.

The bow leg wasn't really noticable but it was there to a deep observer. She looked and dressed like someone who was feisty and her next words confirmed my thoughts.

"Damn girl,you look like you have been run over by a truck." She said it with a bit of laughter and one could tell that she was trying to make a joke.

"I'll leave you two alone." Dad said and left.

"Well your father is still hot." And then she walked towards me. "You know when your mom called my mom to tell her about the miracle,I was just about heading out to shop for a black dress. You know I don't own anything gloomy like that. I actually thought about using your own gown but then it would have been too sad." She kept going on about it. 

"So you really can't remember anything huh? Well that makes me happy, at least now you can't remember that you destroyed me at tennis?"

"I play tennis?" I hated sports of any kind and I was hoping Rebecca would as well. After all, her life was already giving me the idea that she is a bit boring.

"Yes, girl. It's like your favorite indoor game. Well that and stalking Adam Cole online." And she grinned.

"And I believe Adam Cole is supposed to be my crush?"

"Crush? Yes. Love of your life? No. Because if he was,you would have definitely remembered him. He is very hot though. Saw him at the mall yesterday when I went to get you a welcome back to life gift. He sends his greeting."

"You got me a gift?"

"Girl, you're not even gonna ask me about how he is fairing?"

"Well,seeing as he is not the one that got run over by a car,killed and then brought back to life. I don't see why I should."

"Good point,you always were smart but not the type to say your mind. So I must say that I really love what this accident did to you." I could tell that I was going to absolutely adore her. She was free and easy to talk to. And she appears to be a girl who loves to have her fun.

"Amanda,my gift."

"Okay,okay calm down already." And then she dipped her hand into her purse and brought out three chocolate pudding.

"I know how much you love chocolate pudding and I also know that this hospital serves the worse meal ever,so I took it upon myself to feed you this afternoon."

"Wow,this is great. Thank you" I unwrapped the pudding and used the spoon Amanda gave me to scoop it. The feeling was Heavenly and I rushed to finish it. I could feel my taste buds that have died from eating hospital food coming back to life. Amanda was already feasting on one of the pudding and only one was left. I rushed to get it out of her hand before she noticed that I needed it and she turned on reflex and the pudding left her hand and landed on the ground.

"Now look at what you have done" she looked at me and pouted as she said.

"Me? You're the one that brought it to me. I should be taking it not you. Now pick it up for me."

"Now pick it up for me" she tried mimicking me. "Gosh,you sound nothing like the Becky I know" and she went down to pick it. 

When she got back up,there was something else in her hand. It was my mother's necklace. My heart skipped a beat when I saw it,I thought it was lost forever. My happiness was cut short by the look of pure shock on Amanda's face. 

"What is it?" I asked

"How did this get here?"

"Oh,it's my necklace. It must have fallen down when I was about heading to the bathroom." I lied because I couldn't tell her that it was my mother's necklace. Still,she looked surprised. "What is it?"

"Okay two questions. First,when did you get this necklace because I have never seen you wear it before?"

"Not too long ago. I just kept it in my room. Wore it on the day I was going out and the accident happened." I was amazed at myself for how fast I thought of that lie. She still looked surprised.

"Becky stop lying to me. How did you get this necklace?"

"I told you already. What's the matter?"

"This is my mother's necklace."

"What?"

"Yes,she is always wearing it. She said it has been in our family for ages. It is the only one in the world. So I'll ask again,how did you get it?"

I was dumbfounded. "This can't be your mother's necklace."

"Okay,I know you lost your memory and all that so I am going to show you." And she brought out her phone. She showed me different pictures of her mother and in all of those pictures,the necklace was hanging proudly from her mother's neck.

"Well,ain't that about a bitch" I whispered to myself.