The night was dark for only a few hours I had a hard time sleeping ever since I came back, every time my eyes closed I was back there fighting off memories… events that no longer existed, but in my mind they took place again and again. I simply sat in the tiny living room sipping tea and reading a book,listening I could hear her soft breaths like the ticking of a clock they soothed the uneasiness that lurked in my mind so much so that even as light crept in through the curtains I was gently carried off into a deep sleep.

“ Excuse me, um, hey I just wanted to thank you for last night” A hand tapped my shoulder. I awoke with a start, hair tickled my face as Sarai leaned over me to look into my face.

“ Sarai? What time is it?” I asked curious to see how long I slept.

“ uh I don’t know my phone’s back at Jackson’s, along with all of the rest of my life” She stated shoving a hand through her smoothe honey comb hair.

Still groggy, I rubbed at my eyes and stupidly asked “ What do you mean?”

“ I mean everything I own is with him, family pictures, clothes, anything and everything is there but I’ll have to leave it” a finality resonated through her words as if to say she was still powerless even though she left, it infuriated me.

“ The most important thing is that you’re safe… you don’t have to leave it either. I’ll go with you to pick up your stuff from that jackass, just let me know when you’re ready and I’ll take you to do what you need to I owe you anyways” I wanted her to reclaim what she was, because I knew what she had been.

“ You owe me?” She asked confused, she didn’t remember me yet.

I gave a quick chuckle thinking of how surprised she’d be when she recalled who I was “ You’ll figure it out here soon” I said.

“ Okay? You’re a bit of a weirdo anybody ever tell you that?” She said.

A scene flashed before my eyes, the same girl with shorter hair stated that exact same thing to a younger me back in highschool. I laughed again, “ Yeah I think someone’s mentioned that before”

“ Alright. Well if you wouldn’t mind I’d like to file that report, you really don’t have to though you’ve already done so much” she looked down at her oversized clothes, and the couch where she’d fallen asleep.

“ Trust me on this one, I owe you more than you know so I’ll help you however I can. Give me a few seconds to get dressed, and I’ll take you to the station” I said already heading back to the spare room I was staying in. I threw on a pair of black jeans, and a red button up flannel with my dark gray running shoes, then I was ready to go.

“ We should probably pick you up some clothes that actually fit before we go” I said taking in her odd appearance.

“ You really don’t have to do that” she said looking at the clothes that were practically falling off.

“ I think if you stay in those you might commit a crime” I stated.

“ We’re not seeing the fashion police” she retorted, she was still spunky.

“ I was thinking more of public indecency if they happen to fall off, we can’t have you flashing the police” her blank expression cracked as she thought of flashing the police, we both ended up in a fit of laughter thinking of the whole ludicrous scenario.

“ Okay, but I’ll pay you back” she said after tears of laughter had stopped rolling down her face, I was happy to see her laugh.

“ Trust me you really don’t have to we’ve known each other for quite a long time I’d be a scoundrel if I didn’t help you” I said forgetting she didn’t remember me.

“ okay seriously, what are you talking about ? You look a little familiar, but I can’t place you and mysteries drive me absolutely crazy so spill” she demanded.

“ Well alright… I’ll give you a hint” I smirked, messing with her was really entertaining.

“ A hint?! You’re a monster” her shocked expression was enough to crack me up all over again, it had been quite awhile since I’d laughed like this who’d have thought she would be the reason.

“ First let’s get going then I’ll tell you about it” I said ushering her out the door and towards my small cheap beat up tin can I called a car.I generally walked the places I needed to go, I enjoyed the time to think to myself to enjoy the air, but I had to have a car to get to my therapy appointments across town so I bought one of the cheapest cars that worked.

The doors shrieked complaining that they had to open as Sarai and I climbed into the vehicle. “ Now that we’re in the car tell me what you know” her eyes squinted in full interrogation mode.

“ Alright well let’s start with my name I am MIchael, so think of all the Michaels you know” I gave my first hint.

“I don’t know many Michaels, hmmm...I actually can’t think of any” brow furrowed she thought deeply about the name Michael.

“ Did we know each other well?” she asked me as I turned onto the road that led towards the mall.

“ I’d say we knew each other very well” I said looking for a place to park outside the huge busy building.

“Hmmmm… I really can’t think of anyone, I mean I knew a Michael once, but he disappeared only left us with a note that didn’t explain much” her face grew contemplative while thinking of the past.

The car jutted into a parking space between two pristine cars, I opened the door while Sarai struggled with hers.

“Sorry that door doesn’t like to open there’s a trick to it you have to shove up as you push out” I explained. She shoved against the door again, managing to throw it open almost at the expense of the shiny truck next to her.

“ Your car is certainly special” smiling she awkwardly pulled at the sweatpants drawstrings tightening the pants around her slim waist.

“ As long as it gets me from point A to point B I’d say it’s a decent vehicle” I said as we walked through a throng of people, and into the cold store.

Our feet plodded on the walkway as we headed to a clothing store on the first floor, it wasn’t a large store,but it had women’s clothes which is all I cared about.

She chose a pair of jeans and a long sleeved blue striped shirt that covered the large dark purple bruises that wrapped around her wrist, those bruises were photographed when we stopped by the police station. We were there for hours, as she gave her statement explaining where the abuse took place and what had happened they went over it again and again making sure all of the details were covered.

“ What do you want to do now?”I asked Sarai as we left the police station.

“ Now we go get my stuff back, and don’t forget you still have to tell me who you are” letting me know she hadn’t forgotten.

“Just give me the address, I’ll keep the police on speed dial” I said thinking that we should’ve just asked the cops while we were there to go get her stuff, I didn’t want to cause a ruckus.

Jackson lived in a small house on the corner of an abysmal street; the houses were all tiny and gray, the yards browning and dust filled.

“ Dammit that’s his car” Sarai cursed at the compact silver vehicle.

“ Don’t worry, you have the police on speed dial right? Besides maybe he’s out for a walk or something” I laughed it off trying to put her at ease.

Slowly I walked up the cement walkway that lead to the front door, my heart skipped when I firmly cracked on the door; I am not a liar that’s why I won’t lie and say I didn’t feel any sort of fear or hesitation I did, however I knew I was doing the right thing knowing this is what gave me the courage to knock. The door flung open revealing a looming form cloaked in the dark shadows that seeped out of the dark house, the mask he wore twisted in a look of disgust as he recognized who was at his door.