Rowan's POV:

It was hard to miss the deep bags that engulfed my eyes when I walked into the bathroom, sparing a glance in the mirror. Sleep hadn't come easily last night. Nor had it the one before that. The reason was no secret. Even though three days had passed since I had first had the dream, it had yet to go away.

Arms crossed, I leaned on the sink counter, trying to expel the images that still played in my mind even though I was awake.

For ten years, I'd lived with a condition that left me dreamless. I wanted to know why it was this one, a vision so dark and painful, that persisted.

Maybe...

"Fat chance," I whispered with a shake of my head.

I straightened with a scoff, knowing it wasn't in my best interest to allow my mind to wander into unlikely possibilities. There was no other way it could have been anything else but a dream. I was hopeful, but I wasn't that delusional.

After washing up, I headed downstairs, following the delicious aroma that wafted from the kitchen and telling me my mom was awake. I plastered on a smile, in hopes of concealing the exhaustion on my eyes, but I only made it as far as the hallway before stopping, feeling as if there was something I'd forgotten.

I glanced at my bedroom door, trying to remember if there was something that I had to do, but coming up with nothing. These moments were always terrible. The innocent points in time where I would forget just like anyone else could, but was left feeling emptier than the average person probably would.

With a sigh I continued walking, turning the corner and entering the kitchen. There was no point in dwelling on what I knew would not come to memory anytime soon.

My mom was was standing by the stove, her hair pulled up into a bun on top of her head. Despite her casual attire, her eyes still glowed and held a lively expression. It differed from the usual weariness that encompassed them. Even in loungewear, she looked graceful and put together.

"Morning, Mom."

"Good morning, Ro," she greeted, flashing a smile when she lifted her head. "You're up early."

"I forgot to turn my alarm off, and couldn't go back to sleep," I lied, thinking it was a better option than telling her the real reason why I was up.

I kissed her on the cheek, before moving to the fridge, and pulling out a small packet of blueberries. I then grabbed the bowl with the remaining pancake batter, poured the blueberries in, and moved to stand beside her.

"Hey, I got this baby, you don't have to help."

"That's okay. I want to," I said, picking up the spatula, and pouring some pancake batter onto an already heated skillet.

Hopefully doing something would distract me from my thoughts.

I glanced over at her briefly, my heart clenching when images of the dream flashed through my mind.

"How'd you sleep?"

I shrugged. "Okay."

Her mouth curved downward. "You don't have to hide from me, Ro."

I inhaled, staring at the counter. "I'm not. I'm okay. The dreams just felt a little too real this time."

I hadn't even realized that I had said that out loud until she turned to me, slowly. Her eyes searched mine, with curiosity.

"I have had those types of dreams before," She intoned. "Did you dream about something in particular?"

I took in her wide hopeful eyes, and couldn't bear the thoughts of getting her hopes up for them to just be shot down. After all, it had probably only been a dream. Even if it was a dream about something that I had experienced before. Something I couldn't remember.

I knew that if I confirmed her suspicion I would have to tell her what I saw too. I had a feeling that my account would not be a joyful moment for her. For anyone.

It was just a dream.

"No, not really."

I crossed the kitchen to grab some paper towels, before wiping up a drip of pancake batter that had landed on the counter. I avoided her gaze. But I knew she was still watching me.

"Okay honey, if you have any weird dreams though, promise that you will tell me. It may not just be a dream."

I paused, flexing my hands, and holding my breath as her words rested on my brain.

"Of course. I promise," I said after a little while. Her expression changed and even though she did a great job at trying to hide it, the caution on her face spoke volumes. I had already caused her to worry. "I don't know why I brought it up, I guess everyone has dreams that feel way too real sometimes," I added and swallowed, my throat feeling dry all of a sudden.

She stood still, not saying anything despite my words. I sighed, my unease not lifting but wanting her to see that I was okay. "Mom it is okay."

She nodded but didn't seem completely satisfied with my answer as she turned back towards the stove to finish the eggs and bacon.

"Well okay, if nothing is wrong then yes. It's normal to have dreams like that." I just nodded and completed making the pancakes.

My unease didn't go away, though.

Something was still nagging me.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"Do you know who the other family in the crash was? Did you guys ever come into contact with each other?"

I jumped when the spatula my mom was holding clattered from the floor. There was a flash of alarm on her face as she looked down, but it morphed into impassivity when she picked the utensil up.

"Not really no." She glanced at me before staring back at the pan in front of her. "Why?"

I shrugged still assessing her reaction. "I was just wondering. I just realized that all these years have passed and I never knew who was also in the crash."

She nodded. "I don't think you should worry about it. I wouldn't do that to yourself."

I wasn't sure what she meant by the statement but I chose not to ask her about it, turning to finish the task of finishing breakfast.

"Hey, how about we go and check out your apartment together," she asked, as I grabbed our plates.

I grinned. "Yeah. I would love to do that."

I had only seen the apartment virtually and knew that she had probably already checked it out, so I was eager to see it.

We finished eating, me listening to her talk about work before she stood.

"How about we leave in an hour or two? I have a few calls to make to confirm some appointments, but I should be ready to go after that."

"That works for me," I replied before I got up myself.

She nodded before disappearing around the corner. I made my way into the living room since it was the only way to get into my bedroom. The painting that adorned the walls was cream-colored, with photos embellishing them beautifully. Every time I passed through the room, the experience was bittersweet. It was filled with a melancholy nostalgia caused by simply passing by the images that held memories from when I was little.

My eyes landed on a picture that on other days I would have avoided like the plague but fell drawn to at the moment. It was our family at the beach.

Our entire family. Unbroken. Whole. Complete.

I grabbed the frame gingerly, my heart aching.

In the photo, I was draped over my father's shoulders, and you would think that I had been given the world itself that day, from the look of the wide smile on my face. I traced a finger over my father's frame, taking in the soft expression that rested on his features as he watched my mom. Her mouth was arched upwards blissfully. It was a smile that was rare nowadays. Yes, she was happy now, but not as much as she was before.

I would do anything to put the expression back on her face.

To bring my dad back.

I didn't remember who had taken the photo, but I did remember the day. Fortunately, the vacation had happed before the accident.

We had gone to the beach, while on vacation in Florida, and had been goofing off in the sand. It was one of those perfect moments that I would never forget. A day where it seemed as if the whole world was perfect, and that it would stay like that forever. The calm before the storm.

I wrenched my gaze away a moment later, placing the picture back on the mantle above the fireplace. The truth was, sometimes I wished that I had also lost the ability to remember events that had occurred before the crash. Those memories were agonizing, in the way that they were just an endless reminder of what I had lost. Who I had lost.

A reminder that every day is not guaranteed, and that not all endings are happy.

I turned, needing to escape the room that lauded my dad's absence at me. Luckily I had plenty of other things to keep myself occupied.

The dream from before.

I still had no idea if it meant something, or simply signaled that I was going off my rocker. But, part of me felt as if it wasn't just an irrelevant happenstance. I feared that it wasn't, at the same time that I hoped it was.

I sighed, grabbing my phone and grinning when I read the banter Skylar and Hayden had been exchanging in the group chat. I typed out a reply, choosing to emerge myself in their ridiculous argument and save myself from the thoughts that haunted me.

A dream. That's all it had been.

****

The apartment was significantly better than I had expected it to be.

My mom and I were currently standing in the middle of a spacious two-bedroom apartment that looked as if it was worth so much more than its cost. The living room was surprisingly vast and had three large domed windows that engulfed the room in warm light. I could already imagine what it would look like, once I added in the beige couch that I had bought.

The kitchen was my favorite. There was a wrap-around marble island that led into a sizeable space to cook. There were gorgeous white cabinets that contrasted against gorgeous bronzed hardwood floors.

I turned to my mom.

"This is not the apartment that I had been looking at."

She just grinned at me, a twinkle in her eye.

"Well, I figured that we could afford a little upgrade."

I just stared at her, before spinning around and taking in the apartment once again. It was all just...wow.

"Mom..." I breathed out, as I went over to her and hugged her.

"I am glad that you like it."

We stayed for a little while longer, just getting comfortable with the new place before we decided to head out. I was hungry, and so was my mom, so we stopped at a small cafe to grab some lunch.

The place was one of those earthy-type gems, that created a cozy environment, through the use of natural light, and plants for decor. The tables and the chairs were white, and there were motivational sayings hung up in golden picture frames. It was beautiful.

"So Rowan, when do you think that you would want to move in?" My mom asked when we were finally sitting. I thought about it as she watched me eagerly, her brown eyes now as gorgeous golden rays, as they sparkle in the sunlight.

"I am thinking that maybe I can get a jump start on moving all my stuff in the next two weeks." She nodded her head as my phone buzzed in my pocket. I retrieved it, a reminder for a doctor's appointment staring back at me.

"Crap," I muttered.

"What happened," mom asked, as she looked through the cafe menu.

"I forgot that I rescheduled my doctor's appointment, last week. I have to be there in a little less than an hour and a half."

"Do you want me to go with you after we eat?"

"No, that's okay. I am going to meet up with Sky right after the appointment anyway, so it would make sense for me to just go."

My dismissal of her offer was the same as it had always been. There were only so many times I could stand to see the look of disappointment that painted her face each time the doctors would say that they hadn't found a solution to my amnesia. I had exceeded my limit of such pain.

She didn't look like she expected anything different from my response, as she just nodded. A waitress came up to take our orders, so the topic changed as we picked out our meals. After we ate, we headed home to drop off mom, and I freshened up before heading back out.

I paused when I reached my car, pulling my phone out of my back pocket when it vibrated.

Hey.

I narrowed my eyebrows, noting the unfamiliar number. I waited for another text, to give me more of a clue about who it was, but didn't receive one. That was odd, I don't remember giving my contact info out to anyone recently. I shot a text back.

I believe you have the wrong number.

I waited, curiosity growing as I stared at my phone screen.

No, I believe that I have got it right. It is me, Elijah.

I sucked in a breath.

Elijah Scott?

I felt stupid as soon as I sent it. What other Elijah was there? I chewed my lip, waiting, the seconds feeling like hours before I got a response.

Quite an intellectual you are.

I wasn't even aware that I was smiling until I looked up, trying to think of what to say, catching a glance of myself in the reflection of my car window.

How had he gotten my number?

Not that I minded. I just hadn't given it to him. Which meant he had asked for it. A grin tugged at my lips at the thought.

Hello.

That wasn't so hard. I got a response immediately.

Don't get too excited, now. I know that deep down I have made your whole day.

I shook my head in amusement.

...my whole day would be a stretch. How did you get my number?

I would tell you but then...well you know how it goes.

Text bubbles appeared.

Could we settle for a part of your day then?

My breath hitched as my face heated up, and my smile grew even wider. I would probably come off as crazy if any of my neighbors were to walk out and see me just standing by my car with a goofy smile on my face. I tried to think of what to say back, receiving another text before I could.

Was that too forward?

I laughed. It wasn't. But it made me feel funny at my fingertips.

No. But are you admitting to stalking me? And a part of my day is doable.

I held my breath as I waited for a response.

I wouldn't call it stalking. Just simply finding out how to keep in touch with someone that I want to get to know. I haven't been able to get my conversation out of my head. Is it just me?

I bit my lip. It wasn't just him.

I had been thinking about him all day as well as the conversation. Moments like that were unforgettable.

I made a move to get into my car, trying to figure out what to say back, when the full force of the realization hit me.

Unforgettable.

The smile dropped from my face, replaced by a look of shock. I paused, half inside and half outside of my car, as I re-read the message.

I could practically see the soft crinkles at the corners of his eyes, and his careful grin by just reading his text.

With a deep breath, I got in my car, my mind racing, as I stared at my phone, my thumb hovering over the screen.

I quickly shut it off, closing my door as I gripped the steering wheel. I took a deep breath and tried to go through the events of the day.

I had woken up and then gone downstairs to help my mom cook breakfast. We ate, and then we went to the apartment.

I shook my head and squinted my eyes. Something was missing. Something very important that I couldn't recall doing. Something that could change a lot of things.

Closing my eyes, I went through the day's events again in my head.

"Okay Rowan, get a grip. You woke up. You went downstairs. Went to the apartment..." I trailed off, my shaky whisper vanishing into the air, as my breath caught in my throat.

I had woken up and gone straight downstairs.

I knew who Elijah was.

Everything faded around me, a ringing sound vibrating through my ears, as my heart jumped to my throat. I had gone straight downstairs. This meant that for the first time in a long time, I hadn't read my journal.

That could only mean one thing.

My brain must have missed a spot when it had gone through its ritual cleansing of my memories from the day before.

Because I remembered... like really remembered... Elijah.