A bright idea

Chapter three

Emily

All I could see was clouds.

Bright lights nearly blinded me the moment I opened my eyes. Everything around me seemed to blur and shift as I struggled to understand my surroundings. Slowly, my vision cleared. I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in my back stopped me, my body sore and painful, reminding me of the accident I'd just survived.

I tried to move my arm but felt a slight tug and looked down, only to see a needle in my vein connected to a drip. Confusion filled me, and my head felt heavy as if it were weighed down by a thousand unanswered questions.

How did I get here in the first place?

My gaze rested on a young man who sat beside my bed, his head tilted forward, his mouth slightly opened as if he had fallen asleep. I tried to speak but my voice came out rough like sandpaper, barely audible to the ears.

"H-hello?" I began trying to catch his attention.

The young man’s head shot up, his eyes meeting mine. Immediately relief washed over his face. “Thank God You’re awake! Are you okay?.” He leaned forward, a reassuring smile on his face. “Hi, I’m Mason. You don’t know me, but… I was the one who pulled you out of the car.”

“Car?” I whispered, staring at him in confusion. “What car?”

Mason's face softened, his brow arched. “You.., you don't remember anything from the accident?”

I shook my head slowly feeling an ache spread through my temples. “ Of course, I knew I was involved in AN accident but I can't remember a thing about myself, am I going crazy?”

“No you aren't, just calm down,” he said and I took in a deep breath, my eyes darting around the hospital room as if the answers to my numerous questions were written there.

“How did you find me?” I asked swallowing hard.

“You were in a pretty bad accident. I found you in a car that had crashed into a tree. You were in the back seat lying unconscious, I managed to pull you out but The driver… I'm afraid he didn’t make it, I tried to help him out too but he was too trapped, unfortunately, there was nothing I could do to save him.” He said his voice was laced with sadness.

I struggled to recall what had happened to me, why I was in that car, and who I truly was, but it felt as though my mind was a blank slate.

“ I can't remember anything, Mason. I don't know who I am and where I was going, I remember nothing! I'm so scared.” I said, tears blurring my vision.

Mason reached over, resting a hand gently on my arm. “Hey, it’s okay. I spoke with the doctor earlier and he said when you wake up you are going to have a temporary amnesia and that's just because you had an injury on your head. You will remember soon okay? You just need something to help jog your memory.”

That's when I noticed a bandage wrapped around my head, and a wave of fear and frustration suddenly welled up inside me. “ Did you find anything on me, An ID, anything that can tell us who I am and where I came from?”

He hesitated, then shook his head. “I'm sorry Lady, but I didn't find anything on you. No ID, no phone, there was not enough time. But maybe,” He nodded toward the small bag on the side table. “That was all the hospital had from the crash site. Maybe there’s something in there.”

I reached for the bag, hands trembling slightly. Rummaging through it, I found a crumpled piece of paper. My heart leaped. An address was scribbled on it. I showed it to Mason, the words almost strange to me, but something about them felt familiar.

Mason’s face brightened as soon as he stared into the piece of paper. “That could be your way back home lady,! Maybe this is an address to your home or… somewhere important you needed to be.”

“I don't think so Mason,”

“You don't know that, have some little hope okay?”

Just then, a doctor walked into the room, clipboard in hand. He smiled at me cheerfully “Ah, good to see you’re up. How are you feeling ma'am ?”

I swallowed hard, glancing nervously at Mason before looking back at the doctor. “I… I can’t remember anything. Why can’t I remember?”

The doctor gave a small, understanding nod. “You hit your head pretty hard during the accident. It caused temporary amnesia. Don’t worry; it’s not unusual in cases like this. With some rest and perhaps a few familiar surroundings, your memory should start to come back.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding, clinging to his words. “So… I’ll remember soon?”

“Yes ma'am,” he assured me. “Just give it some time. Don't try to stress your brain; it will eventually come back to you when you encounter something meaningful, like a familiar place or person, that might help speed up the process.”

Mason caught my eye, his gaze flickering to the address in my hand. “So do you think we Should go check out this place?”

I nodded,” about the hospital bills I'm sorry I don't have money to sort it out.”

Mason stared into my eyes innocently. “ It's fine lady, I have sorted it out, I don't have much but I'm afraid I have no choice, I was the one that brought you in and I am going to take care of things.”

I smiled at him,” Thank you, Mason, I hope to repay your kindness someday,”

“It's fine,” Mason said, smiling back at me.

“Doctor, am I free to go now?”

“Yes ma'am you can.” The doctor said,

I nodded a strange sense of excitement nibbling inside of me” Let's go, Mason!”

*

*

The drive was quiet, the world outside the window blurring by as I clutched the piece of paper in my hand. Mason glanced at me occasionally, offering me small smiles of encouragement.

“Don't worry lady, we will get there and you will meet the right people who will help jog your memory.”

“I hope so,”

The ride felt like an eternity and as I began to wonder if the journey wasn't going to end, we pulled up to a massive elegant mansion set back behind iron gates.

My heartbeat increased, and my stomach tightened immediately, this place looked very recognizable.

Like I had been here before but I just couldn't remember when.

“Does this place look familiar?” Mason asked, his gentle voice jolting me out of my Reverie.

I stared up at the mansion, a chill running down my spine. “I… I think so. I don’t know why, but… I feel like I know this place.”

We parked just In front of the gate, and as soon as the gate man saw me he opened the iron gate, and a woman in a wheelchair appeared, her eyes wide with disbelief.

She looked very frail yet beautiful, we had the same shade of hair and color of eyes. I could see myself in her. She was the older version of me.

The moment I saw her, something clicked inside of me like a puzzle that had finally been solved. Tears filled my eyes as memories flooded back, this woman in the wheelchair was my mother.

And this house, Was my home!

“Mom? Is that you?” I whispered, my voice trembling.

Her eyes welled up, and she stretched out her arms. “Emily…my baby, what happened to you?”

Without thinking, I ran to her, dropping to my knees beside her wheelchair and hugging her as tightly as I could. “I remember… I remember now, Mom. I’m home.”

She pulled back to look at me, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Oh, Emily, you’ve grown so much. I haven’t seen you in eight years. I was so afraid I’d lost you, we have been waiting for you for the past hours, we thought something bad had happened to you .”

I wiped my tears away, trying to compose myself. “I missed you so much, Mom. I’m so sorry I worried you. There was an accident, and I… I couldn’t remember anything, I blacked out Mum.”

She cupped my face in her hands, her touch soft and warm, her gaze resting on mine. “It’s okay, sweetheart. You’re here now, and that’s all that matters.”

Just then, a man stepped forward, someone I hadn’t noticed before. Tall, with graying hair and a kind smile, he looked at me with pride.

“Uncle Robert?” I said, my memories filling in more blanks. How could I forget him, that night my father died, I met him at the hospital, he was the one who broke the bad news to me, but then he delivered my father's last words which were;

I love you with my heart Emmy and I want you to take over the world.

Ever since my dad's death, Uncle Robert has been there for me and my mom, he sent me overseas to study, because that was the promise he’d made to my father.

To make sure I was well educated to run the white Nova robotics company.

He nodded, his eyes filled with affection and surprise. “I'm glad to see that you are okay, Emily. I knew you’d come back to us someday. You were always determined, just like your father.”

A wave of gratitude washed over me. “Thank you for everything, Uncle Robert. I’m a first-class graduate in robotics now… and it’s all because of you. You kept your promise to Dad to sponsor me and make sure I never lack.”

He placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Your father would be so proud of you. I’m proud of you.”

As we stood there, a quiet understanding settled between us. I felt whole like I’d finally found the missing pieces of myself. My family, my memories, my purpose—it was all coming back to me.

Mason cleared his throat from where he stood nearby, watching the reunion with a small smile on his face. “I, uh, guess this is goodbye?”

I looked at him, feeling thankful to him. “No, Mason. If it weren’t for you, I don’t know where I’d be right now. Thank you for everything—for saving my life, for helping me find my way back, you are a good man, I promise to repay you for this.”

Mason rubbed the back of his neck, a sheepish look on his face. “I’m just glad you’re safe, Emily. That’s all that matters,” he said with a smile on his face.

Uncle Robert spoke up, his expression growing serious. “We were all worried about your safety, Emily. And… about the driver. Did he make it?”

I swallowed, a pang of sadness piercing my chest. “No… he didn’t. He… didn’t survive the crash.”

My mother placed a hand on mine, her gaze filled with sympathy. “I’m so sorry, my dear. You’ve been through so much today that you need to rest.”

I nodded,” Yes,”

Une Robert moved closer to Mason looking at him from head to toe. “ and what is your name, young man?”

“Mason Anderson,”

“How do I repay you for your kindness towards my niece?”

Mason looked up innocently,” There is no need sir, I'm glad to help.”

“What do you do young man?” Robert asked, Mason stared at me then his gaze shifted back to my uncle.

“For now, I am still job hunting.”

“Nice, what did you study?”

“Electrical Engineering sir!”

Robert stared at me for a long time, “That's nice, Emily here is going to take over her father's Robotics company soon and she will need a bit of guidance, I want you to join the team!”

Mason's eyes widened in surprise,” are you for real sir?”

“Yes I am, I want to see your resumè tomorrow,” Robert demanded.

I smiled at Robert, happy he was rewarding Mason in this way.

“I have my resume here, I always carry it around,” Mason said, bringing out a file from his bag and handing it over to my uncle.

Robert accepted it and scanned through it, “ Your resume is brilliant and impressive, you are truly fit for this position, we hope to see you at the company tomorrow so we can talk about your salary.”

Robert turned to face me, “ Emily, I will be on my way to the house take good care of yourself.”

“I will uncle,” I said, smiling at myself in satisfaction.