5

The weeks passed by in a flurry, between the constant stares and the incessant whispers, I couldn't wait till the days ended.

I had just finished getting ready and went downstairs for breakfast, but the whole place was a hush. My family sat as if a gun was fired and they were caught in the cross fire.

"What's going on?" I asked

But my mum plastered on a fake smile instead "Oh Sweetheart good morning, how was your night?"

"It was good thank you" I smiled " so what's for breakfast?"

My dad chuckled " So...we've got pancakes, sausages, cakes, tres leches, and because we keeping it healthy fruit salad" he said mimicking a circus master

It was cute and endearing, cringe, but cute and endearing.

I ate heartily, though I could still feel the earlier tension, it was as if it was fizzing out, but still there in the background. I was second guessing asking this question, but now would be the perfect time, seeing as they were angry maybe they'd impulsively be honestly with me? I know it wasn't sound logic, but who knows and what's there to lose?

"So...I've been meaning to ask, I mean I've asked but never been answered, usually there's a subject change"

The realisation dawned on Jemma, and she started shaking her head, for me to stop. But I ignored her

"You were saying sweetheart?" My mum proded

"Yeah, how did I lose my memory?" Another hush settled around the table "well?"

"Jemma, aren't you guys supposed to go shopping today, your brother's will escorts you" my dad said

"Alright dad"

Again with this? "What's going on right now?" I was bewildered "do I look like a fool to you people? I know you're trying to change the subject, Jake did so, Jemma did so, but I was hoping you'd come out and say it, if you were confronted, what is wrong with you people, why can't you just out and say it?" I was having a rage rant, but I couldn't help it, I was just so fucking tired, so damn tired of the stares, the whispers, and people constantly walking on egg shells around me

My chair scraped across the tiles as I stood "Do you know that they whisper about me? They stare and whisper as I walk past them, I once heard someone ask "isn't she the one who almost unalived herself?"

"What? who said that?" My mum asked

"what does it matter? Even in church that's meant to be judgement free, they gossip when they see me, I try to pretend like I can't feel them staring at me, I swear even the priests stare at me and gossip, what is wrong with me? Do I have a problem?"

Dread was evidently creeping into my mothers eyes "no, no sweetheart you don't have a problem, I swear"

"Then what happened?"

"You need to calm down first" my dad chirped "go outside and get some fresh air-"

"No!" I cut him off "it'll just give you enough time to come up with a ridiculous story and feed to me, I want the truth now!"

"You fell!" James yelled

"What?" I snapped my head to his direction

"You fell. You were rushing down the stairs, tripped and rolled down the stairs. As for the whispers everybody gossips in this town, they start baseless rumors for entertainment then spread it around just for the gist of it, just don't mind them please" he looked into my eyes and pleaded "please"

"I fell?" I sank back into my seat

"Yeah" they all said in unison

"Why didn't you just tell me this?

"Because the doctor told us to be careful with what we tell you, for now" he said

"Ok"

"We're sorry, for what you've been going through" Jake added

"No it's fine, at least now I can quell those useless rumors in circulation"

"Yeah you do that dear"

As I walked out of the house and into the car, I could tell that something was still off, they were either lying to me or they weren’t telling me the full story, but why though?

What really happened to me?