Fragmented memory lane

It’s been a week since Ava was discharged from the hospital. She always finds herself thinking about a particular memory that doesn’t add up. She was not a firm believer of the supernatural phenomenon but it’s the only angle she can look at. In order to convince herself that she’s not insane. While she was lost in her thoughts the room lit up with the light of a numeral candle. Sticking out on top of an eight inch blueberry cheesecake.

“Happy birthday to you~” The couple sang as they walked closer to her. Dave was holding Caia while Claire held the cake.

Ava was sporting a classic bed head. Her jet black full bangs remained in place though. Compared to her middle-back length hair with tangled ends. If there's one thing she does effortlessly, it was lashing out on others but she sucked at showing gratitude. 

She immediately hid herself under the sheets. Claire ignored her protest and let Caia crawl her way inside the covers. She knows pretty well that her daughter was her niece's weakness. So Ava scooped the baby and sat uptight on her bed with a frown on her face. Sulking, pretty much accepting her defeat.

Dave sat on the bed and leaned to make her blow her birthday cake. Though after blowing it Caia’s tiny hands smashed the cake and then mushed it on Ava’s face at lightning speed.

“You beat me to it, Caia,” she said as she wiped off the icing and jam from her face. Even dipping a finger then touched the tip of Caia’s nose. Also swiping one on Dave as well. “Pass the message.”

As if on cue Dave grabbed a handful of cake eyeing on his wife and ran after her across the room. Like they were a pair of kids playing tag. Ava watched the scene as if watching her favorite movie. A sentimental one.

Dave caught his wife in a back hug and was about to spread the cake on her face when they heard Ava heave a sigh.

“I miss them,” she said to no one in particular. 

The mood died quickly and the couple sat on both sides of the bed.

“We do too, dear.” Claire’s eyes begin to water.

“I’m sorry for being such a party pooper.”

“It can be helped, they died on your birthday,” Dave said thoughtlessly.

Claire grabbed the nearest pillow and hit her husband with it. “Love, you’re really bad at reading the air.”

Instead of sulking further, Ava burst into laughter and Caia also giggled thinking they were playing.

“I better pack my bags and get back to my apartment tomorrow,” she declared. “Talk to the manager to give my post back, in case she hasn't already.”

Claire flips her ginger hair and crosses her arm. “There’s no way a minor like you can come back to that apartment and have that dangerous job.”

Ava’s eyes widened in horror. She feels it again as if her life is slipping right through her fingers. The exact feelings she had six months ago, when she ran off. Deciding she doesn’t want to trouble them anymore.

“Technically I’m an adult now. I already turned eighteen a week ago,” she said without blinking. Looking back how she was almost left for dead on her birthday. She was up for a staring game, no matter how long it took just to prove her point.

Dave was about to open his mouth but Claire raised a finger and that shut him up. Everyone in that room knows, no one can budge if she does that.

“Great! So you plan to go around...giving people the wrong age and falsified documents to get a job and pay for your own bills? When you shouldn’t be doing that in the first place.” Claire began her hysterics. “We vouched to take care of you not because we are family but because we love you. You don’t just take off with a note, that you’re taking over your life and tell us not to worry.”

She moved beside Ava and leaned on her shoulder. “You’ll only be young once. Explore and make as many mistakes as you can and learn from them. Because when you become an adult, everything scares you. Don’t push people away by overanalyzing them.”

When the rage clears out Dave raises his right hand as if he was in school for a recitation. When his wife nods he proceeds.

“The university said that they will have you repeat a year and also summer classes too. Due to the conflict of available subjects.“ Then he shoves a handful of cake into his mouth and beats his chest when he almost choke as he remembers something. “The local bar you worked for the past months, let it slide too. They even recommended a cafe called Clique under the same owner."

Her jaw literally dropped at the news. She was prepared for the worse.

“That’s settled then, you’re not moving out until you show us you can handle yourself just fine. Consider this starting on a clean slate, kid.”

Ava found herself baffled at the unusual yet familiar endearment. “What did you just call me, Claire?” 

“Kid? I don’t know what came over me. Never mind, go wash up and let’s have lunch downstairs.” She shook it off and hauled Caia as Dave trailed behind her.

When the room was quiet enough she couldn't help but think about what her aunt called her earlier. Even in the shower until she made it to lunch. She was occasionally staring blankly into space, with that thought.

“Dear are you okay?”

“Yes I am. I’m just savoring the delicious lunch you made.”

“Are you sure?”

Ava just nods and Claire knows she was lying but she cuts her some slack. It was her post birthday celebration after all.

“Before I forget, back when you were at the hospital a guy visited. When I asked who he was, he told me he was the one who called the ambulance,” Claire mumbles pausing from her meal. “I wanted to wake you but he said he just came by to make sure you’re out of danger. ”

Ava stood up in an instant after hearing those intriguing revelations. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“I just thought it was timely to tell when you’ve fully recovered. Besides, I didn’t get his contact details,” she said and continued savoring her creamy and cheesy chicken pie.

“How about the name?”

Her heart rate was erratic as Claire took a moment to remember. He was the only lead she has left to regain her hazy memories from the accident.

“Elian? Ellery? Right, Elliot Sphene.”

“I hope that’s not a fake name either.”

“Hey! He seems polite and not the type to lie their way out.”

“Right, not everybody is like me,” Ava said, rolling her eyes. When she saw Claire purse her lips from across her, she smiled. “It’s a force of habit, okay? I’m working on it. Now we can enjoy our lunch.”

***

After lunch, Ava busied herself scrolling over her phone for some movie. The thought of that guy’s name was still pestering her. Fueled by her curiosity to tie up some loose ends.

“Here goes nothing,” she said as she typed Elliot Sphene on the f******k search bar. “What are the odds? You’re a sitting duck.” She muses while staring at the only result that came through.

“Looks like somebody is in the mood. Getting a boyfriend yet? Do I have to give you away for marriage soon?”

“Get off my back, Dave. It’s enough to know one couple who are head over heels for each other. I’m not joining the bandwagon,” she said without looking back as she kept typing and erasing the message she was going to send to Elliot.

Dave was making faces goofing around behind her and did the unexpected. “Sent. Thank me later.” 

Ava’s eyes widened in horror as she stared at her phone. She was about to unsend it when ellipses started dancing on screen. 

“Claire, Dave is getting lazy with the laundry!” she screamed as she stuck her tongue out at her uncle. “Solid burn returned.”

Dave ran off on impulse that made her enjoy her victory to the fullest. When she got her attention back to her phone, she was speechless. The message was reeking with politeness.

“Hi, I'm glad you’re okay now. No need to thank me, I just did what I had to. I know that if I was in your place you’d do the same. I came to visit again but the nurse said you were already discharged.”

'Hi, thank you for saving me’, brought me here? 

"Might as well indulge myself.” She took a deep breath before typing her reply. “I know this is sudden but by chance did you call me a kid?”

“Yes I did. Though I didn’t think you’d hear it. It was almost a whisper.”

“Thanks. This might sound insane but it was really great to get it off my chest.”

“You’re welcome, I guess.”

Now those hazy memories are nothing but a fragment of my lucid dreams. Gods don't exist, even if they did I don't care anyway.