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“This is where my room is. The master suite is the entire top floor. So if you ever need me at night, just head up these stairs, alright?”
I give him a nod, and then he continues past the door to a hall that has multiple doors off it. We make an immediate left into a beautifully furnished room. Another crystal chandelier hangs from the center of the space over the huge bed.
“My mother picked out the chandeliers.” He purses his lips. “I had to make Mom happy. She said it adds a feminine touch.” He shrugs.
I let out a little chuckle, and my heart warms a bit to know he did that for his mother. I suddenly frown and feel a longing in my chest. Where are my parents? Why don’t I remember them?
Drew notices my discomfort. “Hey, hey, what’s wrong? If it’s the chandelier, I’m sure I can find something better for you.” He goes to reach out but stops short of touching me.
I don’t know how to explain it. How I wish I could remember who I was before all this, how I wish I knew if I had someone who loved me as much as his mom loves him.
“This is all so much. I was on the street yesterday, and today I am in the Barbie Mansion,” I murmur.
Drew’s hand goes to his chest. “Barbie Mansion? This is Ken’s bachelor pad. I’m offended.” His arms fly out beside him as his lips turn up into a smirk. I break out into a smile and give him a slight chuckle. “It’s the chandeliers, isn’t it? The chandeliers give off Barbie vibes.” He shakes his head. “I knew I shouldn’t have let her pick anything for the house. Maybe some dishes or something. Damn light fixtures.”
For a moment, I get lost in his beautiful smile. I almost forget what I was thinking about before I insulted his Ken bachelor pad.
“I wish I could remember. It’s like the memories are there, yet so far in the back of my mind that I can’t reach them. I just want to know who I am. Where I come from,” I say quietly.
He pauses for a moment, taking this in. “Can I hug you?” Drew asks.
I nod, and he pulls me in and wraps his arms around me. Instantly, I feel an odd sense of being safe here. His hugs are warm and protective.
He whispers, “We will figure it out. Asher thinks your memory will come back the longer you’re off the ketamine. You will get patches of memory, but eventually it will come back. Thankfully, I think you are past the worst of the withdrawals, but the memory thing may take a moment. And we have John, my FBI friend, who is going to help you piece together what you remember. We will figure it out, I promise, Rae.”
Rae.
Rae.
Instantly, that name causes a flash in my head, and the world around me changes.
“Rae, sweetie, you need to do your homework.” I look over at the woman standing before me. Her red hair is in curlers, her face covered in some sort of beauty mask. She stands before me in a plush robe.
“Ugh! I hate trig. Seriously, when will I use this?” I groan.
“When you become some famous architect and build me the mansion I have always dreamed of!” she chimes with a laugh.
“I’m not becoming an architect, Trixie. I told you I want to be an author.” I slam shut the book of nightmares in front of me.
“Look, I have a long night at the club tonight. Do your homework and get some sleep. You have school in the morning.” With that, she sashays away.
“You’re not my mom!” I yell at her.
“No, I’m not, but I’m a close second!” she calls from her room.
“Rae! Raelyn!” Drew’s voice pulls me from my memory. “What happened? You completely spaced out.” His eyes watch me carefully.
“I… I remembered something. At least, I think it’s something.” I bite my lip and shake my head. “It felt real. Like it really happened.”
“What? What did you remember?” he presses.
I shake my head. “Someone named Trixie. I don’t know who she was. But I knew her. I think. I don’t know.” I let out a frustrated sigh. “It felt familiar. The memory. Trixie.”
“Hey, don’t be hard on yourself. We will get there. Just write down what you remember. Eventually, the pieces will fit.” Drew rubs my arms. “What seems confusing now will make sense eventually. Come on, let’s get something to eat, and you can pick the movie. How does that sound?”
I smile and nod. He heads out into the hall, and before I follow him, I look back at my room. It’s so beautiful. Much different from the hell I was in before.
If this is a dream, it’s official. I don’t want to wake up.