Page 13 of Exiled

For a few moments, time is distorted. Time folds back on itself.

For a moment, I am a nameless young woman lying in a hospital bed with no recollection of myself, my past, anything. I am nothing. No one.

But then I open my eyes, and everything floods through me. Caleb... Jakob. Logan.

The memory. My first full, clear, complete memory from before the accident.

Youknewme, Caleb. You’ve known me this whole time. You let me believe I was nameless. But you knew? You KNEW?

I think I pass out again, because I feel myself waking up once more.

And this time, I am not alone.

“Miss de la Vega.” Dr. Kalawat. “How are you feeling?”

I twist my head, see him standing beside my bed, reading a chart. “What happened?”

“You fainted, Miss de la Vega. You took a pretty nasty tumble, I’m afraid. Bumped your head rather badly, but nothing to worry about. Not even a concussion.”

Casters rattle, and Dr. Kalawat is pressing a hand to my head, my cheek, feeling my pulse. Checking the dilation and focus of my eyes. I notice a round Band-Aid on my left arm, near my elbow.

“What’s this?” I ask, pointing to it.

Dr. Kalawat glances. “Oh. We did a blood test.”

I frown. “Why?”

Dr. Kalawat sets down the chart, crosses one knee over the other. “Mr. Ryder tells me you vomited, not long after we spoke.”

“Yes. I was feeling queasy, after I saw you. It hit suddenly, and then passed. Why?”

“Might I ask you a rather personal question, Miss de la Vega?” This is rhetorical, as Dr. Kalawat continues without pausing to allow me an answer. “When was your last cycle, can you please tell me?”

I frown. “Um. My life has been rather chaotic lately, so—” Something cold and sharp hits me, flows through me. “Dr. Kalawat... what are you saying?”

A smile at me, kind, gentle. “I had thought you might be pregnant, but the test came back negative. Better to be sure, I think. Yes?”

“So I’m not?”

Dr. Kalawat tips his head side to side. “Well, I am not ruling it out. It may simply be too early to tell. If you are late to get your next cycle, or it doesn’t come at all, then I would recommend taking a test, either at home or in an office.” With sure, deft fingers, the doctor removes the monitor leads. “You may go. So far as I am able to determine at this time, you are perfectly healthy.”

I get out of the bed. “Thank you, Doctor.”

Another of those smiles. “It is my pleasure.”

The door shuts with a soft click, and I am alone.

Pregnant? Please, no. No. There is no way.

But... my last cycle... I have to think hard. Before Logan gave me my name. Middle of the month, as it has always been, since my first period at twelve years old.

And today... what day is today? What is the date? I cannot remember. Am I late?

I stumble out of the room, to the nearest nurses’ station. “Excuse me. What is the date?”

The nurse doesn’t look up. “Thursday, August eleventh.”

Not late, then. It usually comes middle of the second week of the month.