Page 47 of The Beach Holiday

NOW

‘There is someone who would like to see you, Sadie.’ It was Jane speaking.

I had been at home for three days. It was around three o’clock in the afternoon.

Mum had made a cake to try and stimulate my senses and evoke some memories.

I still couldn’t tell them, and the longer it went on, the harder it was to stop all of this and admit to them that I remembered everything that had happened on that island, I had just managed to block out everything else out about myself and my real life as a result.

‘I don’t know if you want to see him, but I thought it might be a good opportunity to increase some memory flow. This is someone you knew very well.’

I search my mind, for whom Jane could be referring to.

‘Can I invite him in?’ Jane asks sheepishly, looking between me and our mother.

I nod and Jane walks out of the sitting room closing the door behind her. I feel my mother shift about on the end of the sofa and I feel my guts twist as I imagine who Jane might be seeing through to the sitting room.

‘You’ll be fine, love,’ my mum whispers and I am not sure why she is talking in a hushed tone. I feel as though it should be me reassuring my mother.

The door opens again, and Jane appears with an edgy smile. She seems to be harbouring all the feelings I should have felt as well as her own.

She stands aside and a man steps from behind her and walks into the room, so he is now standing in front of her.

‘Hello, Sadie.’ His voice bears a quiver that sets off a pulse inside my gut.

I look at Jane. She had stepped closer to me and is looking at me expectantly as though she is trying to suggest without words that she is here if I need her.

I look back at the man again. He is smiling. My response to his expression comes suddenly and without warning. It’s visceral, because I don’t need to think too long about who this is. The memories of my life before Totini returned hard and fast after Jane.

My time is up now. They can all see the expression forming on my face.

I open my mouth but I am too scared to say his name.

Finally, my mouth forms the word and as it leaves my lips I hear collective sighs around me.