Cursed By Rebirth? – Installment 5

Cursed by Rebirth?

By

D.M. KURTZ

Installment 5: Unveiled

He didn’t believe it, or at least that’s what he kept telling himself. He’d been brought into the hospital alone, which is how he had remained until his release six weeks later. So how could such a thing be true?

Amanda…

Her companionship had kept him sane, but with the knowledge that glared at him from the computer screen, he couldn’t help but wonder if that was about to vanish just like his former life. How could she stay after reading such terrible news?

Granted, it’s only terrible because of our… relationship. 

The thought taunted him. While everything with Amanda had felt… right, and good, even natural, he almost wished now that he’d kept his distance. If he had done so, she wouldn’t be sitting in front of him, rigid and tense as her eyes scanned the information from the background check she’d run earlier that week.

“Tell me you don’t remember.” Her normal vibrant voice was barely above a whisper, and her jaw was tight. “Look me in the eyes and say it,” she challenged as she turned to meet his wide-eyed gaze.

Of course I don’t remember! 

He wanted to scream it, but the words were somehow caught in his throat, for as he looked into the intense wells of the only person in the world for whom he cared he saw something new… Pain, and he was the cause.

“I…” he paused and swallowed hard. “I don’t… I don’t know her. I swear.” Those next moments became locked in an eternal state of pause, or at least that’s how it felt to Jason as he awaited Amanda’s response. Suddenly, she leaned up and wrapped one hand around the back of his neck before she pulled his lips to hers. When they parted, he remained low and let their foreheads touch.

“I believe you,” Amanda whispered, and Jason felt tears of relief and joy spring to his eyes.

“We’ll face this together,” Amanda sniffled and pulled back. “Whoever this is,” she added with a rather angry wave at the screen on her desk, “she doesn’t belong in our lives.” The ferociously determined look that Jason loved had suddenly returned to her face, and he couldn’t help but smile.

“If only I could remember more clearly…” his voice trailed off and his joy faded quickly to a shallow frown. He bent to one knee beside her and placed one hand on her shoulder while he let the other rest on her knee.

“You don’t need to remember,” Amanda soothed as her fingers become intertwined with his own. “Maybe you shouldn’t,” she added softly. “What little has come to you hasn’t helped.”

Jason winced at her declaration. The truth was, he had been remembering a lot more lately, but none of it made sense. Everything that came to him was like broken parts to an even more fragmented puzzle that was missing several key pieces, and the end result was a lack of answers with a mixed array of emotions. He sighed and leaned into her shoulder. She was probably right: remembering wouldn’t solve anything, so why should he keep trying to force his mind to reconnect the dots of the life he’d lost?

After all, ignorance is bliss, isn’t it?

Keep Reading!

Copyright © 2018 D.M. Kurtz

All rights reserved.

No part of this installment may be reproduced in any written, electronic, recording, or photocopying without written permission of the author. The exception would be in the case of brief quotations embodied in the critical articles or reviews and pages where permission is specifically granted by the publisher or author.