I try to remember what happened, but it’s all a blur.
I remember leaving Idaho with my best friend, Mabel.We were finally making our escape from our small town.We were excited, talking about where to stay for the night.I remember the car starting to overheat and us turning off the highway.We planned to stop in a little town, check on the car, stretch our legs, and grab a bite to eat.
I remember turning onto a dirt road and looking for something.But what?
I search my memory, feeling anxious the longer it takes to remember.
What was I looking for?We were talking about getting gas and food and I…
My wallet!I was grabbing my wallet to pay for the gas.I looked out the window and saw that weird wolf with yellow eyes.I swear they were almost glowing, but that’s ridiculous.
Then the crash happened.
The monitor beeps like crazy as I recall the details,
The stranger steps forward, leaning over me, concern in his intense blue eyes.“Take a deep breath.”
“The wolves,” I whisper.
His eyebrows shoot up in surprise.“Wolves?”
“They ran in front of the car.”
“We know.Mabel told us about them.”
I take a deep breath, trying to remember what happened after the accident, but come up blank.
I remember everything before the accident, so I know I don’t have memory issues.
Unfortunately.Because I have more than a few childhood memories I’d love to erase from my mind.
I was born in Idaho.My mom raised me, though “raised” is a generous way to describe growing up with her.
I was the result of a one-night stand—one of many for my mom.She couldn’t remember who my biological dad was, and I gave up looking for him when I was eleven.Chances are that he wasn’t a great guy.My mom’s taste in men was always questionable.She jumped from one guy to the next, broke up marriages, and paid more attention to her latest boyfriend than me.
When I was older, it stopped bothering me so much that we weren’t close.What I hated was when her dates tried to mess with me.Some seemed to like tormenting me, but a few flirted with me or tried to break into my room at night.I was old enough to know how inappropriate their behavior was and tried to tell my mom a few times, but she never believed me.She never protected me.
I lived in fear of what they might do to me.
So Mabel and I planned our escape.We were raising ourselves, working part-time jobs, and doing everything possible to save money.
Mabel’s dad was never around.He would leave for months at a time on a bender before returning to crash at their house.He worked long enough to get a paycheck and then disappeared again.I was worried about being attacked at my house, so I spent most of my time with Mabel.Our lives were always easier when he was away.
“Do you want to get up and try to use the bathroom?”the nurse asks, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Yes, please.”
“Okay.Take it slowly,” she says, helping from the bed.
The man takes one of my arms as I slide off the hospital bed and shuffle toward the bathroom door.
“Got it from here?”the nurse asks.
I nod.
The man looks like he wants to follow me into the bathroom, but I close the door before he can try.What’s up with him?His uniform tells me he’s an EMT, but what is he doing here?Surely, an attractive guy like that has a girlfriend or family waiting for him at home.
I take care of business and wash my hands, wincing at my reflection in the mirror over the sink.My face and arms are covered in bruises and cuts.I run my finger gently over a scratch on my forehead, and my gaze catches on a mark on my neck.I frown, tugging the hospital gown lower to see it more clearly.
