Fragment
I wake up in my bed…
and I feel like I haven’t moved in months.
My breath… it feels… ahh —
What… is this feeling?
I try lifting myself up — slow, heavy — and look around.
It’s my parents’ place.
What’s going on?
I just went to sleep at my place in Sydney…
so why am I here… back in London?
Am I dreaming?
But it feels real. Too real.
And then — footsteps.
“Hey, Michael… you finally woke up.”
…Katherine.
Wait — what?
“Why are you here?” I ask, my voice dry, confused.
She just looks at me.
“What date is it?” I mumble.
“May 22nd, 2026.”
…No.
“The last thing I remember… was March 21st, 2026.”
A pause.
“Sorry… those must be the drugs.”
Drugs?
What the actual fuck is going on?
“Where is — wait…” I press my head. “What’s her name?”
I had someone.
I remember… reviewing a resume… someone named A —
But it’s slipping. Blurry.
That’s not her.
It’s not.
Fragments flicker — I told someone I loved them.
But who?
Why can’t I remember?
“Ughhh…”
Pain explodes behind my eyes.
“You should slow down.” Katherine says.
Her voice stretches… distorts…
…and everything fades to black.
I wake up again.
Oh — just a dream. Right?
But… this isn’t my bedroom.
And she’s still there.
“Okay — please… tell me what’s going on.”
Ana.
The name hits me out of nowhere.
Who’s Ana?
A face — blurred, but warm. Familiar.
“You got into an accident.” Katherine says quietly.
“I’ve been taking care of you… for weeks.”
“What accident?”
I try to stand.
My legs — they barely listen.
“It was… severe.”
My head pounds. Something’s wrong.
This place — it looks like home… but it’s bigger. Different. Wrong.
I stumble into the living room.
“Michael, stop — you shouldn’t be up!”
She grabs for me. I slap her hand away.
“No — where is everyone?”
Mom. Dad. Jane. The kids.
Where is everyone?
Where’s Chris?
He’ll know.
But the room… it’s not right.
This has to be a dream.
Pain rips through me — sharp, violent — my brain flashing images —
A resume.
A job offer.
A celebration.
A flight.
A conversation.
That’s all I have.
And then — her voice.
“I love you, Michael.”
Echoing. Over and over.
I collapse onto the couch.
Another flash — someone sitting across from me.
It hurts — too much — and everything goes dark.
I wake up again.
The door creaks open. Chris walks in, his bike rolling behind him.
“So… you finally woke up, huh?”
“What the fuck have I been doing this past year?”
He doesn’t hesitate.
“Partying.”
”…What?”
“You even got married. For a second.”
Silence. My chest tightens.
Married?
“To who?” I whisper.
“I’ve told you this already.” Chris says.
“Every time you sober up… you ask again.”
My heart pounds.
“Was it… Ana?”
Chris freezes.
His face — shock. Then something worse. Sadness.
“No.”
My head splits open with pain.
I yell for Katherine — but my voice won’t go anywhere.
“I need my phone. I need to make sure this isn’t a prank. I need to call her…”
Who is she?
Katherine steps in, handing me my phone.
Slack is still there. Notifications popping up.
“Hey Mike, how are you holding up…?”
Weird. Why would they ask that?
I swipe out. Open messages. Start typing — A…
My thumb hovers. I don’t know who I’m looking for.
I switch to photos instead. Scroll. There’s a face I almost —
“You didn’t lose your job.” Chris says.
I look up — pulled away from the screen before I can see her.
So why — why does it feel like something is missing?
Someone important?
“Michael… here’s some water.”
I drink like I’ve never tasted it before.
“I’m sorry.” She whispers.
Darkness again.
“Chris… you said too much.”
Another voice. Jane.
I can hear them — but I can’t move.
Not again.
I wake up.
This time — no pain. Just heaviness.
“I’m sorry we had to do that.” Katherine says softly.
“We can’t let you hurt yourself.”
I turn.
“Please… tell me the truth.”
Jane steps forward.
“I’m glad to see you again, Michael.”
She sits.
“You were in an accident.” She pauses.
A pause.
“You survived.”
My breath catches.
“But… you weren’t alone.”
Pain detonates inside me. My body locks.
And I hear her again — clearer this time.
“I’m sorry, Michael… I love you.”
Tears spill instantly.
My stomach — God — it feels like it’s being torn apart.
I lift my shirt.
A scar. Massive. Jagged. Running across my body.
I touch it — and suddenly — glass. Cutting through me.
I can feel it.
My breathing sharpens. My heart races.
My vision — too clear. Too intense.
My hands — I look down.
Scars. Deep. Like something shattered in them.
It’s slipping.
She’s going to get hurt.
Stop.
Stop.
STOP!
And then — silence.
I’m back. Standing in front of them.
Katherine. Chris. Jane.
“We’re sorry.” Jane says.
“We had to put you under.”
A pause…
“You just got out of surgery.”
“You won’t take care of yourself.”
Another pause…
“We can’t —”
A breath.
“We can’t keep watching you suffer.”
To be continued…