Becoming Strangers Again by Lily

LILY

The sharp, stabbing pain in my head forced me to grope blindly for the bottle of aspirin I always kept in the drawer beside my bed. My fingers brushed over the smooth surface of the table, searching, but I couldn't find it. Frustrated and disoriented, I had no choice but to open my eyes.

The first thing that greeted me was a plain, white ceiling. My gaze lingered on it, confused. There was no chandelier hanging above me, no familiar glow of the bedside lamp. Where was I?

"Lily?" A voice called out softly, filled with worry. It was Ryan. His face came into view as he leaned over me, his eyes filled with concern. "I'll get the doctor," he said quickly, his tone firm yet panicked. Without waiting for a response, he turned and hurried away, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the room. I heard the door open and then close behind him.

I lay there, motionless, my mind trying to make sense of what was happening. Why was I here? How did I end up in a hospital bed? And why was Ryan here with me instead of being in New York, where he was supposed to be?

The door creaked open again after what felt like an eternity. Ryan walked in, but he wasn't alone. A tall figure followed behind him, and I blinked twice, struggling to process what I was seeing. It was Amell. For a moment, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me, but no -there he stood.

Wait... he's the doctor Ryan called?

Amell had no business examining me. I wasn't his patient, and there was absolutely nothing wrong with my brain. "How do you feel?" he asked, his sharp eyes scanning my face as if he were searching for some hidden clue.

Ignoring his overly intense gaze, I attempted to sit up. Ryan was instantly at my side, his hand on my arm, steadying me. "My head is pounding," I muttered, leaning back into the pillows to get comfortable. "Call a nurse to bring me something for this headache." Before Ryan could move, Amell shook his head. "That won't be necessary. It's likely just the effects of the medication. Once it wears off, you should feel fine." He reached for the foldable stool in the corner, dragged it closer to my bedside, and sat down. "I know this might not be the best time," he said carefully, "but do you remember what happened?"

What happened? Clearly, I was supposed to recall something significant, though my throbbing headache made that task seem daunting. I closed my eyes, letting my head rest fully against the pillow, trying to sift through the fog in my mind.

The memory hit me faster than I expected, as vivid as if it had just happened. My eyes snapped open, and the words spilled out of my mouth before I could stop them.

blurted, the realization sending chills

cleared his throat. "Lily, you were involved in an accident," he said softly. "You've

talking about? The word didn't make sense, didn't fit with anything I could remember. Without thinking, I tried to sit up again, but the sudden movement sent a sharp, searing pain through my head. I winced, clutching my temple. Ryan moved closer, his hands steadying me, but I

but serious. "You were brought here by an ambulance," he

stomach twisted violently as the thought hit me, and

that followed was deafening. Ryan's face, usually so composed, crumbled slightly as he avoided my eyes. The sudden sadness clouding his expression made my chest tighten

weight of my fear. My eyes

words seeming to fail him. The sadness in his eyes grated against my

and answer my question!" I yelled, my voice cracking. "Where are my

in the car," he said quietly, almost a whisper. "You and the driver were

"What do

your mind? We were on our

Car

inhaled that stupid perfume your driver handed to me. That's when I fell asleep!" My breathing quickened, my heart racing as the horrifying realization crept in. "They were in

you mean

cops are searching," he said,

storm in my mind. How could I be here, lying in a hospital bed, when my children-our children-were missing? All three of them. My chest felt like it would

Without thinking, I yanked the IV drip from my hand, ignoring the sharp sting and the bead of blood that followed. Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I tried to stand. My knees wobbled, but I didn't care-I had to leave. Ryan reacted instantly. His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me back down onto the bed. "Lily, stop!" he said firmly, holding