Memories

For Shermain

She didn't remember. The people came and went, they spoke and they tried to make her remember but she had forgotten. The fear in their expressions scared her too and she curled up into a ball, hidden by her blanket, watching fearfully as the people trickled in and out, asking questions but not expecting any answers as they glanced sympathetically at her small form on the bed.

When nightfall came the people stopped coming and she relaxed herself since nobody else was present.

"Shermain?" A soft voice called out, making her jump slightly in surprise. Shermain... the name seemed familiar, as did the voice calling it.

"Shermain?" She heard once more, only the voice was louder this time.

"Who is it?" She asked only in a scared whisper, but the sound carried far in the emptiness of the room. A soft click sounded and she was able to see the outline of a person, though she couldn't make out much in the darkness.

"Shermain?" The voice was clearer now. "Do you remember me?"

"Who is Shermain?" She wondered aloud. The name sounded so familiar but she just couldn't place it. The outline moved closer and took the shape of a boy. He sat down on a nearby chair with a frown set on his face.

"So they weren't lying." He stated.

"Who?" She asked curiously.

"Everyone." A silence fell between them as she wondered who this odd stranger was. The boy didn't speak but instead he stared at her with an angry expression on his face.

"Who are you?" She finally asked, breaking the silence.

"Nobody." The boy replied shortly. She sat up, confused, and faced the boy.

"Nobody? How can you be nobody? That's not possible."

"Well. I am nobody."

"What's your name?" She persisted. The boy hesitated before answering.

"Hunter." He finally replied.

"Hunter? So you aren't nobody." She stated, happy that she had gotten to the truth.

"No, I suppose not. I'm just Hunter," He paused to glance around at the dark room before looking at her again. "So, who are you?"

"Somebody." She said immediately.

"Okay. So what's your name?" Hunter inquired, though he already seemed to know the answer to the question.

"I don't know," She muttered with a frown but followed immediately with a demanding question. "What are you doing here? Everybody else left."

"I came to see you." Hunter replied.

"Do you know who I am?" She asked, a sudden sadness filling her voice.

"You're Shermain." He told her confidently.

"Shermain..." She wasn't sure whether to believe him or not. So many people had come by beforehand to tell the girl who she was. Now, she wished she had listened instead of backing away from them like a coward.

But what did it matter what her name was? She would know what she was called but she still wouldn't know who she was.

Sighing, she lay back down on her bed.

"I wish I could remember who I was," She whispered, closing her eyes and hoping for it to come back. "Or how I forgot. Or anything at all. I've forgotten and... I just can't remember anymore."

"Maybe if you go to sleep... it'll come back to you." Hunter suggested softly, not wanting to disrupt her thoughts.

"Mmm. Maybe." She muttered, slowly drifting off into a deep sleep. He watched as she slept peacefully; not looking confused, nor scared. Maybe Shermain would remember, or so Hunter hoped, but maybe she had forgotten forever.

"Goodnight Shermain." He whispered, pushing away a strand of hair from Shermain's face and pulled the blanket up to her chin. Taking one last look at the sleeping girt, Hunter departed.

Maybe she would remember, and everything would continue as before, as if the accident had never taken place. But maybe she had forgotten forever and it would take Hunter the rest of his life to piece together what they had.

A/N: Another short and random piece. Constructive criticism appreciated.