Hello everyone, I thought of writing another story and this one is quite long.
I hope you enjoy it
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MAIN CHARACTERS:
Amelia
Childhood friend of Asher
Asher
Childhood friend of Amelia
Lilac
Best friend of Amelia
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It's been 10 years I haven't met with him, and here he is, standing in front of me. The sun casts a warm glow on his features, making him seem both familiar and a stranger at the same time. Asher, the boy who used to be my shadow, now a man with a strong jawline and a confident stance. His eyes haven't changed though, they still hold that spark of curiosity that I remember from our endless summer days spent exploring the woods behind our houses. He looks at me, and for a moment, I'm lost in time, back to when our biggest worry was who would beat whom in our next game of hide and seek.
I approached him, thinking he would be happy too, but his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. It was forced, as if he wasn’t quite sure how to feel. The silence between us grew awkward, like a wall that had been built over the years, too tall to climb without effort.
I asked him, "Asher, what brings you back?"
His eyes searched my face, a flicker of confusion passing through them. "Back?"
Amelia's heart sank as she realized the depth of the situation. "You don't remember me?"
Asher frowned, his eyes scanning her face as if trying to place a lost puzzle piece. "Should I?"
Amelia felt the ground shift beneath her. "We were best friends," she said, her voice trembling. "We grew up together."
Asher's frown deepened. "I'm sorry," he said, his eyes searching hers. "I don't...I can't remember."
The words hit Amelia like a sledgehammer. She took a step back, her hand unconsciously flying to her mouth. "An accident," she whispered. "You had an accident. You've got amnesia."
Asher nodded slowly, his expression a mix of apology and bewilderment. "I had a car crash a few years ago," he explained. "They say it's not uncommon to lose memories from before the incident."
Amelia felt her eyes well up with tears as she tried to digest this new reality. She had thought their bond was unbreakable, that no matter how much time had passed, the moment they saw each other again, it would be like no time had passed at all. But here they were, standing in the middle of the street, two strangers separated by a wall of forgotten moments.
Asher noticed her distress and took a tentative step forward. "Hey, it's okay," he said, his voice gentle. "I'm sorry if I'm causing you pain. I wish I could remember, I really do."
Amelia looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "It's just...I thought you'd always be there," she said. "I thought no matter where life took us, we'd always have those memories to hold onto."
Asher's hand reached out to comfort her, but she stepped back. "I'm sorry," she managed, her voice choking. "I shouldn't have assumed. I shouldn't have pushed."
He watched her, the regret in his eyes palpable. "No," he said, his voice firm. "It's not your fault. I'm the one who's forgotten. I wish I could change that."
Before the silence could swell again, a soft voice broke through. "Amelia?" It was Lilac, her eyes wide as she took in the scene. She looked at Asher with curiosity. "Who's this?"
Amelia swiped at her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "Lilac," she said, her voice stronger than she felt, "this is Asher. We were childhood friends."
Lilac's eyes lit up with recognition. "Asher," she said, stepping forward to give him a hug. "I've heard so much about you."
Asher looked surprised but returned the embrace, patting her awkwardly on the back. "You have?"
"Of course," Lilac said with a smile. "Amelia's talked about you enough over the years. You're practically a legend."
Asher's eyes searched Amelia's face again, and she felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, there was a way to rebuild their friendship. "What did she say?" he asked, genuinely curious.
"I've told her about our adventures, our laughter, our secrets," Amelia said, her voice a little steadier now. "How we used to climb the old oak tree in the backyard and pretend we were king and queen of the world."
Lilac's eyes grew misty. "It sounds magical."
Amelia gave her a small smile. "It is."
The winter break had just started, and the town was buzzing with excitement. The three of them had decided to spend as much time together as possible, hoping that shared experiences might trigger something in Asher's memory. They went to school together, navigating the crowded hallways that were somehow both familiar and foreign to him. The whispers and stares that followed Asher didn't go unnoticed, but he remained stoic, a silent acknowledgment of his past that was now lost to him.
One evening, as the first flurries of snow began to fall, Lilac suggested they plan a trip to the mountains. "It'll be like old times," she said, her eyes shining. "Remember how we'd build snowmen and throw snowballs?"
Amelia's heart swelled with nostalgia, but she knew it wouldn't be the same without Asher's memories to complete the picture. Still, she hoped that maybe, just maybe, being in those familiar surroundings would stir something within him. "Yeah," she said, trying to match Lilac's enthusiasm. "It could be fun."
The days leading up to the trip were a whirlwind of excitement and preparation. They dug out their old winter gear, bought supplies, and plotted their adventures. Amelia found herself slipping into the role of tour guide, explaining every little detail of their childhood haunts to Asher as if he were seeing it all for the first time. It was strange, but also oddly thrilling, to retrace their steps with fresh eyes.
One day, as they were packing their backpacks with snacks for the mountain trip, Lilac couldn't hold it in any longer. She looked at Amelia with a blush rising to her cheeks and said, "I have to tell you something."
Amelia paused, sensing the shift in Lilac's energy. "What is it?"
"I...I think I might like Asher," Lilac confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. She wouldn't meet Amelia's gaze, focusing instead on the granola bars she was stacking in a neat pile.
Amelia's heart skipped a beat. She had hoped that their time together might rekindle something between her and Asher, but she hadn't considered Lilac's feelings. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice carefully measured.
Lilac looked up, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "I don't know. I just...he's different now, but there's something about him that feels...right."
Amelia felt a pang of sadness, but she pushed it aside. She had to be happy for Lilac, even if it meant letting go of her own hope. "It's amazing," she said, forcing a smile. "You guys might have a chance to get to know each other all over again."
Lilac looked at her skeptically, but Amelia's enthusiasm was contagious. "Really?" she said, her eyes brightening. "Do you think so?"
Amelia nodded, her mind racing with memories that now felt like a distant dream. She remembered a time when she had felt the same flutter in her chest, the same excitement Lilac was feeling now. A time when she and Asher had sat under that very oak tree, their cheeks flushed from the cold and their hearts fluttering as they confessed their feelings for each other. But that was a lifetime ago, or so it seemed.
With a deep breath, she pushed those thoughts aside and focused on her friend. "Lilac," she said, her voice full of forced cheer, "that's amazing. You guys will be perfect together." She hoped that the smile on her face didn't give away the sadness she felt deep down. It was a bittersweet moment, watching her best friend fall for the boy she had once loved.
As they set out on their trip, Amelia couldn't help but feel like a third wheel. Every time Lilac looked at Asher with that shy smile, her heart twisted a little more. But she kept her feelings buried, focusing instead on the beauty of the snow-covered landscape that unfolded around them.
The mountain was as majestic as she remembered, its peak kissing the sky as if trying to share a secret with the clouds. The chilly air stung their cheeks, but it was a good kind of pain, one that made them feel alive. They built a snowman with the same fervor they had as children, their laughter echoing through the quiet woods. But the joy felt hollow for Amelia, like an empty shell of a memory that didn't belong to her anymore.
As Lilac and Asher grew more comfortable around each other, their laughter grew louder and their smiles more genuine. Amelia watched them, feeling a strange mix of happiness and loss. She had hoped that being in these familiar places would bring him back to her, but instead, she was watching her best friend claim the space in his heart that she had once occupied.
On the second day of their trip, they decided to go sledding. The hill was steeper than Amelia remembered, but she didn't want to hold them back. They took turns, Lilac's squeals of joy piercing the stillness of the winter air, while Asher's laughter was a deeper, richer sound that seemed to warm the cold around them. Amelia took a step back, watching them become closer with every slide down the hill.
The wind picked up, blowing the snow into a gentle flurry. It danced around them like glitter, catching the light and making everything seem more magical than it had in years. Amelia couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy as Lilac's hand found its way into Asher's, their laughter mingling as they raced each other to the bottom.
That night, they huddled around the fire they had built in the cabin, sharing stories and sipping hot cocoa. Amelia felt like a spectator in her own life, listening to Lilac recount tales of their childhood as if they were her own. Asher's eyes lit up with wonder, his laughter genuine as he took in every word.
The crackling fire cast a warm glow across their faces, and for a moment, Amelia allowed herself to imagine that the years had never passed, that he had never forgotten. But reality was a cold slap in the face, and she knew that no matter how much she wished it, she couldn't change the past.
As the night grew darker and the fire burned lower, Lilac looked over at her with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "Amelia," she said, her voice low and playful, "tell us about that time you and Asher got lost in the woods."
Amelia felt a rush of emotions, a mix of joy and pain. That was a story she had told countless times, but this time, it was as if she was recounting it to a stranger. She took a deep breath and began, her voice carrying them back to a time when they were all younger and the world seemed so much simpler.
"We were about ten," she said, her gaze drifting to the flickering flames. "We had been playing hide and seek, and when it was my turn to find you, I couldn't. I called out, but the woods swallowed my voice. Panic set in, and I started to run, not knowing where I was going."
Asher leaned in, his eyes intent on her face as the fire crackled between them. "What happened?"
Amelia took a sip of her cocoa, the warmth spreading through her, but not enough to melt the ice in her heart. "We wandered for hours," she said. "The sun started to set, and we had to build a shelter. It was terrifying, but also..." she trailed off, a small smile playing on her lips, "it was the most exciting night of my life."
Lilac leaned closer. "How did you find your way back?"
Amelia glanced at Asher, his expression a mask of concentration, as if trying to pull the memory from the depths of his mind. "We followed the sound of the river," she said. "It led us back to the edge of the woods, and from there, we found our way home."
He nodded, his eyes searching hers. "It sounds like it was a bonding experience," he said, and she couldn't tell if it was a question or a statement.
"It was," Amelia said, her voice filled with a mix of longing and nostalgia. "We were inseparable after that."
Lilac nudged Asher playfully. "See? This is why you two were the dynamic duo."
Asher chuckled, his gaze lingering on Amelia a beat too long. "I can see it now," he said, his eyes holding hers, and for a moment, Amelia thought she saw a flicker of recognition, a glimmer of something from long ago. But then it was gone, replaced with that same apologetic confusion.
The rest of the night passed in a blur of laughter and shared stories, but Amelia couldn't shake the feeling that she was watching her own life unfold before her eyes, a movie she had already seen but with a new leading man. As they climbed into their bunks, the cabin feeling smaller than ever, she lay awake, listening to the rhythmic sound of Lilac's breathing.
The next day dawned clear and cold, the kind of day that promised a perfect snowfall. They spent hours outside, building snow forts and throwing snowballs, their laughter echoing through the deserted mountain. Amelia found herself retreating to the sidelines, her eyes often drifting to the spot where she and Asher had once built their own forts, complete with secret tunnels and lookouts.
As they trudged back to the cabin, tired and rosy-cheeked, Lilac suggested a game of truth or dare. Amelia's heart sank a little further. She knew what was coming. In the quiet of the night, with the fire casting dancing shadows on their faces, Lilac turned to her with a gleam in her eye. "Okay, Amelia," she said, a playful edge to her voice. "Truth or dare?"
Amelia took a deep breath, bracing herself. "Truth," she said, hoping to avoid any awkwardness.
Lilac's smile grew sly. "Do you still have feelings for Asher?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken truths. Amelia's eyes searched the flickering shadows for an escape, but there was none. "No," she lied, the word sticking in her throat. "We're just friends now."
Lilac's gaze held hers for a beat too long, and Amelia felt a flash of guilt. She knew her friend could see right through her, but Lilac only nodded, her expression unreadable. "Okay," she said, turning to Asher. "Your turn. Truth or dare?"
Asher looked between them, his eyes lingering on Amelia before he shrugged. "Truth."
Lilac's smile grew wider. "Do you remember anything from your childhood with Amelia?"
Asher's gaze drifted to the floorboards, his expression pensive. "I wish I could say yes," he said softly. "But it's all a blur. I see glimpses sometimes, in photographs or when she tells stories, but it's like watching a movie. I know it's me, but I can't feel it."
Amelia's throat tightened as she watched the sadness wash over Lilac's face. Her best friend reached over and squeezed her hand. "It's okay," she whispered. "We're all here now."
The rest of the trip was filled with forced smiles and awkward pauses. Amelia found herself retreating into her own thoughts, her heart feeling heavier with every step they took in the snow. When they finally returned home, she couldn't wait to crawl into bed and hide under the covers.
But life didn't allow for such luxuries. The moment they walked through the door, their phones buzzed with messages from their school friends, eager to hear about their reunion. Amelia and Lilac shared a look, the unspoken understanding passing between them. They had agreed to keep the truth from everyone else. It was too painful to explain, too humiliating to admit that their childhood hero had forgotten everything.
The days that followed were a blur of parties and get-togethers, with Amelia playing the role of the gracious host, introducing Asher to everyone as if he were a long-lost cousin. She watched as he charmed the pants off their old friends, his amnesia a tragic but intriguing part of his story. They talked about the old times, but it was all surface-level, a glossy version of the past that didn't come close to the truth.
One night, as they were leaving yet another party, Amelia couldn't hold it in any longer. "Why don't you just tell them?" she asked him, her voice tight with frustration. "They're all our friends. They'll understand."
Asher looked at her, his eyes clouded with sadness. "I don't want pity," he said. "I don't want to be that guy, the one who forgot everything."
Amelia sighed, understanding his pride even if it stung. "Okay," she said. "But we can't keep pretending forever."
Asher nodded, his gaze drifting to Lilac, who was chatting with some of their classmates. "I know," he said. "But for now, let's just enjoy what we have."
Amelia took a deep breath and nodded, pushing aside the sadness. They spent the next few weeks in a whirlwind of social events, the three of them forming a new kind of friendship. It wasn't the same as before, but it was something, and she tried to be grateful for that.
But as the days grew shorter and the nights grew colder, the reality of the situation began to weigh on her. Every time she saw Lilac and Asher together, laughing and sharing inside jokes, she felt a twinge of pain. It was like watching a movie she had been written out of, a bittersweet reminder of the happiness that once was.
One evening, after a particularly tough day, Lilac found Amelia sitting alone in her room, staring at a photograph of the three of them. Tears had left salty trails down her cheeks. Lilac sat down beside her, her heart heavy with understanding. "I need to tell you something," she said, her voice quivering.
Amelia looked up, her eyes red and puffy. "What is it?"
Lilac took a deep breath and held out her hand, revealing a small, sparkling ring. " I am going to cofess my feelings to Asher," she said, her voice shaking.
Amelia's heart plummeted, but she managed a weak smile. "Are you sure?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lilac nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I can't keep this inside anymore," she said. "I need to tell him how I feel."
Amelia felt the air leave her lungs in a whoosh, but she nodded. She had to support her friend, even if it meant watching her own heart shatter into a million pieces. "Okay," she managed to say, her voice trembling. "When?"
"Tomorrow," Lilac said, her eyes filled with a mix of excitement and fear. "I've been planning it for days. I'm going to take him to the top of the hill where we used to go sledding. I'll tell him then."
Amelia nodded, her eyes never leaving the ring. It was a beautiful piece, a tiny snowflake nestled in a band of silver. It was perfect for Lilac, but the thought of her best friend confessing her love to Asher was like a knife to her heart. She took a deep breath and squeezed Lilac's hand. "I'll be here for you, no matter what happens."
The next day, Amelia watched from a distance as Lilac led Asher to the top of the hill, their breaths puffing out like smoke in the chilly winter air. She saw Lilac reach into her pocket, her hand shaking, and knew what was coming. The words she had rehearsed in her mind a hundred times were finally going to be spoken.
Lilac took a deep breath and looked up at Asher, her eyes shining with hope. "Asher," she said, her voice quivering, "I've been thinking a lot about us, and I just have to tell you..."
Amelia's heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vice as she watched from a distance. She had known this moment would come, had even encouraged it, but that didn't make it any easier. She turned away, not wanting to intrude on their privacy, but her ears strained to catch their words.
"I know we're just friends," Lilac was saying, "but I can't help how I feel. I've loved you since we met, and I just wanted you to know."
Amelia's chest tightened as she watched, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. She knew Lilac had fallen for Asher, but hearing the confession was like watching a train wreck in slow motion. She turned away, giving them their privacy as Lilac's words echoed through the crisp air.
The silence that followed was deafening, and Amelia forced herself not to look back, not to seek the outcome of Lilac's confession. Instead, she focused on the sound of her own breathing, the crunch of snow beneath her boots as she made her way back to the cabin. She knew she had to be strong, had to support her friend, no matter what Asher's response was.
As the days grew shorter and the nights colder, the reality of Lilac's confession settled over them like a thick fog. Asher had been kind but distant, his eyes often searching Amelia's face as if looking for some kind of guidance. But she had none to offer. She was as lost as he was, navigating this new landscape of unspoken feelings and forgotten memories.
Graduation came, a bittersweet end to a tumultuous year. As they tossed their caps into the air, Amelia couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. She was leaving this town, this place that held so much of her heart, for a college across the country. The future stretched out before her, a canvas of uncertainty and change.
In the weeks that followed Lilac's confession, she and Asher had grown closer, their friendship blossoming into something more. They had started dating, and for a brief moment, it had felt like everything might just work out. But it was a precarious balance, and the weight of the past was always there, a shadow lurking at the edge of their newfound happiness.
Amelia had watched them, her heart both swelling with joy for her friend and aching with the loss of her own love. She had thrown herself into her studies, counting down the days until she could leave for college and start anew. Graduation approached with a bittersweet mix of excitement and dread.
The day of the ceremony, she watched as Lilac and Asher held hands, their faces flushed with excitement for the future. They had become inseparable, their bond seemingly unbreakable. Amelia couldn't help but feel like a forgotten memory, a ghost of what once was. But she pushed aside her pain and focused on the joy of the moment, the promise of a new beginning.
As they walked across the stage to accept their diplomas, Amelia felt a pang of nostalgia for the carefree days of their youth. The crowd cheered, and the flash of cameras was blinding, but she couldn't help but feel a sense of finality, a chapter of her life coming to a close.
The months that followed graduation passed in a blur. Amelia threw herself into preparing for college, filling out forms, buying new clothes, and packing her bags. Lilac and Asher, on the other hand, had become inseparable, their relationship blooming under the summer sun. Amelia had hoped that the distance would make her heart grow fonder, but instead, it felt like a slow and painful unraveling of their friendship.
When Lilac called her one evening, her voice shaking with tears, Amelia knew that something was wrong. "We broke up," she sobbed into the phone. "It just wasn't working out. I thought I could love him like you do, but I can't."
Amelia's heart broke for her friend, even though a small part of her felt a flicker of hope. "It's okay," she said, trying to sound soothing. "These things happen." But she knew it wasn't just any breakup. It was the end of a love story that she had never had the chance to write herself.
As they all moved on with their lives, Amelia couldn't shake the feeling of being the odd one out. Lilac and Asher had found each other, and she was left with nothing but memories of a time when she had believed they would be three musketeers forever. She threw herself into college, making new friends and exploring new interests, but the ache in her heart remained, a dull throb that reminded her of what she had lost.
The calls and texts grew less frequent, until one day, Lilac's panicked voice on the other end of the line brought everything rushing back. "Asher fainted," she said, her voice trembling. "I don't know what's happening. He's got this weird headache again, and he just...collapsed."
Amelia's heart skipped a beat. She had read about cases where amnesia could be a symptom of something more serious, something that could potentially come back to haunt them all. "Call an ambulance," she said, her voice calm despite the chaos in her mind. "I'm on my way."
The drive to the hospital felt like an eternity. Her thoughts raced, replaying every moment she had shared with Asher, every time she had hoped for a miracle. When she arrived, Lilac was pacing in the waiting room, her eyes red and swollen. She rushed over, her grip on Amelia's arm tightening. "They're running tests," she said, her voice strained. "They think it might be related to the accident."
Amelia's heart felt like it was in her throat as they waited, the sterile smell of the hospital doing little to ease her anxiety. And then, the moment she had both feared and hoped for, the doctor came out with a look that was a mix of surprise and relief. "He's awake," he said. "And he seems to be...remembering things."
They rushed into the room, where Asher was sitting up in bed, looking around with a dazed expression. When his eyes met hers, she saw a spark of recognition that had been missing for so long. "Amelia?" he whispered, his voice hoarse.
Her heart hammered in her chest as she stepped closer, her hand reaching out to touch his. "Yeah, it's me," she said, her voice shaky. "Do you remember?"
Asher's gaze searched hers, his eyes widening with realization. "The treehouse," he murmured. "The summer we built it together."
Amelia's hand trembled as it hovered over his, the warmth of his skin sending a jolt through her. "You remember?"
Asher's eyes searched hers, the fog of amnesia lifting like a veil. "I remember everything," he said, his voice stronger now. "Our adventures, the secret handshakes, the nights we spent talking under the stars."
Amelia felt the tears welling up in her eyes as she nodded. "You're back," she whispered. "You're really back."
Asher took her hand in his, the warmth of his touch sending waves of relief and joy through her body. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice filled with regret. "For everything I forgot, for the pain I caused."
Amelia's eyes searched his, looking for any trace of the doubt or confusion that had plagued him for so long. But all she saw was the same openness and honesty that had defined their childhood friendship. "It's okay," she whispered, squeezing his hand in return. "We're here now."
Over the next few days, Asher's memories returned in a flood, filling in the gaps of their shared history. Lilac was overjoyed to see her two best friends reunited in a way she had never thought possible. The three of them spent hours together, reliving moments that had been lost to Asher's mind, laughing and crying in the warmth of their renewed bond.
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I hope you liked it.
