Chapter 47: Chapter 47

I stood in front of my old home, on my old porch, in my old neighborhood feeling that faint numbness. All I wanted to do is jump back in my car and drive off never for once turning back. Ugh, I better get this over with. I open the door to see the already decorated room, well everywhere flashing with little red and green bulbs, a Christmas tree at the far corner of the room highly decorated, presents surround it.

"Merry Christmas!!!" Mom pokes her head from the kitchen fully in the Christmas spirit wearing Santa aprons. I smile. "Well Christmas eve but whatever, who cares." We meet at a distance hugging each other.

"Hey mom."

"Austin. Why do you feel the need to break my heart. No call. No texting. I'm hurt." She might have said it playfully but the edge in her voice gave her away.

"Sorry mom." She nods walking back to the kitchen getting ginger biscuits and cookies out of the oven. Tempted I snatch one quickly into my mouth and the glare on her face told me she caught me. "Where's Gwen?" It pose as a distraction.

"On a little play date with Santa and her friends." Moving round the kitchen making sure everything is ready. At the back of my mind I'm wondering why cook all these food for just three persons. "Will be back soon. Come ,come, we have visitors coming and we best be ready to entertain them." Thought as much, helping her carry plates to the dinning table.

"Merry Christmas Eve everyone." My head snaps to the Whyte family. Mr and Mrs Whyte

both stop in their tracks when they saw me in the room. What are they doing in my house?

"Mom can I talk to you for a second please." We both went back to the kitchen. Catching my glare which dart from her to the living room she quickly jump in for the rescue.

"Look I know what you are thinking but please its Christmas for fucks sake." Letting out an exhausting sigh she continues. "Her death happened months ago Austin. You have to let it go."

"They lied to me mum!" I seethed not caring if they heard me.

"I know. I know." Her little hands raise up in the air trying to calm me down. And I don't want to be calmed down, I want them out of my home. "But do you think she'll be happy wherever she is watching you hate on her patents. Like I heard it was her last wish so don’t fault them." I felt my anger dissipate. "Can we please have a merry merry Christmas. Please." She plea with joint hands clasped together. I sigh giving a nod. What a shit show my life is. I have to pretend I'm okay inches away from the people I thought so... You know what? Let's get this Christmas over with.

Storming out the room, mum gave them a sympathetic smile while I dared them with every look I gave them. Luckily, they were just wise enough to stay clear past my radar, focused solely on mum as if I wasn't there with them. Well good riddance to bad rubbish. If only they can disappear from my sight then it really would be a good riddance. Helping mum to set the table of mac and cheese, fried chicken, vegetables, cookies and biscuits. The Whyte family sat at the twin side where mum and Gwen will seat, leaving me at the head of the table. I can't just wait for Gwen to get back and we can eat, say a jolly merry Christmas and I'll get the hell out of here.

I swear I tried, like I tried so hard to not let the food taste like straw to me watching them converse happily with my mom. Acting as if I wasn't there when their daughter died and they did nothing to save or even to simply tell me half the truth since telling the truth was a huge problem for them. Dropping my fork and knife rather loudly on my plate shocking the two females while Mr. Whyte watch me in a sad expression. Serves them right for been happy while each day I feel like little pieces of me is ripped out of my body. I stood leaving for the wine cellar that used to be in the basement. Maybe that will help clear my mind of this godforsaken awfully dinner.

I hate Christmas.

I stayed there for longer minutes trying to control my emotions and the erratic thumping of my heart in anger. Feeling better I climb back up and my bottle of wine in case my emotions get the better of me. Coming back to the room, the opening and closing of the door took my glaring eyes from the Whyte excited to see my little princess whom I've missed so much.

And will be a great distraction for me at the table. Already preparing for the impact of her jump, I stood up walking a little farther from the table not planning to ruin my already ruined Christmas.

"Sorry everyone, someone had to stop for another treat. Phew, also there's a storm coming up."

I stopped dead in my tracks, lost and dumbfounded letting go of the wine bottle with it crashing into million pieces. I not only got the voice of my Snoopy but also the sight of her.

Is this a dream? Have I really gone mad to begin having vivid dreams of her?

Been tortured every night isn't enough, Now I'm haunted by her in the day time. I must truly be sick because this feels so real.

"Oh hey Austin! Glad you came back for Christmas. It would have been such a bum if you missed this." she looks down at my foot tsking before walking away while I looked like I saw a ghost. I didn't miss the strange distant look she gave me. Like she didn't acknowledge me or doesn't know who I am...to her.

"Tintin!" Gwen's shrill cry snapped my head to the parents in the room.

"What the fuck is going on here?!!!" I glared at the adults in the room each holding different looks.

***

Looking strongly at her father, Mr. Whyte. I finally got the feels to strangle him and spend the rest of my years happily in jail.

"What do you mean by she's not the Mary-Vienne I once dated.?"

"She isn't son."

"I'm not your son." I growled at him glancing to eye him from the side before looking back to my house.

"I'm sorry of how things transpired in the past but what would you have done when your only child begs for something on her death bed." he must think I'm crazy if he expects me to answer that. Sighing he continues. "She survived, miraculously."

"No shit, Sherlock." I mock him.

"She has been in a rehabilitation home for months now. I know you think I acted wrongly but when you have a child of your own, then crucify me. But for now that girl in there has no memory of who you were or what you meant to her. It took months from Bailey's constant reminder to tell you who are, still yet no memory. Finally, she woke up asking after her you about a month ago, thinking it was Bailey she mistook you for she laughed amused shaking her head only to point at you on her phone. We all were happy she got the last part of her memory after six months only for her to think, to think..." I frown facing him.

"For her to think what?"

"That you are her best friend. That's what her brain could process. Other than that, she has no memory of you. The doctor said it could be triggered so we persuaded your mom to bring you back hoping it works. Clearly, it did not." he sighs looking at his daughter laughing inside.

In shock I look at Mr Whyte then to the window where Snoopy's eyes locked on us waving us in.

Best friend

Even the words taste vile on my tongue. She's been alive for seven months in a rehabilitation center trying to heal and get back her memories. Worst of it all, ours got deleted or locked somewhere too hard to open. It can only be triggered, by what? If seeing me doesn't triggers her memories then what will?

I blinked scrubbing my fingers over my face. She doesn't know who I am to her? Like the wind, memories of each day with her flashes through my eyes up until the last wild intimacy of that very night. None. Nothing.

"Take it easy Son. Don't be too hard on yourself." He says before walking back in. I didn't bother looking as my mind twirl in a whirlpool racking through unanswered questions. Once again I look at the window watching her laugh, smile and make those faces I missed. She looks like my Snoopy, talks like her, smile like her but she isn't her.

Cold air puff out of my lips. Should I be happy she's alive or sad she lost the fond memories we shared. Warm small hands crept on mine alerting my senses. I hear her giggles.

"What are you doing outside here catching the cold? It will soon begin snowing again, you know." I turn facing her missing her smile but it wasn't the smile I always love. This smile screams friend fighting against the one I yearn for that screams lover. What I'll do to get that smile back.

"Hey are you okay?" Even with the memory loss, she still has that soft spot for me. I prayed for days, weeks, if not months for this miracle and here she is with me. If I can't have her fully, I'm grateful for the part that will teach me to love her as much as she once loved me. Creating new fond memories with her again.

"Yeah, I'm good. Let's go in before we catch a fever." My left hand take a hold of her right hand turning to walk inside.

"Au-Austin? Where did you get that?" My eyes follows hers to the bracelet on my wrist.

Immediately my heart skip.

"It was a gift for my girlfriend who died." I answered looking as her face contorts wearily in a frown.

"Died? No that's mine." She pressed on reaching for it, finally getting to take it off my wrist fiddling with the little band, caressing the intricate designs. Watching it with interests, she blinks rapidly as if jog by a memory. I watch quietly praying to any being up there to answer the thoughts of my heart.

"It belongs to me." She looks at me and back at it caressing our names shipped together. Excitement wash through me fully facing her. "My boyfriend gave it to me as my birthday gift." Hey eyes close trying to think, to remember. My heart beat so loud and fast I fear it will burst out. Inside me, I'm jumping and screaming a 'yes it's me. I'm your boyfriend' as the excitement course through me. Sweet baby Jesus. Thank you.

Suddenly her eyes snaps open blurry in tears. Softly speaking. "It's you. Austin. You are my boyfriend."

And I couldn't hold it anymore, pulling her in a hug sniffing hard as I made sure to contain the glistening tears in my eyes. She remembers me. My Snoopy remembers me. Thank you anyone that's hearing. Thank you.

Tears ran down my eyes in happiness as I sniff, chuckling, laughing yet crying at the same time. "Yes Snoopy. I'm your boyfriend." I hug her tighter relishing in her warm hugs. We stay that way for so long; just laughing, crying and chuckling for no reason. "And you're my girlfriend." She giggles getting to pull away.

"I miss you so much Snoopy." she giggles drying her cheeks as I step closer not wanting to apart from her after many months I've suffered, barely surviving, barely living. We had distant shouts as fireworks goes off beautifying the night with different colors.

"Merry Christmas Austin." I bite my lips smirking down at her. Not wasting any second, i crash my lips on hers. Getting the sweet taste of ambrosia I get from her lips on mine. She

smiles into the kiss still yet returning the equal ferocity with more passion until we are both breathless.

Breaking the kiss for a mili second, our breathing fanning our faces as our lips hovers against each other wanting to delve searching for that bliss we have missed."Do you remember it all.' she shakes her head sadly but I smile down at her.

"It's only glimpses I see." nodding I dry her wet cheeks with my thumb before kissing her cheeks. It really didn't matter to me. I'll help her get back our memories. For now, I have to make sure to leave a stern warning with her because I sure won't survive a second shocker without any grey hairs sprouting out.

"This time do not take away your bracelet from your hand." fixing the bracelet on her wrist, her eyes captures mine giving me that breathtaking smile I love.

"Never Austin. Never." She smiles wrapping her hands round my neck pulling me down as our lips join together again. "I will always have it with me just as you will always have me with you." She kisses me more as fireworks explode far above us lightening the night sky. I held her waist tighter embracing her deepening our passionate kiss.

"You really know how to break a boy's heart, Snoopy." she laughs into the kiss as I vomit those words. "Only you Snoopy. Always you." she smiles pulling me closer as we deepen our kiss.

I couldn't get a more better Christmas gift than having her back in my arms, kissing her with equal passion. She owns me with no restraint and I love her for free. Whatever happens next I know I will survive it with her by my side. Life can only tell how long before she gets back the rest of her memory, this time she's not going to get away from me that easy. And if she doesn't still remember it all, I'll love her nonetheless showing her new memories to hold on to. So as of right now, She's with me and I grateful for that. All I ever need is right here in my arms. My Snoopy. My Heart.

The End