Where did I go?

When I wake up, the spot next to me is empty. A tantalizing smell comes from the kitchen. I follow it and find a shirtless Mike standing at the stove. "Morning," he says without turning around. "I'm making blueberry pancakes." My favorite. I smile and go to make coffee. But it's not like a normal coffee pot.

"Erm, Mikey? How the hell do you work this thing? There's no place to put coffee grinds in..."

He laughs and turns the stove off. "That, my dear, is a Keurig. No need for coffee grinds." He reaches around me and places a little cup into the machine then snaps it shut. "Just put a cup under it and hit the button." Mike goes back to setting food on the table.

I do what he says and watch as the liquid pours out. This whole future thing is pretty stupid. I give the cup of coffee to Mike and settle with orange juice. We sit at our little kitchen table and dig in. The pancakes taste like heaven.

"So, um, should we talk about last night?" Mike asks me. I shrug my shoulders, "What about it?"

He raises his eyebrows. "You remembered something, Val. I'm sorry it wasn't a positive memory, but it's something. Right?"

I swallow my last bite and sigh. "Honestly after last night I'm kinda afraid to remember stuff. I'm going to have six years of shit hitting me within a few hours. I don't think I can handle it."

"You're life wasn't as horrible as you're making it seem. You got outta your parent's house. You went to college. You made friends. You married me." Mike's voice sounds sad. I hate what I'm doing to him, but I just can't help it.

"What about all the times we fought?" I ask him. "What about the times when I lost a friend or lost a family member or got fired or failed a test?"

Mike puts his head in his hands. "That's all part of life. The good times and the bad times. Okay, yea you're going to remember all of that bullshit. But I promise the good memories will make up for them. I promise."

I'm still not convinced. I'm not as strong as he thinks I am. Mike stands up, "Follow me." I follow him to the living room, where he tells me to sit on the couch. He leaves the room for a few minutes then returns balancing two large books and a shoebox. He drops them all next to me. "Look through them, let me know what happens." Mike goes and sits in the chair across the room. I open the shoebox first. It's filled with polaroids. All of them seem to be taken at college. Cara's in a bunch of them, along with a few other faces I can't name. Apparently we went to a lot of concerts and shows. After the shoebox I open one of the books. It's filled with Vic and Mike and Jaime and Tony. Pierce the Veil. Touring, playing shows, hanging out. They look so happy. I'm in a few of the pictures, always next to Mikey. Still, no memories come to me. The second album makes me tear up a little. I'm in a gorgeous white dress. It looks vintage. My hair is pinned up and a tiny veil drapes across my face. Mike looks amazing in an all black suit. It doesn't look like a large wedding. My parents aren't there, but the Fuentes are. They were always there for me when I needed something. People always talk about how brides glow at their wedding. I never really believed that until I see these photographs. I run my fingers over all the faces, begging for a spark, a connection, anything. All I get is a headache. I shut the album and push it onto the floor.

"I have nothing." I mumble. "Nothing except a fucking migraine." Mikey sits next to me and rubs my back again. "Well the doc said it will take time if you remember anything." I shake my head. I want my life back. I don't want to have to wait for it.

"I have an idea," Mike starts. "We'll go on a mini trip of your life. Visit all your old haunts and try to see if something happens. How's that sound?"

It sounds perfect, and I tell him that. "Great," he smiles that million dollar smile. "We leave for our first stop in an hour!"

I jump up and hurry to get ready. As I shower, I flick through all the photos in my mind again. The love I could see. Guilt hangs on me. Mikey is too good for me.

Notes

what do you think???