Never Forget (Memories)

forget about us.''
    Something slides through the letterbox and I bite the inside of my cheek. I'm being torn apart again.
    I hear his car leave and walk to the front door on shaky legs.
    We sit on the rug. Our smiling faces covered in ice cream and he's kissing my cheeks. Trembling, I pick up the photo.
    Never forget is scrawled on the back. I lean back against the wall and close my eyes against the sting of salty tears.
    How could I forget? How could I ever forget the way he made me feel? I'll never forget the smiles, touches, racing hearts, spoken words, unspoken words, dreams of forever, promises for the future.
    My fingers trace the words on the back of the photo. Never forget.
    ''I won't,'' I whisper, looking away. ''I'll never forget.''

    ALEC

    I pause at the car door, waiting, hoping, that maybe, just maybe, she'll open the door and tell me it's okay. But she doesn't, and I don't honestly expect her to.
    It doesn't kill the hope inside me, though. As I drive away I can still feel a little of it, a tiny dot in the back of my mind, like a seed waiting to pop out of the ground and bloom.
    It doesn't bloom. I won't let it. Until my girl is back in my arms for good, I won't let an ounce of hope grow.
    But she'll remember. I've made sure of it. The little things. She can burn the picture, delete the messages and leave town.
    But I know she'll never forget.

    ~

    ALEXIS

    Music pounds my ears as I travel into Barnstaple on the bus. After a million and one reassurances from my family last night that Gram was fully awake, I agreed to come and see her today. On the condition I came alone.
    After Mum saw the picture of me and Alec, she didn't argue.
    I push the stop button and stand, gripping the rail tightly as the big, white building looms before me. I roll my shoulders against the shiver creeping down my spine at the sight and thank the driver, stepping off onto the curb. The doors open automatically and I pass past people, turning off my iPod as I wait for the lift.
    Tap, tap. Tick, tock. I swallow and step into the lift, the chrome, silver walls and mirror a welcome change from the whiteness of reception.
    I pay attention to where I walk this time. Corridors, turning, nurses, doctors. Just a normal workplace, I tell myself.
    I press the buzzer on the door outside ICU.
    ''Who's there?''
    ''Um, Alexis Edwards. I'm here to see my Gram-''
    ''Come on in, dear,'' the voice chuckles. ''We've been expecting you.''
    ''Oh, okay.'' I release it and push open the door.
    I walk into the stuffy hospital room, my hands sweaty and shaking as I clasp them in front of me. They said Gram was awake – but do we have different definitions of awake? Is she talking, moving, joking?
    It's a tall order, I know, but that's all I want.
    The nurse at the desk smiles at me. ''Alexis?''
    ''That's me.'' I give her a shaky smile.
    ''She's all you've talked about all morning. We're glad to see you. She's quite a character, your grandmother.'' She waves for me to follow her.
    ''Oh, you have no idea,'' I mutter under my breath and smile widely at her.
    ''This is you. I'll be coming round to do her bed bath in about fifteen minutes, I'm afraid, but you can always come back after.''
    ''That's okay. Thank you.'' I smile at her and she walks off.
    I gently push the curtain back and peer round it. She's sat up in bed, jabbing at the television remote impatiently.
    ''Knock knock,'' I say softly.
    Grammy turns her head slowly and beams at me. ''Lexy girl!'' Her voice is weak.
    ''Hey.'' I walk into her corner and sit on the big chair next to her bed. ''How are you feeling?''
    ''I've seen...better days,'' she rasps out with a smile. ''How's my favourite..granddaughter?
    ''I'm okay.'' I smile sadly and take her hand.
    ''Everyone else?''
    ''Mum is better now you're awake. Dad's trying to take everyone's mind off what happened and Bing is... Well, he's just being Bing.''
    ''Mmhmm,'' she hums. ''And Alec?''
    I drop my eyes to our hands. ''I don't know.''
    ''What do you mean? You..don't know?'' Grammy says.
    ''I don't know,'' I repeat quietly. ''But I should imagine not good.''
    ''What did you do, Lexy girl?''
    I stand and snatch back my hand. ''Me? What did I do? I wasn't the one who was keeping secrets from the person I claimed to be in love with. I wasn't the one who ripped out someone else's heart.''
    Grammy sighs, and when I look at her she's determined. Angry determined.
    ''I asked him..not to..tell you,'' she begins. ''I didn't want you..to spend time