The Writers' Circle

Haunted Memory
By
Gary Jarvis

"Get out." An elderly woman shouted at a much younger man. He stood firm and looked at the bedridden woman. "Get out I said." The man did not move a muscle and simply stood looking at the woman. "Leave me be. Go away." Her words were filled with emotion but the man failed to respond. "Why are you here, John? I'm sorry. Please just leave me alone." Her words were laden with fear and regret. "I've said I'm sorry, John. What more do you want from me? I can't turn the clock back." The silence was more terrifying for the woman than anything the man could have said and she wanted nothing more than to disappear under the covers and for the man to go away. Though she knew it was too much to hope for and that John wouldn't just go away. "Please just talk to me. I'll do anything, honest." The silence remained but she could almost hear what he was thinking; honest, ha that's a good one, why don't you try it sometime? But still he stayed silent and she could bear it no longer. So she dived under the covers enveloping herself in total darkness, but the man's presence didn't leave no matter how long she waited.

"Gail?" A man's voice broke the silence.
"Oh thank you John." Gail said from within the covers relieved to have a break in the silence. "I can't apologise enough. You have no idea how bad I feel. I should have listened to you. I wish I never lied. I dread to think, what you think of me. What can I do? Honestly I will do anything?" She added coming back out of the covers.
"Don't feel bad. I'm the one who's sorry." John said leaning over Gail and kissing her forehead. "It wasn't your fault. Please don't blame yourself. Everything is ok. I'm not angry anymore."
"But after what I did how could you forgive me." Gail said confused over John's reaction.
"Because it was my fault. Now enough please forget about it. I forgive you." Gail smiled unable to bring herself to speak. "Now I have to go because I have things to attend to but please live a happy life, for me." Then without a word more and with Gail still smiling he left the room.

"Is she ok?" A woman waiting outside the room said to John.
"She'll be ok for a little while now." John replied.
"Be honest, doctor. What are the chances she will recognise me again?"
"Well I would say its highly likely your mother won't ever see you as her daughter again." The doctor replied with a heavy heart. "In the past three weeks she has deteriorated to the point that all she can see is this John person and no other memories are coming forward like before. She'll sit there now happy that he has forgiven her until she goes to sleep and when she wakes up it will be the same as you saw to begin with, shouts before one of the team goes in and tells her she is forgiven." The daughter heard the words without her usual disbelief. The hope that her mother would live outside of the institute again, diminished and tears fell down her cheeks. Her only comfort, that the mysterious John from her mother's past could bring happiness for a few hours before the grief took hold once more.
"Ok, doctor. I understand. I will keep visiting but know she won't recover." Choked words from her made the doctor almost think twice about his profession. "But from now on can the person playing John tell mum that I love her?"
"We can arrange that. Shall I see you out?" He asked kindly.
"Please." She said in her state of sorrow.