Everything felt heavy, from my eyes to my mind. My head felt like a layer of mist had crawled its way up into my memories. Who was I? Where was I? Why can’t I remember anything? The only feeling I could muster up from inside my cluttered mind was pain, everything hurting then nothing. It seemed like someone had turned a switch to off on my memories. A bright light was trying to pry my eyes open and sweet words muffled by tears were being whispered to me. That voice, it sounded so familiar, the name was on the tip of my tongue. As soon as I felt like I had grasped the name, it slipped away out of my thoughts.
My eyes slowly opened, blinding me with white walls, white floors, and white lab coats, everything was sickeningly white.

“Issy your awake! I was so worried; I thought I had lost you!” Who was Issy? Who was this mystery person? I wanted to remember them, I felt like I needed to. The person behind the voice was a guy. He had light blonde hair with piercing blue eyes that were slightly puffy from, what I’m guessing was a lack of sleep and too much crying. His voice was so sweet that it made my heart flutter.

“Who are you? Why am I here?” my voice hoarsely croaked out. The boy’s face fell slightly as he realized I had no memory of him.

“Issy, it’s me Jay. Your best friend. Don’t you remember me, or even anything?”  I scrunched my nose in confusion as I tried to remember the slightest memory. After a few awkward minutes of silence with no memories resurfacing, Jays quaking voice filled the room again. “I should probably get a doctor, and tell them you’re awake.” Jay scampered out of the room and my mind started spinning. Everything suddenly felt like too much, like I was drowning in memories I couldn’t even remember.  What happened? Why do I have to forget? Why me?
****
After what felt like hours but was actually minutes, Jay reappeared with a doctor.  For the next few hours the doctor checked up on my vitals and took several different tests, but refused to answer my questions. As my frustration began to build with my unanswered questions, Jay took my hand and smiled, seeming as if he knew what I was thinking. Instantly my anger faded away and I was able to focus on the doctor. After the doctor had gone through all the boring procedures, making sure I wasn’t going to drop dead, he told me I could leave. I shuffled off to a bathroom with a change of clothes gripped between my shaking hands. Once I entered the room I immediately looked into the mirror. Aside from a few scratches and bruises I looked like a survivor. My long brown hair was knotted in thick tangles and felt greasy to the touch. My face had a handful of cuts splashed onto it mixed in with light freckles. Even through all the imperfections on my face, my eyes glistened their emerald green. I changed quickly and left the hospital room with JJ at my side. As we were walking down the bare corridors, he reached down and grabbed my hand. The touch sent a shooting of sparks up my arm and made me feel giddy. We got into the car with our hands still entwined and raced off down the country lane.
****
When Jays sleek black Mazda pulled up outside 5 Norton cottages my breathing hitched. The house was massive, at least three stories high, with balconies accompanying each window. It was made out of old fashioned brick with ivy curling its way around the sides of the house. While I was busy admiring the masterpiece of the house, Jay had grabbed my belongings and was standing in front of the mansion waiting for me to catch up. Embarrassed, I stumbled out of the car, while still in shock. While Jay was opening the great oak door I whispered to him
“Wow my parents must be millionaires!” as soon as I muttered the words I regretted it, seeing the sad look gracing Jays face broke my heart and added confusion to my already muddled mind. Why was he sad about my parents? As worry began to dawn on me I shoved past Jay into the house and started calling for my parents.
“Mom! Dad! I’m home!” When there was no answer I turned to Jay and said in my strongest voice, “Where are my parents, what happened?!” Jay looked at me for a long time, then finally nodded and spoke.
“Issy, I think you should sit down.” Doing as I was told I sat on the softest white love seat and made myself comfortable. Jay sat opposite me on a black couch and cleared his throat.
“Issy, 3 months ago you got into a car crash and ever since then you have been in a coma. Today while you were changing the doc told me you have amnesia, but your memories should start returning soon. Anyway, that night, the night of the car crash, you were driving home with your parents and a drunk driver hit you. You’re the only survivor.” Minutes passed before Jays words sunk in.
“My parents are dead?”
“Yes… I’m so sorry Issy.” Jay whispered. For the second time today I felt like I was going to faint and throw up at the same time. I truly was alone. I had no parents, no one to look after me. I couldn’t even remember my mom’s voice or my dad’s laugh. Even with all the family pictures in the house surrounding me, I couldn’t remember anything. The family that was in those photos was not mine. I didn’t know those people. All I knew right now was that I was completely and utterly alone.
***
I had been back at my house for a week now and still couldn’t remember where everything was or anything at all. Even though I was surrounded by everything from my life I still wasn’t remembering. I was a complete stranger to myself and everyone else. Tomorrow I was going back to school but I didn’t want to. All I wanted to do was continue spending time with my good friend’s ice cream and Netflix, like I had been doing for the past week.
Jay had been with me ever since I got home, never leaving my side even when it pained him that I couldn’t remember. Yet now it was just me, sitting with my blank mind. I knew that I had to prepare to go back to school tomorrow, but I couldn’t. I was terrified of what everyone would say. How am I supposed to face those people who I spent my life with, yet now were mere strangers? I was too busy stumbling through my thoughts to realize Jay was standing in my doorway.

“Jay! I didn’t see you there, you  nearly gave me a heart attack!” I scolded him. A slight smile spread across his face as he watched me with careful eyes.

“I know you’re scared Issy, heck I would be worried if you weren’t, but this is a new start; most people don’t get this chance so make it right.” JJ left after that but his words stayed. They haunted me through the night, replaying over and over in my head.
****
I was up long before my alarm shrieked at 7 am. Today was going to be my first day back to school since the accident and to say I was terrified was an understatement. As my nerves started to spiral out of control I decided to start getting ready. I chose to wear a simple outfit consisting of blue jeans, a black long sleeve t-shirt, and white converses. I ran my hand through my hair for what felt like the hundredth time. I was far too nervous to keep any breakfast down, so I skipped it and waited for Jay to pick me up.
Once JJ’s black Mazda rolled up to Winchester High, my nerves returned in full force, making my hands sweat and my head spin. I stumbled out of the car and grabbed JJ’s hand, holding on with so much force that I heard him whimper. As I shuffled down the overly crowded hallway I kept receiving sympathetic looks, which I shot down with glares. I didn’t want everyone’s sympathy, I wanted my memories and my parents back.
As the hours ticked down to when I could leave, I felt myself relax. The day had gone smoothly with no trouble, yet I was still happy I could leave when the time came. The final bell screamed in the hallway and I bolted out to JJ’s car. Once I was in its familiarity I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
****
  It had been two weeks since I started going back to school. My mind had started to ease into the early morning routines and the boring hours of homework. The end of junior year was approaching fast and summer felt like it was right around the corner. The last month had been stressful to say the least, but slowly I was easing back into my old self. Thinking about my parents, or the lack of memories I have of them, was not as painful as it used to be. I was finally able to look at family pictures and not feel the sting of guilt or regret.
Currently I was looking through old scrapbooks of Jay and I. they had been piled under my bed, collecting years of dust, so I thought it was only right to revisit them. Jay would be over soon so I knew I had to change out of my pajamas but I couldn’t put the scrapbooks away. The pictures inside showed a beaming pair of kids with missing teeth  and crazy haircuts. Some of the pictures portrayed us side by side with mickey mouse at Disney land, or others showed us laughing away at water parks. Every picture, every moment made me laugh harder than the previous one.
“what’cha got there Issy?” a voice questioned from behind me. With a shriek I jumped up, dropping the scrapbook so it landed with a thud and the pictures facing up.
“Jay! Quite sneaking up on me!” I yelled to the laughing figure. Seconds passed before we both lunged for the scrapbook. Unfortunately Jay grabbed the scrapbook just as my hand was curling around the spine of it. He stood up gracefully while I stayed laying not so gracefully on the floor. Jay quietly leafed through the scrapbook smiling and laughing until he reached the last picture. 
“This was a month before the accident, on your seventeenth birthday.” Jay stated with a frown.  I could see he was seconds away from becoming a sobbing mess so I said the only thing I could think of.
“I know.” I whispered to him. I did know. I could feel the memory pouring out of me like it happened yesterday. This precious event that filled both my best friend and I with such hope. Yet my mind didn’t stop there, suddenly every moment that my little life had lived through was running through my mind.
“JAY I REMEMBER, I REMEMBER EVERYTHING!” Jay and I both looked at each other with shocked expressions and began yelling with happiness. Out of sheer joy I pulled Jay to me and pressed my lips to his. A volcano of sparks ran through every part of me, making the happiness double. I pulled away from Jay expecting to see regret filling his beautiful eyes, but instead there was contentment.
“Welcome back Issy, I’ve missed you.” Jay said as he pulled me to him, capturing my lips in another enchanting kiss.