Invisible

All This Time

(Go to YouTube and open up "Just Be" by Paloma Faith.  Begin playing when indicated to within the chapter.  Thanks for participating!"

This was it.  

I was finally going to see him.

It had only been a day since his mother told me what had happened to his memory, but it felt like an eternity.  What did he remember about us?  What if he forgot about us all together?  Even though it fell apart in the end, we had some amazing time together.
I gave a last glance at the nurse standing by his door.  

She nodded.  "Go on in, honey."

My heart began to beat as I grasped the cold handle of the door.  I opened the door.


And there he was.  The boy I had fallen in love with.  He looked so peaceful laying there on the hospital bed.  Sure, he was a little beaten up, there were healing cuts on his face, there was a heart monitor beside him beeping to the pace of his heart, and his arms had some yellowing bruises.  But he was still Lucas.

He looked at me after a little bit.  A grin slowly crept across his face.  "Now you I remember."

I don't know why, but relief flooded through me.  Why had I been so worried about him not remembering me?  

I couldn't say anything.  Tears escaped out of the corner of my eye.

"Don't cry," Lucas looked puzzled.

"I'm sorry, I was just scared," I wiped my eyes with my sweatshirt sleeve.  

"Scared about what?"  He asked.

"That you wouldn't remember me."

"Of course I remember you.  How could I forget you?"  Lucas asked.  "Well, I probably forgot some, but I think most of it stayed."

"Like what?"  I had to know.  I walked over to the side of the bed and took a seat on the edge, not wanting to disturb him.

He reached over, grabbed my hand.  "I remember running into you and knocking you over."

I smiled, nodded.  

He took my other hand with his free one, then held our hands together.  "I remember something about... gummy bears?"

I laughed.  "Yeah, that was fun."

Lucas smiled and then moved over a little, motioning for me to lay down.

I did, my heart beating a little faster.  

He flipped on his side, looking a little strained.  His hand trailed across my face, moving some stray hairs aside.  "I remember kissing you."

His heart monitor started beeping a little faster, which made me smile.

"And I remember being very much in love with you."  His heart monitor was picking up speed.

My heart rate was practically matching his.  He was so close to me, within kissing distance.

"Then I remember doing something very bad that hurt you.  I must have been a damn fool because I can't name a single reason why anyone would want to hurt you."

Another tear escaped.  

"Kasey," he whispered.  "Do you still?"

"Still what?"  I asked

"Love me?"

I nodded.  "Very much."

"Good, because after almost dying, I realize I never want to live a day without you," and with that he pressed his lips to mine.

All previous intentions melted away.  He couldn't remember what he had done to me.  That Lucas was gone.  This was my Lucas, the one I had fallen in love with, and the one I was still in love with.  

I adjusted myself so that I was straddling him, causing his heart monitor to practically explode.  I felt him bite gently on my lower lip, then lightly pull at my hair.

I smiled against his lips, and I feel him smile back.  

"What?"  He asks, the beeping just barely slowing.

"You still remember how to kiss very well," I pressed my lips back to his.

He pulled away.  "I don't think it's a talent you can just lose, I'm just born with it."

I rolled my eyes, allowing myself to sink back into him.

His heart monitor picked up speed again as we kissed.

Suddenly, the door was flung open, revealing a doctor.,

"What's going on?  Your heart monitor is going crazy!"  Then he noticed me, and smiled knowingly.  "I'll leave you two alone then.  Just, try not to give him a heart attack, miss."

"Okay, sir," I said, my face turning red. I shifted back beside Lucas, curling myself into him.  

He pressed his lips to my head.

"Promise me something?"  I asked quietly.

"Anything."

"Promise that you won't ask what you did to hurt me."

"Kasey, why not?"

"Just promise me."  He couldn't find out and then hate himself for something he doesn't even remember he did.  That would be torture for both of us.

"I promise."

"Lucas, did I ever tell you why I love you?"

I felt him shake his head against my hair.

"Because you saw me when no one else could.  When I was invisible, you were there.  I was nobody, but you made me feel like a somebody."

"Kasey, you are anything but invisible to me."

"I just felt like everyone looked right through me.  They looked at me and just saw a quiet girl with daddy issues.  But you... when you looked at me, I knew you saw me for who I was."

"I'm glad I got to know you, Kasey.  What would I have done without you?"  Lucas asked.

"I don't know, Lucas.  I was wondering the same thing about you."

"Kasey, promise me something."

"Anything."

"Promise me that no matter what, you will never stop being who you are."

"Which is?"

"The most beautiful, smart, sweet girl that I've ever met.  Promise me you'll never stop being the person I fell in love with."

I looked up into his eyes, felt his heart beat under my ear, and realized that I could never be anyone different around Lucas.  I will always be his.  Somewhere deep down, I always knew that.

"I promise."

THE END