Free A Beautiful New Life by Susan Irene

truck .
    “So where do you want to go first?” He had the gentlest voice , it drew her in , and when she did not answer, he asked again. She was tempted not to answer intentionally this time just to hear his voice but she did not want to appear rude.
    “I know what you said earlier but I’d really like to drive around and see if anything is familiar.” He knew it would not be but he did not want to see the disappointment on her face again.
    “Well let’s go then.” He pulled out of the parking lot and drove southwest toward town. They drove through town and then around the outer suburbs . After about an hour, she w as convinced that nothing looked familiar and they headed back to town. He showed her where the rehabilitation center and dorms were located.
    “You will be training here until they can place you somewhere to work. The dorms are conveniently located across the parking lot here so you can just walk and won’t need any transportation.”
    “ Sounds well thought out. Can we go take a look at my room ? ” She was a little excited now. She was ready to move forward and hoped her memory would return. She felt this next s tep would get her closer to that goal.
    Michael parked and they got out. He led her to the entrance she would use to come and go from the dormitories.
    “Let’s see you are in room 230. Oh and here are your keys.” He handed her the keys and as their hands touched, the connection she felt earlier was stronger . She tried hard to remember how she knew him.
    “Here we are, Room 230.”
    “Okay I’m embarrassed my mind was somewhere else so how did we get here.” She wondered if she should tell him about the feelings she was having, but decided to wait.
    “Well you only get one lesson on that so you will need to pay attention when we leave.” He laughed. He let her unlock the door and enter the room. It was a single dorm room , with the bed against the farthest wall and a desk and chair beside it. Megan walked over to the closet and opened the door. The bare hangers made her aware of how little she had or even kn e w she needs.
    “What about clothes? Will the hundred dollars be enough to get some?”
    “Not likely but we’ll stop at the second hand store and see if they can help you out. They will usually allow you some outfits but you’ll have to volunteer some hours manning the store in return.”
    “That’s fine; I’d just hate to have to wear the same thing over and over again.” She closed the closet and walked over to the closed door beside it. She opened the door and found the bathroom that she shared with the occupant next door.
    “There isn’t anyone next door to you but I’d suggest getting in the habit of locking the door when you are using the bathroom. So if someone moves in you’re not being walked in on.” She nodded her agreement, they returned to the main room, and Megan sat down on the bed. The whole thought that she did not know who she was or where she came from was all of a sudden overwhelming. She put her head in her hands and cried. Michael came over and sat down next to her.
    “Hey are you okay?” He rubbed her back not sure what he could do to console her. He had been in her position too. He understood but she was not ready to hear what he had to say, she just would not understand.
    “I’ll be fine.” She sniffed and wished she had some tissues. “I don’t even know why I’m crying. I don’t know what I’m forgetting.”
    “It’ll be okay. You’re strong.” He got up from the bed.
    She got up, walked to the bathroom, and blew her nose. She came back out again , looked around and felt she had a feel for what she needed and first on the list was pen and paper.
    “Is there a store I can go get the stuff I need.” Embarrassed by her episode, Louise would not look at him. She just did not feel that she was that type of person to cry in front of a stranger. Like Michael had said, she was strong and she believed it.
    “Yes, there’s one