Page 21 of Remember Me

Theo - Fuck

Louis - That’s rough, she hasn’t spoken to Kayla either

Codey - All you can do is be there for her

Jake - I hear ya

Louis - How long are you away for?

Jake - Three days.

Jake - The funeral is the day after tomorrow

Theo - You got this

Codey - Tell Charlie we’re all thinking of her regardless of if she wants to listen

Louis - What Cap said

Jake - Thanks guys. I’ll see you in the gym once I’m back

Theo - Gotta get those gains

Louis - *Muscle emoji*

Codey - *thumbs up emoji*

After sending a quick text to my mom, I put my phone down and try to get some sleep before a busy and emotional few days ahead.

Chapter 15

Charlotte

After two days of my brain working overtime and leaving me unable to sleep, the day I have been dreading since I woke up from the accident has arrived. My stomach is in knots and what little food I have eaten is threatening to make an appearance at any moment. I look and feel like I’ve taken a trip on the hot mess express.

The realization my parents are gone and are never coming back hits me harder being in my hometown, and now I have to say goodbye to them whilst making small talk with their friends. I can’t even escape as I’m wheelchair-bound, but at least I’ll have Wren and Jake with me. Although I can’t be sure why, I’ve all but frozen them out since we got on the plane, and Jake even before then.

Grief hits everyone differently, I know that, but grieving aside, all I feel is guilt and shame. I feel guilty for making it out of that accident alive, I feel shame for not remembering who Jake is, and worst of all, I feel sick to my stomach that if I hadn’t moved to San Diego, my parents wouldn’t have been there and the accident wouldn’t have happened. I know this is irrational but try telling that to my brain.

Trying to distract myself, I pull up my work emails and deal with a few to keep my mind busy. If I don’t, I’ll end up having another panic attack and now is not the time. Luckily for me, I didn’t have too much in my inbox when I came out of hospital—Alyssa managed to field off a lot of it. She helps me with a lot of my socials anyway as she’s a lot more technical than I am thanks to her influencer background.

Wren helped me get dressed this morning. I’m in a beautiful floral dress that I’m 99% sure is designer, and 100% confident is not mine.

My parents wouldn't want people in black; they would want their life to be celebrated and full of color, so that’s what we’ve told everyone. My hair is tied up in a bun and I have minimal makeup on. It’s the most effort I’ve made since being discharged, but my parents deserve this from me.

Wren wheels me into the suite’s sitting room and I see a note on the table with a single pink dahlia next to it. I pick up the beautiful flower and inhale its familiar scent. Then I pick up the note and read…

Lottie

I know you're scared but you can handle this.

I've gone to grab us all coffee. I won't be long.

Love Jake xx

A hand touches my knee, and I look up into Wren’s jade eyes, which are full of sadness and a touch watery. “Babe, I know you’re not in the right headspace to talk to any of us, but I’m always here. You know that, right?”

My eyes well up as I nod and pat around my cheeks to stop my makeup smearing. “I know, it’s just hard. I don’t know how to get out of this tornado of grief and sadness, and I worry I’ll be like this forever.”