Page 14 of Kian

He looked surprised then laughed. “I did, didn’t I? I apologize.”

“Oh, please. I could make a sailor blush, so don’t hold your tongue around me. Be yourself.”

“As much as I can be.” He sighed.

“Nothing came to you even looking in the mirror?”

“All I saw was a stranger staring back at me. It’s so damnfrustrating.”

“I can’t imagine what you’re going through. I wish I could help you, but remembering your name was a start.”

“I suppose so. I just hope I’m not worrying anyone, but I bet I am.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sure you have a family worrying about you. Your parents, maybe siblings, and friends. I don’t know how to help. There hasn’t been anything on TV about it either.”

“Well, at least that proves I’m not a criminal on the run. The news would mention it if only to alert people.”

“That’s true. We need to look up your information.”

“How? For what? A man gone missing?” He sighed. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be a smartass. I just want to know who I am.”

“I understand. I do believe it will come back to you, but it might take some time.”

“As long as it’s not too long.”

“I would think there would be something about you somewhere. Your family would post something, don’t you think?”

“If I have a family.” He frowned. “I feel like I do.”

“If you’ve been missing, there has to be something on you.”

“You’d think so but, I’d be dead if it had been too long. I would have frozen to death out there. I don’t have frostbite, so it can’t have been too long.”

“That’s true.”

Kian continued to eat. She knew he was disappointed in not remembering anything. She’d feel the same way. It had to be so hard not knowing anything at all about yourself, except a name.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

“For what?”

“For you not knowing who you are. Other than your name. I wonder if I put your name in the search engine and Clifton, ifanything would pop up.”

“We could try.”

Gretchen nodded. “We’ll do that tomorrow. I do need to redress your wounds, then we’ll get some sleep and tomorrow I can try to take a walk to where I can get service on my phone.”

“Alright. At least my head doesn’t hurt as bad. I still have a headache but it’s manageable.”

“That’s good, but keep taking the acetaminophen.”

After finishing their meal, Kian offered to help clean up, but she insisted he sit and just rest. She quickly cleaned up the few dishes and then walked into the bathroom to retrieve fresh gauze for his arm and head wounds. They had both stopped bleeding, but she wanted to make sure they stayed clean to avoid any possible infection. She knew they couldn’t make it to a hospital if that happened.

“Can you move to the sofa?” she asked when she saw him sitting in a chair.

“Sure.” He got up and moved to the sofa.

“It’ll be easier for me to wrap your head there.”

---