Page 21 of When Forever Stays

“So how exactly did all of this”—Rosa waves her hands around— “happen?”

Dana tells Rosa the full story, including the orders from Dr. Woodhouse.

A placating smile replaces Rosa’s stern expression. “Okay, well, that explains it, but we need to rectify this situation before tonight. And I believe there is a very simple solution.”

“Yeah?” Dana and I say in unison.

“Crew will take him in.”

Dana immediately shakes her head. “I already tried that.” She gives me a side-eye. “He’s made his position clear...”

I finish for her. “Crew is very much team anti-Rhett.” A sick feeling fills my gut. Not just because of Crew. Anxiety has my chest tightening when I think about being away from Dana. She’s become my safe place amidst all this chaos.

Pursing her lips, Rosa says, “Nonsense. Let me have a word with him.”

Dana raises an eyebrow.

Rosa holds back a smile and lovingly pats Dana’s cheek. “Leave it to me, sweet girl.” Then she turns to me and winks.

Rosa knew exactly what strings to pull and what buttons to push when it came to convincing Crew to let me temporarily live with him. I make a mental note to get on her good side. She clearly holds a lot of influence and knows how to get things done.

Dana and Rosa came with me when I moved the belongings Dana bought for me into Crew’s one-bedroom apartment. Afterward, Crew came back with us to Dana’s cottage to eat the leftovers from breakfast.

We all sat and talked for over an hour after our plates had been scraped clean. They interacted as if they were all lifelong friends, yet I didn’t feel like an outsider. They made me feel welcome and as if I belonged. Well, Dana and Rosa did.

Crew doesn’t like me and doesn’t hide it. Even though I don’t think staying with Crew will be comfortable, there’s currentlyno other choice. One night at Dana’s was enough to potentially cause gossip, and she’s sacrificed enough for me. Especially with her being a small group leader of teenage girls—teenage girls who she loves as if they’re her younger sisters. She practically glowed as she told me about them and said that Wednesday nights are her favorite because she gets to see them. The last thing she needs is for my presence to complicate her position or call her character into question with church leadership. So, despite my less-than-stellar relationship with Crew, I will be staying with him until I get my memories back or somehow figure out where I live.

By the time night rolls around, I have no doubt that I am the person Crew hates most in the world—past, present, and future. He makes me choose between the smelly couch and a blow-up mattress that doesn’t look like it still holds air.

I stealthily lean over and take another whiff of Crew’s couch. I gag. Yeah, air mattress it is.

Once I tell him my decision, Crew goes to the hall closet, grabs a pump, and shoves it into my hands. “You’re going to need this.”

He drops the deflated mattress onto the floor without a word. So I get to work and get it blown up, then toss a sheet and partially moth-eaten afghan on top. Despite the bed at Dana’s being too small, it was comfortable. This “bed" looks like it’s seen better days; there is a chance I won’t be able to walk tomorrow after a night sleeping on it. Especially with my ribs being so tender.

Crew must notice my hesitation.

“It looks rough but it stays pumped up for the most part.”

I stare down at the rubber bed that’s already losing air and looks lopsided thirty-seven seconds into being blown up. Crew gives me a full-blown mocking smile.

“I hope you have the sleep you deserve.” His expression drops into a menacing scowl, and I pray that he doesn’t try and strangle me in my sleep.

EIGHT

DANA

If I was struggling before, I am barely surviving now.

“Why me?” I stare up at the cloudless sky with my arms raised, then let them fall to my sides. After leaving Crew’s, I parked in my driveway and walked straight to the beach. I needed fresh air to think clearly.

“Why are you letting me struggle so much? Why is he back in my life?” My prayer sounds equal parts hopeless and whiny.

I don’t expect an answer, not audibly anyway, but I stand on the sand for another few minutes. Inspiration for a new video hits. I want to get started before the urge goes away. I return to my house, unlock the door, grab the Bible resting on my coffee table, and minimal filming equipment. It’s the Bible I once pored over daily and studied with all my heart.

The same Bible I take to youth group on Wednesdays. My high school girls give me so much motivation I find it impossible to ignore even the slightest pull toward creating content. They always bring questions for me from the scriptures they’ve beenreading. Since it’s still summer break, we haven’t met in weeks and I am ready to reunite with my girls.

Soon I will be able to see them. In the meantime, they deserve more content. So I position my ring light and phone perfectly for me to shoot another video. Like so many other times, any inspiration flees like the wind.

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