The Cheerleader's Side Piece

The Waiting Game(7)

Eight Years Later

The sound of my suitcases wheels echo through the empty airport. The security guards giving me brief looks then continuing their random conversations. Dimmed lights and little noise... two AM is my favorite time to fly. Nobody bothers me or noise that gives me headaches. Once I get out the front doors, the bitter crisp hair crashes against me... reminding me of all those years. Taking a moment to admire the place, knowing it's been years since I've stepped a foot in California, I wanted to enjoy it entirely. So many memories flushed through me, taking me back to eighteen. I couldn't tell whether it was a good thing though.

"Dr. Meryl?" I turned to see a youngman, in a suit that was pressed nicely. He timidly moved closer, extending his hand to me, "Good Morning Dr. Meryl, my name is Andrew Groff, but please just call me Drew."

Taking his hand, I give him a slight smile, "It's nice to meet you Drew... I'm Antonia Meryl, just call me Antonia."

He nodded, smiling a little but quickly showed me to the car. Once inside he presented me all the documents that I required. "This all of her reports for the last eight years. Most of the time she was stable but at some point her throat swelled some much that air was cut off from the brain for a few seconds. They believe she will have brain damage, but with your evaluation they can come to that conclusion."

"And her guardian?" I asked.

"Mr. Winters hasn't visited her since she was emitted," he said, folding his hands and seated back a bit.

I placed the documents down, crossing my legs. Glancing out the window, I stare off at the buildings flashing with lights. Signs that have massive quotes and funny images all over them. "Does she remember anything?"

"Very little," he sighed, seems he too was a little frustrated with the news, "she remembers bits and pieces of things, such as her mother and father, but nothing that deals with the accident."

"Any information that can be proven valuable?" The car pulled into the hospital's driveway.

Stepping outside, Drew rushed in front of me. Not wasting a second, I headed straight inside as Drew hurriedly tried to remain close. "Nothing so far, oh and I have something to inform you about. Mr. Winters doesn't want any information about his family nor his daughter to be reported to the police or any form of government," he was out of breath.

I abruptly stopped, staring down at the boy, "And why is that?"

"Well," he sighs, rubbing the back of his head and shuffling like a child getting caught stealing, "with Mrs. Winters already in rehab and seeking help... he would appreciate it if no more news was made public. It would hurt his image even more."

Gawking at the boy, I just turn back to the elevator and go up to her floor. The last time I was here, I was seventeen. I was a young girl broken by the news. I knew nothing, had billions of questions, and filled with guilt and resentment. Now as I walked towards the door of her room, hearing her soft voice from the hall, I knew things were different. Here I stand now, a twenty six year old woman who has reached her Doctorate from Princeton University in psychology... and I have come to answer the questions I asked back then... I came to finish the job I started back then.

Standing in front of her door, I mumble to myself, "I promised to not give up." Taking one more deep breath, I opened the door.

There she sat, older. Her hair longer now, skin pale and red. Her eyes were even more beautiful, her freckles had faded from her cheeks. Slowly I moved around the room, pulling the chair from the corner over to her bed. Keeping a good distance from her, I remain standing for a while. She tilts her head at me, eyes wide yet narrowed. Her curiosity was brimming, it showed in her eyes. "Um... who are you?" Her little voice, weak and frail... not Cassie.

Taking my seat, I cross my legs and lean back into my seat. "Good morning, my name is Antonia Meryl... your psychologist. I was hired by your father to help you recover after your coma," I said, seeing her nod a little. Pulling out a notebook, I set it on my lap and pull out a pen, "Can you tell me your name?"

"Cassidy Winters," she said, smiling a little, "and it was nice to meet you. I wasn't aware you were coming."

I nod, giving her a little smile, "That's okay, I wanted to greet you myself... Cassidy. I heard you woke up about two days ago?"

"Yes," she was slightly energetic, this ray of joy flashed on her face for a moment, "I was very confused when I opened my eyes and I kinda freaked out! The poor nurses had to calm me down and explain everything!"

"I see," I jot down what she says, "can you tell me what they told you?"

"Hmmm," she hummed a little, twisting her lip and tugging on the blanket, "they said I was involved in an accident a long time ago.... And I've been asleep since." I slightly shake my head, just writing everything down. So she has no memory of what she did, not uncommon for individuals who have some form of brain damage. "Do you know what the accident was?"

"Can you tell me how old you are Cassidy?" I leaned my chin on my palm, looking at her.

She rubbed her shoulders, pushing out her chest a bit and frowning, "Uh... the nurse said I was twenty-five... twenty-six in a few weeks from now."

"What age do you remember?" I asked.

She huffed, picking at her nails and twisting her lip. Back then whenever she was nervous she moved her legs like crazy, but now... she's taken on a whole new reaction. "Uh... the thing I remember the most was... practicing with a bunch of girls. If I'm correct, I think I was a cheerleader."

"Can you tell me anything else?" I asked.

"Umm," she mumbled touching her forehead and sighing heavily, "I... I dated a lot of people... uh... I think I was about to graduate or something."

"Alright, that's very good," I place the notebook down, smiling at her. She seemed nervous, scared even. Playing with her hands, cracking her joints, I noted all her new reactions. I noted this new Cassidy. Scooting my chair closer, I cleared my throat, "Cassidy, as your therapist, I want to tell you that whatever you say will only stay with me. You can curse, yell, cry and scream... I will not judge you." Taking her hands slowly, she was hesitant but followed. Holding them tightly in my palm, I smile up at her, "Think of it this way... the more honest you are with me... the better chance you have of getting back some form of memories. Even if you don't... I will try my best to help you get settled into this new life."

Little tears swelled up in her eyes, almost driving me over the edge. She giggled as she wiped them away, mumbling, "I-I don't know why I'm crying... ugh... I'm so weird! Just the other day I began crying when this dog park commercial came on! I don't know why I did! It was playing and for some reason tears just came rolling down!" She continued to wipe her tears away, giggling over and over.

I spent about an hour with her, talking about random things and observing her. Her new self was the opposite of the Cassie I knew. She no longer talked confidently or stood proud. She was shy and even bashful at times. As I explained things she blushed easily when it came to the body and mind, but other times she giggled like a four year old. Sitting in the car, having it drive me to the apartment I have rented... I felt anger settling deep within me. The Cassie I saw today pissed me off. It boiled my blood and made me filled with hatred. I wanted to shake her... shake all the memories of the past in her. My skin burned red and hot.

"You can wait," I mumbled into my hand, "you waited for eight years... you wait this out."