Chapter 42

NICOLE

“What happened to me?" I asked, my eyes darting from my father to my mother, searching for answers. Their forced smiles did little to ease the tension in the room.

I fidgeted in my seat, desperate for any explanation. "Can you please tell me what happened to me? Why can't I remember most things, especially the major part of my childhood?" I implored.

Silence hung heavy in the air as my parents exchanged a meaningful look.

Their furrowed brows spoke volumes, but they remained tight-lipped. My heart thudded in my chest as I waited for a response.

Finally, my mother let out a deep sigh, and her shoulders slumped. Her voice was soft and hesitant as she spoke. "Nicole, you got into an accident when you were nine years old," she said, her eyes locked onto mine.

My heart sank as my mother continued. "You hit your head pretty hard, and the doctors said you suffered some memory loss. They weren't sure if you would recover, but you did, for the most part. But there are still some memor