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“What happened?” Ivy asked. “Why did you scream?”

Feeling silly, Violet picked up the
IPod
still blaring it’s vibration through the room and held it up to the nurses.
“Volume please?”
The nurses both looked at each other in relief and turned the IPod down for Violet.

“Gosh” the nurse said. “I thought every teenager knew how to work one of these now-a-days?”

Nurse Ivy’s eyes darted back and forth between me and the other nurse Aida, before she cleared her throat with a loud “Um…
Ummm
”, as if to send her a message about the inappropriate comment! Of course I caught on right away that Aida had forgotten about my new condition. I played along acting perplexed by it all. My made-up “amnesia” seemed to be working quite nicely for me. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea after all. I mean, it came in handy for Jeremy and now my memory loss was a perfect excuse for me to not understand how in the world you work an IPod. Yep, just like I initially thought…genius!

“Here,” Nurse Ivy directed Violet’s attention to the display screen, “this is your scroll button that allows you to select the songs you want to play.”  “And this”, she stated emphatically, “
is
the volume control.” Violet looked to Nurse Ivy with blushed cheeks and responded, “I see.” Nurse Ivy picked up on her feelings almost immediately. She was a very compassionate woman and in tune with what all of her patients needed and what they were experiencing. Caring is not only something you witness, it’s a feeling, an emotion that Ivy possessed. It was her gift and she was sharing that gift with everyone in Weston County Hospital.

“These things can be a little tricky to figure out kiddo,” Ivy said hoping Violet wouldn’t feel so embarrassed. “I always say technology is a wonderful thing, but sometimes difficult to become proficient at!” She tried to act as if she couldn’t figure out how to get back to the display screen. “There, it’s ready now. All you have to do is press play.” She handed the IPod back to Violet.

“Thank you Ivy.” Violet gave her a small grin of appreciation.

“If you need anything…I mean anything, you just press this button and I will be here lickety-split,” Ivy said.

“I will, and sorry about the disruption,” Violet replied.

“Oh, don’t be silly honey. We need to shake things up around here every now and then. It keeps us nurses on our toes!  Plus, now don’t tell anyone,” Violet met Ivy’s lean into her for the big confession, “I
kinda
like Rihanna!” She danced out of the room singing the song that the IPod was playing.

“Hmmm,” Violet thought as she put the ear buds back into her ears. She listened to the song that was playing, the one that Ivy said was sung by Rihanna and said, “Yeah, I
kinda
like it too Ivy.”
She continued listening to the music, enjoying each and every song and storing them in her memory bank. Her memory, although currently pretending it was impaired, was very much intact. The council knew Violets’ photographic memory would prove to be a valuable asset during her mission. Not for memorizing songs per say, but for information she would collect and store during her mission.

The council saw Violet as a free spirit. She didn’t want to belong to any particular group when she came to them. But then, she met Gabriel and everything changed. Violet found a purpose in her soul and took every opportunity to show the council she was a unique and valuable asset that belonged with them. The journey Violet was on in this world would be the chance to prove to herself and to the council that she was exactly where she was supposed to be, with the Guardians. Violet believed with all of her soul that this was what she was meant to do, this was her destiny.

Then she started singing the Rihanna song Nurse Ivy said she secretly liked. Violet was struck by the lyrics:

“Yellow diamonds in the light, and we’re standing side by side.”

“As your shadow crosses mine, what it takes to come alive.”

“It’s the way I’m feeling I just can’t deny, but I’ve
gotta
let it go.”

“We found love in a hopeless place; we found love in a hopeless place.”

“We found love in a hopeless place; we found love in a hopeless place.”

Violet thought for a minute about the song. It spoke to her. It seemed like the artist had a message. She thought it was quite interesting how people here shared their emotions through music since she herself did the same thing. Violet closed her eyes and laid her head on the pillow and began singing along with the lyrics, rocking to the melody and bobbing her head with each thump of the bass like she was the only person in the entire hospital. But, she wasn’t. When she opened her eyes, the entire nursing staff was peering in the doorway in amazement. Completely stunned and slightly embarrassed, Violet quickly yanked the ear buds out of her ears and fumbled to find the stop button on the IPod. Then something weird happened. They all started clapping like she had just performed a concert.

“Violet, that was amazing!  You were amazing. Your voice, my God, it is heavenly!” Ivy said with awe.

“Oh, well thank you,” Violet answered humbly.

“Seriously honey, I have two words for you,” Aida spoke now.
“American Idol Girl!”

“I’m sorry, I don’t follow?
American Idol?”
Violet questioned.

“The TV show!”  Aida shouted “Simon Cowell?  Well,
JLo’s
running that show now, but Simon knows what real talent is.” She continued to preach his praises.

“It’s a singing contest. They search the entire United States and find people, like you, that can sing like the angels.” Aida explained.

Aida could still tell Violet was unaware of what she was talking about by the blank look on her pretty face. “Well no matter girl. All you need to know is if you decided to enter that arena, you would have all of our votes for sure. Well, I better get myself back to work, but thanks for the show honey.” Aida rolled her eyes, grabbed her metal charts, and hurried out of the room.

“Ok ladies, back to work.” Ivy ordered. The crowd at my door began to disperse and Ivy walked over to my bedside and said, “You are just full of surprises aren’t you my dear?” she smiled at Violet, turned the light off and said, “Now get some sleep kiddo. Goodnight Vivian.”

“Goodnight Ivy,” Violet whispered back.  She waited for Ivy to close the door then reached over to turn the light back on. Violet hated the dark. In fact it frightened her to her very core. Before she could get to the light, she felt something like a presence in the room.  Before she could speak, she heard a loud clap. It was not like before with the nurses, it was a slow, long, segmented clap that got louder and louder and louder. Then suddenly, a voice spoke out from the darkness. “Bravo, bravo Vie!” It was instant recognition for Violet. She knew immediately what body was attached to that strong beautiful voice that she missed so terribly.

“Gabriel!” Violet jumped out of her bed and ran straight into her friend’s arms as the light switched on.

“When did you…how
did
you?” she panted with excitement.

“Easy, easy Vie, you’re going to alert nurse Ivy with all this commotion,” he said as he peeked out the door to make sure the coast was still clear.

“I called for you but you didn’t come!  I was starting to think I was flying solo.” Violet said.

“You?
  Solo? Here?
Without supervision?
Really Vie?” Gabriel laughed a little just thinking about the notion.

“Ha
Ha
Gabe!”
Violet returned the sarcasm.

“I’ll have you know, just for the record, that I have been doing just fine here on my own!”

“I can see that Vie,” he said.

“I have!” she questioned his sincerity.

“I’m just surprised you can remember why we’re here, you know, with the amnesia and all.” Gabriel tried to look disappointed in the sudden agenda change by Violet.

“Oh yeah, about that…” Violet suddenly went into defense mode and started backing Gabriel to the wall while pointing her finger into his chest.

“You weren’t here! What choice did I have? I mean I couldn’t very well attempt to get close to the subject with a love sick boyfriend on my heels now could I?” she didn’t wait for his reply and continued her verbal assault.

“And what would the great Guardian Gabriel have done? Come on…what?” she now had Gabriel pinned to the wall with her index finger still embedded firmly in his chest.

Gabriel just looked into her beautiful electric eyes, put his warm hand to her cheek, and paused in the moment feeling her breath on his face. They both stood frozen, staring at each other quietly and intensely. Suddenly, Gabriel broke the lock and began to laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Violet said annoyed.

“You Vie!” he continued laughing.

She folded her arms and turned away from him. “I’m glad you’re having so much fun at my expense. And if you have a better plan, let’s hear it,” she challenged.

“Vie?” Gabriel moved toward her, placing his hand on the back of her shoulder. He then turned her around so the two of them were face to face.

“I don’t” he said.

“You don’t what?” she looked up at him.

“Have a better plan,” he admitted.

“Because your plan….was pure genius!” Violet’s eyes danced with joy and then came that smile. Even being in Vivian’s vessel, Gabriel recognized immediately that the smile on her face belonged to his friend Violet! There was no mistaking it, Gabriel thought as he watched her relish in the moment. That smile was truly one of a kind and he was glad he was the one that was able to put it back on her beautiful face. The inner being, the soul, was always the physical image Gabriel saw, no matter what vessel they were aboard. That was his gift….one of many.

“Ok Vie, enough goofing around. We need to start working this new plan and figure out how to get you closer to our subject, Carter Stone.” Gabriel said plotting a revised plan with Violet. “First thing on the agenda is getting you out of this hospital!

“No argument here, Gabe!” she said happily.

Chapter 4

The Truth Shall Set
You
free

Today was the day Dr. Goodwin would have all the test results. He had called a meeting to discuss them. Violet wasn’t the slightest bit worried, having faked her amnesia, but Henry was distraught and anxious to hear what the doctor had to say. Violet tried her best to calm him down, telling him she knew everything would be fine, but it didn’t seem to help. Henry just paced the floor like he always did when he was nervous.

“Dad…
come…
sit” Violet told him.

“You’re going to wear a
hole
right through the floor with your pacing.”

Henry reluctantly stopped and joined Violet sitting on her bed. Then the door opened and Dr. Goodwin walked in.

“How’s my favorite patient doing today?” he asked Violet.

“She would be better if she could get out of here,” Violet responded.

“I’m insulted. You’re not enjoying my company?” Dr. Goodwin looked at her with a slight frown.

“Of course I am!  Everyone here has been wonderful to me.” Violet felt the need to express her feelings of gratitude to override her previous comment.

“I’m teasing you honey. I know you want to go home and I am here to tell you…Wish Granted!”

Those were Violet’s two favorite words. Gabriel was the only person who had ever spoken those words to her. Whenever Violet wanted something badly, Gabriel would do his best to see to it that she got her wish. He always made her sweat before delivering those two magic words…Wish Granted. Violet knew angels had the power to grant wishes in their world but she didn’t expect her wishes to be granted here. Dr. Goodwin’s news was going to be good and Violet knew it.

Henry took his daughter’s hand and squeezed it tightly while Dr. Goodwin opened his folder preparing to deliver his findings to them. Violet noticed Henry’s hands were wet with sweat and it was clear his nerves were getting the better of him. She felt horrible having to put him through all of this just so she could separate herself, intimately, from Vivian’s boyfriend Jeremy.

Dr. Goodwin cleared his throat and then spoke. “We didn’t see anything in the tests that would be cause for concern.” Violet started clapping her hands and smiling at Henry.

Henry was happy about the results but was still concerned about why his daughter was experiencing this memory loss. He expressed these concerns to his friend Dr. Goodwin, anxious for some answers.

Doc directed his attention to Henry and said, “I believe Vivian has what is known as Dissociative Amnesia.” Henry looked confused and Violet thought that it was weird they had a name for her make-believe amnesia.

“What is this
Dis..
assoc
… whatever you called it?” Henry couldn’t even repeat the words back to the doctor they were so foreign to him.

Dissociative Amnesia results from a psychological cause as opposed to direct damage to the brain. That is good news on that front. Vivian’s amnesia is most likely caused by a psychological trauma and is usually temporary, although every case is different. She seems to be exhibiting symptoms concurrent with repressed memory, which is a sub category of the Dissociative Amnesia. Doc could see that Henry was having a hard time processing the diagnosis.