Chapter 24 Secrets

Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Secrets

Annie sighed. She leaned back in her seat and studied her friend’s face, her blue eyes soft and sad.

"You used to be different, you know," Annie said quietly. "Before the accident, you were so strong. So confident. You did not take crap from anyone. You would have told Cedric to go to hell years ago."

Daisy tilted her head, her dark eyes curious.

"You were so talented," Annie continued. "You had so many skills. You could do anything you set your mind to. You were... you were incredible, Daisy."

Daisy’s eyes widened. Her hands moved quickly, gesturing toward herself, then toward Annie, her expression confused.

You knew me before the accident? Why do I not remember you?

Annie understood her sign language. She had learned it years ago, specially for Daisy, staying up late at night watching YouTube videos and practicing in front of her mirror. She had wanted to be able to talk to her friend without a phone, without a notebook, without the barriers that silence created.

"Mmm," Annie said carefully. "We met once. Maybe twice. A long time ago. Before everything happened."

She paused, choosing her words.

"Maybe because of the accident, some of your memories were wiped out. That happens sometimes. Trauma...Brain injury. It can erase things. Whole years, sometimes..Whole people."

Daisy nodded slowly. She gestured again, her movements thoughtful.

Yes. Sometimes I feel like I am missing something. Like there is a hole in my head where something important used to be. But why did you not tell me before?

Annie looked down at the table, at the red and white checkered cloth, at the crumbs from the cookie she had already eaten.

"I did not want to trigger your memory," she said softly. "The doctors said it was better to let things come back naturally. Forcing it could hurt you. Could cause seizures, migraines or worse."

Daisy reached across the table and touched Annie’s hand.

She smiled but she wondered why Annie had not come to support her when she needed it. She had been alone after the accident. Maybe there was a reason. Maybe there was something Annie was not telling her.

She gestured again.

It is okay. I trust you.

Annie’s eyes glistened. She blinked quickly and looked away, her jaw tight.

Daisy gestured again, her movements eager now, curious, hungry for answers.

What were my talents? What did I used to do?

Annie hesitated.

Her eyes flickered to Daisy’s throat. Just for a second. Just a glance.

Daisy noticed. She touched her throat, her fingers pressing against the skin, and looked uncomfortable.

Annie looked away quickly.

"Well," Annie said, her voice brighter than before, almost too bright. "You loved making perfume. You had all these little bottles and oils and flowers. You would mix them together and create the most amazing scents. Everyone wanted to buy them from you. You had a little business, actually. Sold them at craft fairs."

Daisy’s eyes lit up. She nodded eagerly, her hands flapping with excitement.

Yes! I remember that. A little.

Annie smiled, relieved. "And you loved DIY projects. You could make anything. Candles. Soaps. Lotions. You were so creative. You used to have a solution for everything. If something broke, you fixed it. If something was ugly, you made it beautiful."

Daisy nodded again. Her smile was wide now, her dark eyes shining.

What else? What else did I do?

Annie thought about her voice. The most beautiful voice she had ever heard. The voice that could make you cry or laugh or fall in love. The voice that could change and mimic any animal, any bird, any person. The voice that had made Daisy famous, in certain circles, under a name no one knew.

But she could not tell Daisy that.

Not yet.

Maybe not ever.

"Never mind," Annie said quickly. "That is enough for today. I do not want to overwhelm you. You look tired and I have talked your ear off, and we still have half a plate of cookies left."

Daisy’s smile dimmed slightly, but she nodded.

Annie pulled out her phone. "Oh! Let me show you something. I opened a social media page for my travel blog and short videos. I am sending you the link."

Daisy’s phone buzzed.

She opened the link.

Annie’s page was full of nature and the beauty of mother earth. Sunsets over mountains, the sky bleeding orange and purple. Waves crashing against cliffs, white foam against dark rock. Forests dappled with golden light, sunbeams cutting through the canopy. Desert skies filled with stars, so many stars they looked like spilled sugar.

Daisy scrolled through the photos, her breath catching in her throat.

They were beautiful. Every single one of them.

She watched a few short videos. Annie’s voice narrated them, warm and excited, describing the places she had visited and the people she had met.

Daisy smiled.

She looked up from her phone and gestured toward Annie, her hands moving in quick, enthusiastic motions.

These are so good! You are so talented! The colors are amazing! I felt like I was there with you!

Annie laughed, the sound bright and genuine. "You are too sweet. You always have been."

Daisy shook her head. She pointed at the phone, then at Annie, then made a heart shape with her fingers.

You are the sweet one. For sharing this with me.

Annie’s eyes softened.

"I love you, you know," Annie said. "You are my best friend. Even when you make stupid decisions. Even when you stay with that scumbag. Even when you drive me absolutely crazy."

Daisy smiled.

She pointed at Annie, then at herself, then made the heart shape again.

I love you too.

Annie reached across the table and squeezed her hand.

"Now eat your cookie. You are too skinny. It worries me."

Daisy picked up her cookie and took a small bite, the chocolate melting on her tongue. She looked at Annie’s photos on her phone, scrolling slowly, savoring each image.

Annie watched her, her blue eyes soft.

There was so much she wanted to say. So much she could not.

Not yet.

Maybe not ever.

Because it would bring nothing but harm to Daisy.