When the Memory Fades

The Sullivan brothers had always treated me like I was their whole world.

That changed the day I was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor.

The pain soon grew unbearable, and I was told I might lose my memories if I opted for surgery.

I reached out to the brothers.

I did not want to forget them, and I needed their help.

However, when the call connected, the only thing I heard was an icy, sharp voice.

"Summer, it's Yvonne's birthday today. Can you not ruin it for once?"

I blacked out from the pain. When I woke up in the hospital, there was a message from Yvonne on my phone.

"Summer, the boys gave me these lucky charms for protection."

Attached was a photo of three silver pendants, each engraved with the brothers' initials.

I knew those pendants well. I had spent seven hours in the freezing rain just to get them blessed.

That was the moment I gave up. I went abroad alone for the surgery, and with it, all my memories of the brothers faded away.

I completely forgot about them until one day, three strangers knocked on my door, begging like madmen for my forgiveness.

When I got back from the hospital, the first thing I did was call my aunt. She lived far away in another country.

"Aunt, I've made up my mind. I'm coming to see you. Can you help me find a hospital that specializes in brain surgery? I need an operation."

The moment Aunt heard I was going to have surgery, her voice thickened with worry, and she hurried to ask what had happened.

I tried to laugh it off, even though I felt weak. "It's no big deal, just a little tumor in my brain."

"Just a little tumor? Summer, that's serious! Do the Sullivan brothers know about this?"

The thought of them made my heart hurt so much that I started to cry.

"Never mind, Aunt. They don't need to know."

There was silence on the line for a bit before Aunt let out a sigh. "Okay, I've got your plane ticket for two weeks from now. Come quickly and let me take care of you."

I could not stop crying. Aunt was the only person who really cared about me now.

After I hung up, a cheerful voice came from the door. "Come quickly for what? Summer, what are you up to?"

Yvonne Douglas strolled in, jingling three silver charms in her hand.

I blinked back my tears and asked her calmly, "What's it to you? What are you doing here in my house?"

She put on a hurt expression. "Summer, didn't Ethan tell you? I'm not feeling well, so I'm going to stay here for a few days."

Yvonne got up close to my face and stared into my eyes like she was challenging me, her sad expression gone. "How long do you think it'll be before I take your place?"

I always pushed people away when they invaded my personal space.

Yvonne acted like I had pushed her super hard. She stumbled back and hit her head on the wardrobe. Suddenly, there was blood everywhere. She yelled, "Summer, I just wanted to see if you were okay! You don't have to like me, but you don't have to push me either!"

Her sad scream made the three brothers rush up from downstairs.

Ethan Sullivan, the oldest of the trio, was the first in the room. "Yvonne, are you okay? Where does it hurt? I'll get a doctor to come right now!"

Nelson, the middle one, was right behind him. "We should get you a psychologist too, so you can work through your trauma with a professional.”

Jasper, the youngest, was mad at me. "Summer, I can't believe you'd do this. Yvonne just wanted to tell you about all her fun plans for her birthday, and you hit her! Why are you being so mean?"

I felt so alone watching the brothers take Yvonne's side.