The Sound That Vanished

The year Lawrence Scott and I were most in love, he died in a car accident.

Everyone thought I would fall apart, but I did not cry, and I did not scream.

Two years later, I ran into him at a private lounge: Lawrence was there, holding a young girl in his arms, kissing her passionately.

His friends hurried over to explain:

"Back then, Lawrence was badly injured in the crash and fell into a coma. He just woke up recently but lost his memory. We didn't tell you because we didn't want you to worry."

Lawrence pushed the girl aside, frowned slightly, and looked straight at me.

"So you're the fiancée I supposedly forgot? I don't remember you, but since you never gave up on me, I'll honor my promise to marry you."

I smiled faintly and said, "They lied to you. We don't know each other."

What Lawrence did not know was that on the day he faked his death, I received a video.

In it, he was laughing and saying to his friends, "The thought of spending the rest of my life with only Yoana drives me crazy. I'll fake my death, take a few years off to have fun. Just keep her company so she doesn't do anything stupid."

He also did not know that during those two years he was 'dead,'

I had found someone else.

The room fell silent for a heartbeat before his friends started giving their well-meaning advice.

"Yoana, how can you pretend you don't know Lawrence? We're the ones who kept things from you, not him."

"Really, Yoana, we were just trying to protect you from worry. Now that Lawrence is finally awake, don't give him the cold shoulder."

Accusations hung heavy in the air.

Before I could get a word in, Lawrence Scott's derisive laugh cut through the tension.

He stood up from the couch, lazily holding a cigarette between his fingers, and said with a smug ease,

"If she doesn't remember me, then it's better this way. Saves me the hassle of caring."

The girl by his side quickly latched onto his arm, her face a mix of shyness and anxiety as she looked up at him.

"Lawrence... I remember you. She doesn't know what she's missing. I-I'd marry you in a heartbeat, if you'd have me..."

Lawrence did not respond with words. Instead, he gave me a fleeting, indifferent look, then pulled the girl close and kissed her.

His friends quickly stepped in front of me, blocking the scene.

They tried to soothe me with their words.

"Yoana, Lawrence has lost his memory. You know he used to be head over heels for you."

"Come on, Yoana. You should be there for Lawrence, help him remember how things were between you two. Stop being so stubborn."

I was about to snap back at Lawrence's so-called friends when I felt a sharp pain in my stomach.

My face went white as I turned on my heel and left the room without another word.

I moved so fast that the others barely had time to register my departure.

It was not until I was gone that they turned to Lawrence with a collective sigh.

"Lawrence, you've really done it this time. Yoana's actually fuming with jealousy. She's gone pale as a ghost. Watch out, or she might just dump you for good."

Lawrence just smirked and settled back into the couch.

"Yoana's a soft touch. Two years apart, and I bet she's pining for me. Besides, I'm playing the amnesia card now. Once I'm bored, I'll just tell her my memory's back, that I didn't mean any of it, and I won't even need to say sorry. A little wave and she'll be right back in my arms."

Stepping out of the lounge, I could not hold it in any longer and crouched down on the floor. My stomach was in knots, the pain so bad I could not even make it to the bathroom.

That was when a shadow fell over me.

"What's the matter? Heartache got you wishing for a second chance?"

I looked up to see Jack Harris, arms folded, leaning casually against the doorframe, watching me with a detached gaze.

He was all in black, his features sharp against the dim light, his eyes unreadable. His lips, though, were perfectly sculpted, even in the half-light.

Suddenly, I felt that wave of unfairness wash over me, and before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face.

Jack seemed panicked, quickly coming over to me. "Stop crying. I won't mention it again, promise."

He was strong, lifting me up off the ground with ease. The scent of cedar from him was comforting, and without thinking, I clung to his neck.

"My stomach hurts..." I managed to say.

Jack hesitated for a second and asked, "Did it start earlier?"

I nodded, my lips brushing against his chin as I rested against his broad shoulder.

He got me into the car and cranked up the heat before saying, "Stay here, I'll be right back with something for you."

With that, he shut the door and walked away, his tall silhouette etched against the dim streetlights.