Trying Again

The next few days were difficult for Lily.

She wanted to visit Ethan every day, but she was afraid of making him uncomfortable. To him, she was just a stranger.

One afternoon, she finally gathered the courage to visit him.

She knocked on the door.

"Come in," Ethan said.

Lily walked in with a small smile.

"Hi."

"Hi, Lily," Ethan replied politely.

"I brought your favorite chocolate."

Ethan looked confused.

"My favorite?"

Lily realized what she had said and looked down.

"I... I forgot."

Ethan smiled gently.

"It's okay."

There was an awkward silence.

Lily looked around the room and noticed a photo frame on the table. It was a picture of Ethan with his family.

Their picture wasn't there.

She looked away, trying not to cry.

After a few minutes, Ethan spoke.

"My mom told me we were... close."

Lily nodded.

"We were."

"I'm sorry I don't remember."

"It's not your fault," Lily said softly.

She took a deep breath.

"Would you like to hear how we met?"

Ethan smiled.

"Sure."

Lily told him about the day they bumped into each other in the school hallway. She told him how they became friends, worked on a school project together, and laughed over silly jokes.

Ethan listened carefully.

At one point, he laughed.

"I really made that funny face when you took my picture?"

Lily smiled.

"You looked ridiculous."

"I still do that," Ethan said.

For the first time since the accident, they laughed together.

It wasn't the same as before.

But it was a start.

Before leaving, Lily took out a small photo from her bag.

It was the first picture they had taken together in the school garden.

She handed it to Ethan.

"You can keep this."

Ethan looked at the photo for a long moment.

"I don't remember this day..."

He smiled softly.

"But we both look really happy."

"We were," Lily replied.

As she walked out of the room, Ethan looked at the picture again.

He still couldn't remember the moment it was taken.

But for some reason...

He couldn't stop looking at the girl standing beside him.

There was something familiar about her smile.

Something his mind had forgotten...

But his heart hadn't.

END OF CHAPTER 7