Morning came slowly, the first light of dawn seeping through the thin hospital curtains. Laura had barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes, her thoughts returned to the same person.
Tomas.
He must have been important to me, she thought. Very important. Otherwise, why does everything keep leading back to him?
She remembered nothing—no moments, no touch, no words. Yet the absence itself felt heavy, like a hollow space where something vital had once lived.
If she wanted answers, there was only one path.
I have to find him.
Laura rose from the bed and walked slowly to the bathroom. She washed her face, then lifted her eyes to the mirror. Most of her injuries had healed. The bruises were gone, the cuts barely visible. Carefully, she reached behind her head, her fingers brushing against the scar on her scalp, hidden beneath her hair.
I was beaten, she realized. But why?
There were so many questions, but all of them pointed to the same person—the man who had helped her, the man who had brought her to the hospital.
And now, the man who had disappeared.
She studied her reflection. Her eyes looked empty—nothing like the bright, lively eyes she had seen in the photo on her phone. It felt as if something precious had been taken from her, something irreplaceable, and she didn't even know what it was.
Laura finished washing and returned to her room. Her phone buzzed.
A missed message.
Michael: Hi, have you had breakfast yet? Maybe we could eat together and talk.
Laura typed back: Okay. I'll come to the cafeteria.
Michael: Great. I'll be there in ten minutes.
She dressed and made her way to the hospital cafeteria. Michael was already seated at a table. When he saw her, he waved.
Laura sat down across from him.
"Good morning," she said quietly.
Michael noticed the exhaustion in her eyes and slid a steaming cup of coffee toward her.
"Take this," he said with a gentle smile. "I thought you probably didn't sleep much."
She smiled faintly. "Is it that obvious? I really needed coffee. Thank you."
"You're welcome," he said. "I also got scrambled eggs with toast. I don't know what you like."
Laura smiled again. "That's okay. I don't really know what I like yet either." She paused. "So—what did you want to talk about?"
Michael grew more serious.
"Physically, your injuries have almost fully healed," he said. "But there are psychological traumas that caused the memory loss. That takes time. It's treatable—by living your life, being in familiar places, and seeing specialists when needed."
He looked at her calmly.
"I think you're ready to go home. Being in a familiar environment, surrounded by people you know, will be best for you."
Laura's face brightened slightly. "I was actually going to ask when I could leave the hospital."
She hesitated, then added, "But if I still don't remember anything, even at home… what can I do to help my memories return?"
Michael thought for a moment.
"I think you should start discovering yourself again," he said. "Simple things at first—what food you like, what drinks you enjoy. Later, activities, hobbies. Even if your memories don't come back right away, you'll still be able to live calmly, knowing what you enjoy and who you are becoming."
He smiled reassuringly. "And you can call or message me anytime. I'll help however I can."
"Thank you," Laura said sincerely. "For everything."
After breakfast, Laura stood up.
"I'll go pack my things now. Thank you again. If I have more questions, I'll write to you."
"Alright," Michael said. "Until next time."
Back in her room, Laura called Lukas.
"Hi, Lukas. The doctor says I can go home. He thinks it's best for me to be in a familiar environment."
"That's great news," Lukas replied warmly. "I'll come pick you up."
"Okay. I'll be waiting."
Laura packed her belongings—she didn't have much. Clothes, a few personal items. Then she picked up the obsidian pendant.
Holding it sent a strange warmth through her chest. Fragmented feelings stirred—comfort, closeness, something deeply personal she couldn't fully grasp.
This is important to me, she knew.
She placed the pendant around her neck, slung the backpack over her shoulder, and left the hospital.
Lukas was already waiting by the car. When he saw her, he hurried over with a wide smile.
"Let me help," he said, taking her backpack and placing it in the trunk.
"Thank you," Laura said softly as she got into the car.
Lukas sat behind the wheel. "Let's go to the bar where you used to work."
"Alright," Laura replied.
When they arrived, Laura immediately noticed the Obsidian sign. Lukas smiled.
"We're here. There shouldn't be many people now. Kristina is probably sleeping upstairs."
"Okay," Laura said. "Let's go inside."
The moment she stepped into the bar, a familiar sensation washed over her. Suddenly, sounds echoed in her mind—laughter, clinking glasses. Through a haze, she saw herself carrying drinks, moving between tables.
She whispered to herself, "So… I worked here."
Kristina greeted her with a warm smile.
"How are you feeling?" she asked. "Would you like something to eat or drink?"
"Just a glass of water, please," Laura said with a small smile.
Kristina brought the water, and the three of them sat at the bar, talking—about Laura's job, shared jokes, long nights. Time passed gently.
Then Laura asked quietly, "By the way… where do I live?"
Kristina and Lukas exchanged a glance.
Laura noticed immediately. "I know that look," she said firmly. "Tell me the truth. Don't lie to me."
Kristina sighed. "Alright. At first, you rented a small apartment. But there were bad neighbors, and you wanted to find another place. Later… we found out you were staying with—"
Her voice dropped almost to a whisper.
"With Tomas."
"But we don't know exactly where he lived," Kristina continued. "Just that it was near the bar. There are a lot of apartment buildings around here."
Laura lowered her gaze. "So now I don't even know where my home was."
"Don't worry," Lukas said quickly. "You can stay here. Above the bar, there's an apartment. One room is free."
Laura nodded. "Okay. Can you show me my room?"
"Of course," Lukas said. "Follow me."
They went up to the second floor. Lukas pointed things out.
"Bathroom and shower are to the right. And this—" he opened a door on the left, "—this will be your room."
Inside was a small bed, a wardrobe, a table, and two windows letting in soft light.
"I'll leave you alone to settle in," Lukas said. "If you need anything, come downstairs or call us. We'll help right away."
"Thank you," Laura said quietly. "I'll try to make myself at home."
Laura placed her backpack beside the bed and sat down slowly. The room was quiet, unfamiliar, yet meant to be hers.
I lived with Tomas? the thought returned, heavier than before. Then he wasn't just someone who helped me… he was part of my life.
She pressed her hands together, staring at the floor.
I have to find him.
But I don't even know where to start.
The realization made her chest tighten. She had no memories, no clues—only fragments and unanswered questions.
After a moment, she took a steady breath.
Maybe not everything has to be solved at once, she thought. For now, I can help Lukas and Kristina at the bar. I can start living again.
Michael's words echoed in her mind—find what you like, what feels right.
Maybe if I do that… little by little… my memories will return.
Laura lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. She didn't know who she had been before—but tomorrow, she would begin discovering who she was now.