Zachâs eyes slowly opened after a long time of being passed out. He looked up at the ceiling of St.Mungoâs, though not knowing it, and he sighed deeply. He was confused, a little dizzy, and he carefully let his eyes roam around his surroundings. There were faces, people, and he didnât know them. None of them, and he sincerely tried to back up farther into the hospital bed even if he obviously he couldnât. He didnât know who they were, or where he was, or how he got where he was, and it was actually very scary to him. He was overwhelmed. He looked at the person at his side and inched away from them before carefully asking, very softly, âWho are you?â
âThe memories. The old ones, aged images that were vivid yet soft around the edges and grained from wear. They seemed to glow, even, like a dream. Zach, lively and free and safe. A memory of muted blue skies that backdropped their first quidditch match opposing each other colored her thoughts, a confident grin etched on his face, both of them probably a bit too in over their heads. She had celebrated his win over her own loss every time, because seeing his joy meant more to than a number on a win record. Memories of a feeling, a feeling of warmth, safety in his presence that had become so familiar. Priya wanted to wrap herself in them, let them hide her from the reality laying before her in a hospital bed. She wanted to drown out the healers and the bustle of St.Mungoâs with the laughter from long nights that played in her head.Â
Then the images changed. Most of the night was nothing more than a blur to her now, but she remembered Zach lying on the concrete so clearly. She could see his mangled body in her mind as if it were in front of her again. Reaching hands pulled at her, but she had gone numb with fear and she couldnât move from her spot beside him. The obscurus was near, the wreckage was still flying around them, but Priya hadnât cared. Nothing else mattered if Zach was dead. He couldnât be dead. She had sat there weeping, pleading, calling out for help and some sort miracle. Eli was there, but all she could see through the tears pooling around her eyes was Zach, and all she could feel was the tightness in her chest. That night had played on loop in her mind. Staring at Zach lying in a hospital bed didnât feel real. There was a large part of her that hoped it was a dream, and that sheâd wake up and find Zach, alive and well and happy, smiling at her with the same warmth he always did. Zach dying was a thought she avoided at all costs, but ever since the attack, the thought had barely left the front of her mind. A world without Zach was not a world Priya wanted to be a part of, and she didnât know how sheâd be able to go on if it had become a reality.
 Priyaâs heart leaped in her chest at the sight of her best friendâs eyes finally opening, and every thought and every memory had been pushed aside. She leaned forward in her chair, restraining from getting so close sheâd overwhelm him. âOh my god â finally, god, youâre awake.â Before she could ask him how he felt, if he remembered what happened, he answered her question. Her heart sunk deep into her chest. She wasnât stupid, wasnât oblivious enough to think that he was just messing with her. The injury was severe, and the effects of it could be even worse. But Priya, in her imagination running free, had never considered this. âYou donât... you donât remeââ her voice cut out, tears welling in her eyes, ââ you donât remember anything?â
