Private Office – Sinclair Hospital
Dr. Harrow folded his hands, his expression carefully neutral. "Your daughter's physical recovery is remarkable. But… the memory gaps may persist for some time."
Evelyn's voice trembled. "But she'll remember, right? She'll come back to us?"
"We're optimistic, Mrs. Sinclair. Trauma-induced amnesia can resolve itself gradually. Some memories may return in days. Some… may not."
Daniel kept his arm around Evelyn's shoulders, though his grip was stiff. "She's alive. That's what matters."
"But she doesn't remember her piano. Or her birthday," Evelyn whispered. "She hesitated before calling me 'Mom.'"
"That's normal," the doctor said gently. "She needs time. Familiar faces, routines—it'll help."
Daniel's jaw tightened. "We'll do everything."
Evelyn leaned into him, her voice cracking. "I just want my little girl back."
Sinclair Estate – Late Evening
Harper dropped onto the velvet couch, rubbing her temples. "She's different. But she's still Annalise. I can tell."
Evelyn sat across from her, hands wringing her silk scarf. "You really think so?"
"She forgot how to braid her hair," Harper murmured, her throat tight. "She used to beg me to teach her. Now she watched me like I was doing it for the first time."
"She's been through so much," Evelyn said, her voice soft but brittle. "Maybe she's just… scared to remember."
"She's probably overwhelmed," Daniel added, pouring himself a drink, though he didn't touch it. "We can't push her. She'll come back to us in her own time."
Harper nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah. She's probably just… resetting. I mean, she remembered me. She still called me 'Big sis.'"
Evelyn blinked quickly, as if holding back tears. "That's something."
"I don't care if she forgets everything else," Harper said fiercely. "I'll remind her. Every day. I'll remind her who we are."
Daniel's eyes softened as he looked at his daughters' photos on the mantel. "We'll get through this. Together."
Annalise's Room – Night
Harper sat on the edge of the bed, braiding Annalise's silky brown hair as she used to.
"You've always loved this," Harper said quietly. "When you were little, you'd throw a fit if I didn't braid it exactly right."
I—Eli—shrugged, pretending to concentrate on the stuffed bear in my lap. "It feels… nice."
Harper chuckled softly. "You used to call it 'princess hair.'"
"That sounds… like me."
Harper's hands paused for just a moment. "Do you really not remember? Any of it?"
I kept my face blank, carefully controlled. "I'm trying. It's like… flashes. But mostly it's just empty."
"You don't have to fake it for me," Harper said, her voice warm, teasing. "I'll just tell you everything again. You'll remember soon. I know you will."
I smiled faintly, a knot twisting in my stomach. I wanted to be remembered. I wanted to be wanted. I just… wasn't her.
Harper tugged the braid gently. "You're still my little sister, memory or not. And I'll punch anyone who says otherwise."
I almost laughed. "That's a little violent."
She winked. "You used to think it was cool."
We sat in the quiet, the weight of the lie pressing against my ribs.
I wasn't Annalise.
But maybe I could learn how to be.
Master Bedroom
"She's doing better today," Evelyn whispered, slipping into bed beside Daniel. "She laughed at Harper's joke. It sounded… almost real."
"She's coming back to us," Daniel said softly, wrapping his arms around her. "I can feel it."
"She hesitated before hugging me goodnight," Evelyn admitted. "But then she hugged me anyway."
"That's all that matters."
"I just…" Evelyn's voice trembled. "I keep thinking—what if I missed something? What if I could have stopped it?"
"You didn't miss anything."
"I almost lost her, Daniel."
He kissed her forehead, his voice a low vow. "We have her now. That's what counts."
Evelyn's breathing finally slowed as she drifted toward sleep, but Daniel stared at the ceiling, his thoughts heavy.
Something still didn't feel right.
But he would hold his family together. No matter what.