Surfacing (Spark Saga) Read Online Free Page A

therefore, interesting—as mine.  Finally, all his good education put to work.  “Do you remember anything before that night?  About your friends?  School?  Anything you can tell me would be helpful.”
    Did I remember anything?  Man is that a broad question.  I swear I can literally feel my brain trying to wrap itself around it.
    “I sort of remember a girl named Cricket.”
    “Cricket?  This is a friend of yours?”
    I nod.  “A friend from school.”
    “And your other friends?  The ones who were here earlier.”
    My mind drift s.  Of course. I vaguely remember Alex.  He’d apparently dropped by to bring me flowers while I was out and had left word with my parents to have me call him when I felt up to it.  And then there’s Dani.  She had been here at the hospital when I woke up.  We had been besties since we were kids.  I remember waking up and being glad she was there, but my memories of the past were fuzzy.  I knew we were friends—best friends, in fact—but I had the distinct sense that something was missing, and I couldn’t put my finger on what it was. But I knew, as soon as I saw Dani, that our relationship was not the same.  “Dani Chase.  She’s my best friend . . . .”  I say it, but it doesn’t feel right, somehow.
    The doctor is writing some notes, then stops and looks at me thoughtfully.  “And the gentleman who was with her?”
    I flush.  You mean the insanely gorgeous guy who was with the equally gorgeous girl who happens to be my best friend?  “Zach.  He’s a friend of Dani’s.”
    “All right, I think that about does it,” he sa ys, gathering up his papers.  He stands up.  “I’ll be talking to your parents, Ms. Turner.  Meanwhile, take care of yourself and rest.”
    I nod.  “Ok.”  As he start s out the door, I add, “Am I going to be all right?”
    “Of course,” he replie s.  “Rest now, all right?”
     
    My parents come in later to tell me that I am likely suffering from retrograde amnesia, a type of memory loss caused by trauma.  I can recall much of my past, except the events leading up to and including the trauma, which, by the way, is all right by me.  I don’t particularly want to remember the trauma.  The doctor is recommending six weeks of therapy—and since it’s summer, it won’t interfere with school.  I should be fully recovered and ready for school in August.  For now, at least I can go home.
    Summer ***
    Within minute s of arriving home, I doze off while sitting on the couch.  Ironically, after sleeping for eight days, I am tired.  The doorbell wakes me up and I hear my parents talking in a low voice.  Then Cricket is standing in my living room.
    “Hey,” I sa y groggily. 
    “Didn’t mean to wake you up,” Cricket sa ys, sitting down.  “How are you?”
    “Tired,” I sigh.  “But ok.”
    “I heard you got struck by lightning.”
    “Maybe,” I shrug.  “I don’t remember any of it.”  Suddenly a memory of sitting with Cricket eating ice cream surfaced , and I have to smile.
    “What?”  Cricket asks, grinning back.
    “Nothing, I just remembered being with you that afternoon.  At the ice cream place.”
    “Do you remember what we talked about before that?”
    “No,” I admit.
    Cricket looks surprised.  “You wanted to meet at some old building downtown.  You told me all these memories you never had before the accident, and that you knew who you were going to marry.”
    “Right,” I scoff.  The accident.  Suddenly the memories of my 13 th birthday party flood back to me—how I watched Dani and that kid from the bus sitting on the park bench, the feel of being on that swing, the change in the air, Dani running toward me…I feel a chill just remembering it.
    “No, seriously,” Cricket insist s.  “You were all freaked out that you knew who it was going to be.  Like some sort of premonition.”
    “Well, who is it?”  I ask.  “Who am I going to marry?”  I am intrigued.  Plus,