Finding Carrie by C. E. Snyder

with the guitar still slug over her shoulder.
    “Do you think mom is ever going to remember us?” Sabrina asked.
    “I don’t know,” Sierra said, shifting herself up on her knees. “Maybe.”
    “I hope she will remember before my recital on Saturday,” Sabrina said sadly.
    “I’m sorry, but I don’t think she will. But she’ll be there; Isaac will make sure of that,” Sierra said, putting her arms around her sister.
    “I hope so,” Sabrina said then got back up to play again. Sierra knew how much this recital meant to her sister. Although she hated the song that she played, she wanted her sister to be happy. Getting off the bed, she left the room to talk to Isaac. She went to his room, but he wasn’t in there, so she went out to the living room. Isaac and her mom were sitting on either sides of the couch, watching TV. Normally when they watched TV, they would have their arms around one another. Secretly inside, she missed that. She went behind Isaac to whisper in his ear.
    “Isaac, Sabrina is afraid that mom won’t remember her before her recital,” Sierra whispered. Isaac looked at Carrie, who was totally involved in the movie. He turned to whisper in Sierra’s ear.
    “No, I don’t think she’s going to,” Isaac whispered.
    “I didn’t think so, but I promised her that you would make sure she’s there,” Sierra whispered, but not in his ear; she was watching her mother.
    “Absolutely, I will make sure,” Isaac reassured her. She nodded and went back to her bedroom.
    “Good night,” Isaac said as she walked away.
    “Good night,” she said over her shoulder.
    Isaac looked over at Carrie, who was now looking at him. She had her legs up and tilted to rest on the arm of the couch. She had her arm folded across her stomach. “Is she all right?” she asked with concern on her face.
    “Yes, she’s just worried about her sister, but everything is fine,” Isaac reassured her. She didn’t say anything; just looked back toward the TV. “You look tired.” Carrie tried to shift her body but winced at the pain in her side. The medicine had worn off. “You need to take your medicine,” Isaac observed.
    “I think I’ll take my meds and go to bed,” she said, trying to get up. Isaac put his hand out for her to help, and she took it.
    “Oh, don’t forget, I’m taking you to the place we met tomorrow,” Isaac reminded her. She stopped just in front of him, her hand still in his.
    “Okay,” she said. She let go of his hand then turned to walk, forgetting the glass coffee table was right next to her. She kicked it with her shin; it sent her backward. She landed in Isaac’s lap. She forgot the pain for a moment, looked up to Isaac’s face, and suddenly she became aware of her position. Isaac began to laugh softly. “I’m sorry,” she said, pushing away from him to get up.
    “Are you all right?” he asked. He stopped laughing as she ran away, disappearing into the hall. He wasn’t sure if she heard him, because she didn’t say anything. Sadness crawled up his body.
    For a brief moment, while Carrie was sitting on Isaac’s lap, she felt calm and comfortable, safe and familiar, but that went away and she became suddenly frightened. So she ran; it was the only thing she thought to do. She ran to the bathroom and to the sink. She braced her arms on the sink. She reached to turn the water on and splashed cold water on her face. She reached for her medicine and took it. Her side really hurt right now. She wished she knew why and how she had gotten so hurt. Looking at herself in the mirror, she saw a face she didn’t remember that was now scarred and itchy. “Oh, why can’t I remember?” she said out loud. She left to go to the bedroom. Isaac was leaning against the wall by the bathroom door. She almost ran into him. He looked up slowly.
    “Is your leg okay?” he asked. She looked down and lifted her pant leg up. Lifting her foot, her shin was all red, and it throbbed.
    “It’s fine,”