This part, this one here, is called losing.

Losing memory specifically.

But that's not what hits Scarlet harder than a ton of bricks. There are other bigger and more painful things to lose, like love, your breath, your reason for living. Scarlet experiences it in the form of painful tears streaming down a five year old girl's face.

Everyone in the room, Theo inclusive turns to look at her, jaws on the floor, gaping at Scarlet as if she's grown horns. Which she has, well not literally. But what kind of mother is she? How can a mother not know her own daughter's name? She realises what she's done but can't take it back. The question lingers in the room like a poisonous stench while Lea storms out with a tear soaked and horrified face. Theo runs after the little girl.

Tears stream Scarlet cheeks as she calls for her daughter by the name she hates, knowing full well that the chances of her daughter heeding her cry are as many as those of her taking coffee; zero.

"Oh God!" Scarlet sobs. "What have I done?" She pulls up her knees, resting both her elbows on them, sobbing, disregarding the striking pain in her right hand. Because right now, nothing could hurt her more than the look on her baby's face as she stormed out of the room.

A huge lump forms in her throat, the kind that makes you feel like something has completely cut off your oxygen supply. She's suffocating, she can't breathe or cry out loud; she's weak. She grips her chest, then her face, she crosses her arms across her bent knees. Then uncrosses them. She doesn't know what do. Silent tears flow from her eyes onto her cheeks as Scarlet rocks back and forth. A loud sob finally leaves her throat.

A hand runs through Scarlet's hair soothingly, she raises her head and sees a sad smile on Mrs. Jake's face. Scarlet can't help but lean into her and cry some more. She doesn't know what is going on in her head. Is it possible that she lost part of her memory? Does that kind of thing even exist? Many thoughts run through her mind but none of them can erase Lea's horrified face on realising that her own mother didn't know her name.

Scarlet doesn't know how much time has passed since Mrs. Jake held her, has it been seconds? Minutes? Hours? What time is it anyway? She can feel the dried tears on her cheeks and the heaviness of her swollen eyelids as she disentangles herself from the warmth of the older woman's arms. Her first thought is to check her side, in hopes that her little girl came back and slept beside her.

But no...

The girl laying down is not her Lea, it's Karen. She reaches out and runs a hand through the blonde locks of the little one before turning around to Mrs. Jake who is smiling sadly at her. She can't but think whether she's been smiling like that since Scarlet drifted off to sleep.

"Where's...um... she?" Scarlet asks softly, she can't help but feel embarrassed.

"Celine." Mrs. Jake says. "Her name is Celine."

"Oh." Scarlet muses, the name is beautiful she can't help but smile. Did she give it to her? Of course she did! It's a beautiful name, perfect for the most beautiful girl in the world. Tears flow from her eyes all over again and Mrs. Jake pulls her in for a motherly hug.

Mother...

Where is her own mother? Has anyone called her? Scarlet doesn't think so. She should be here. But she can't bring it up right now. She still needs to handle Celine. She needs to apologise to her baby. Celine needs to know how much she loves her and would never want to hurt her.

As Scarlet's mind whirls, she can't help but notice how fast the name has clicked with her brain. It doesn't sound like she's using it for the first time.

"Thank you Mrs. Jake." She smiles shyly up at the older woman as she attempts to rub at her dry-tear streaked cheeks.

"Becca please." Mrs. Jake smiles back. "You always said you preferred calling me Becca."

Oh this is so embarrassingly awkward! She's got to speak to her doctor quickly. Scarlet already feels like a child with all the missing parts of her memory.

"Okay."

Just then, Theo and Celine walk into the room hand in hand. Celine looks up at Theo as if for some kind of reassurance and he nods. Scarlet's eyes tear up again.

"Celine!" She breathes, her voice cracking.

"Mommy!" The little girl silently screams back as she jumps into her mom's open arms. "I'm sorry mommy!" She says, sobbing. "I'm sorry for being mean! Uncle Teddy said I shouldn't be mean to you when you're sick. I'm so sorry!" They both continue crying and Scarlet hugs her severely.

"Mommy I can't breathe!" Celine chokes out, and Theo, from his corner smirks. Scarlet smiles shyly and reluctantly lets loose.

"No, I'm sorry my love." She says, rubbing a thumb along Celine's cheek. "I'm your mother, no matter what kind of sickness or accident I should never forget you or your name. I love you honey. Okay?--" Celine nods vigorously. "--please never forget that! No matter what I'll always loves you, you're my life!" The girls nods some more as she rubs the tears off her mother's cheeks with her small palms.

"I know. And I love you too Scar." She beams and the whole room lights up. The lump that had formed in Scarlet's throat slowly dissolves like an ice block that has been placed out in the sun and she can finally breathe again.

With Celine in her lap, Scarlet turns and smiles warmly at Theo...Thank you Theo. She says in her mind.

....

Scarlet is woken up by Taylor Swift's voice singing Wildest dreams. When she opens her eyes, she realises it's already morning and the song is coming from a phone; Theo's phone.

Wow! He's such a girl!

But then, they seem to share a liking or rather 'loving' on her side for Taylor Swift. He smiles at her before shrugging apologetically and excusing himself to take the call when Mrs. Jake comes in with the girls. They're both wearing identical uniforms, they must be on their way to school.

"Good morning mommy!"

"Good morning Scarlet!"

The girls say at once and both hug her in turns. She has yet to ask who the other girl is but that can wait for later. As of now, her heart warms up to Karen too.

"Good morning girls."

"Good morning my dear, how are you feeling?" Becca, or Mrs. Jake asks. She isn't so comfortable with calling her Becca yet.

"I'm fine Mrs...um Becca. In fact, i think I'm good to go!" Becca chuckles and girls beam excitedly.

"That's great then. I'm taking the girls now. I'll see you later." She bends and pecks her on the cheek.
"Come on girls say bye to Scar."

Celine scrunches her nose and frowns in full on protestant mode. "But I don't want to go!" She protests and Scarlet sends her a not-so serious glare. She sticks out her tongue at her.

"Little girl!" Scarlet retorts.

"I'm a big girl!" Celine protests.

"Then go to school?" Scarlet raises an eyebrow."Big girls go to school you know?" She shrugs. Celine huffs and forcefully shoves a kiss on her mother's lips.

"FINE!" She turns to leave.

"We love school!" Her mother chirps, suppressing the laughter threatening to come out from her stomach.

"No we don't!" The girls shout back in unison as their voices fade with them.

Scarlet chuckles to herself.