“The day started like any other. Josh and I woke up, had breakfast, got ready for work, and headed out the door.”

“And what happened next?” Alice prompted me. She was looking at me over her glasses, pen in hand ready to take notes. I looked around the room. Something felt off about her office, like an unsettling familiarity, but this was only my first session with her. I could feel a pit growing in my stomach.

“Mia? Can you tell me what happened next?” Alice asked again. I nodded. 

“We both worked in the same office park but for different companies, so we drove together most days. That morning was no different.”

“Does anything stand out to you about that morning? Anything that may have left you feeling uneasy at the time that didn’t quite make sense?” I shook my head.

“No. Everything was totally normal.”

“And Josh? How was he acting?” 

“He was…” How was he acting? Why can’t I remember? I was trying to picture him, see if something could jog my memory. “I don’t remember. It’s like, he’s blurry almost.” Alice nodded and wrote something down.

“What do you remember about Josh?” 

“We lived together, we drove to work together, we… I think we were dating?”

“Why do you think that?”

“I don’t know. I guess it just makes sense. I mean, why else would we live together?”

“So you don’t actually remember, you’re just guessing.” It didn’t sound like a question, and I don’t think she wanted an answer, but I still said yes anyways. She continued writing a note when someone knocked on the door and walked in. 

“Talia, this better be urgent. You’re interrupting an important session.” Alice was clearly upset at the intrusion as she let out a long sigh waiting for the girl’s response. 

“It’s the over-” Alice shot the young girl a warning look that stopped her mid sentence. They seemed to have some silent exchange before she continued. “It’s the boss, she wants to see you immediately about what was discussed earlier.” The girl sounded nervous, her voice was shaky and she was fidgeting with her hands. If I had to take a guess, I’d say she was no older than sixteen.

Alice sighed again before giving a small nod and standing up. “Very well. Mia, we’re going to have to pick this up later it seems. Talia will escort you back to your room, we’ll figure out when to reschedule later.” She didn’t wait for me to respond before walking out of the room.

“Please follow me back to your room.” The young girl said. I kept trying to meet her gaze, but she kept her eyes low, still wringing her hands. I got up from my seat on Alice’s couch and moved to follow her. She stayed a few paces ahead of me, and I realized just how small she actually was. She was about a head shorter than me, and very frail. The flowy baby blue dress she was wearing really exemplified that, it’s as if the dress was swallowing her whole. 

As I continued to follow her to my room, I noticed the halls were eerily empty and it was nearly silent except for the hum of the air conditioner. 

“It’s Talia right?” She didn’t say anything, but nodded. “Where is everyone?” She didn’t answer. The uneasy feeling I had back in Alice’s office started to creep back in. As we approached my room, Talia finally turned to face me. 

“Go ahead and get washed up for dinner, press the button when you’re ready and someone will come get you. Please change into the clothes left for you on your bed.” She turned to walk away.

“Hey, wait a second,” she paused, but didn’t turn back around. “Do you know when my family is coming to visit? Kennedy told me I was allowed to have visitors, that I’d be able to call my mom once I got settled in.” She paused for a moment like she was going to answer me, and then took off down the hall. “Cool, thanks.” I mumbled to myself before closing my bedroom door. 

“I’m not sure why everyone is acting so weird today. I’ve been here about two weeks now, but I still feel pretty confused on how things work around here. Maybe it’s all part of the treatment.

I decided not to dwell on it too long, they’re doing me a huge favor by taking me in as it is. Kennedy said there was a waiting list to get in, but she felt I needed help immediately. She’s the one who found me after the accident. Apparently I was wandering the streets alone, dirty and disheveled when she saw me. She was worried for my safety and wanted to make sure I was okay, and that’s when she realized something was wrong. I don’t remember much about the aftermath of the accident, or the accident itself for that matter, but I’m grateful for her kindness nonetheless. 

Kennedy took me back here- ‘The Residence’ is what she calls it- to get cleaned up and checked out by a doctor. She told me that I was welcome to stay, that this place was designed to help people like me going through a tough time, that the community here was going to help me just as much as the doctors.

So far it’s been okay, although I haven’t really felt the community aspect yet. I’ve mostly been on my own if I’m not with Kennedy, and now Alice and Talia I guess. I tried to ask Kennedy about it, but she just brushed it off saying it was standard procedure for newbies, something about safety. 

As I went to get ready for dinner, I saw the outfit Talia mentioned that had been left for me. A flowy baby blue dress was spread across my twin bed, identical to the one Talia has been wearing. Reluctantly, I changed out of my sweats and t-shirt. It was quite chilly in my room, and my legs were covered in goosebumps as soon as I put the dress on.

I walked over to the mirror hanging on my wall and ran a brush through my hair. I looked at myself for a while. It’s not that I didn’t recognize myself, but something is different. My cheeks are a bit sunken now and I have some hefty eye bags.

I pressed the button next to my door letting whoever know I was ready. I made my way back to my bed to sit and relax while I waited. When I sat down on my bed I felt a lump under the covers. Turns out, a journal was stashed in my bed. I must have left it in my bed by accident, but I can’t remember the last time I wrote in it. It had to have been before I arrived here. I opened it to the first page and saw it was dated the second day I was here. 

Once again, panic started to set in. Why can’t I remember things? How much am I forgetting? It seems like I don’t even realize there’s chunks of time missing until it’s brought to my attention. 

The entry was nothing special, just seemed to be recounting the events of the day. I flipped to the next page. More of the same, a nearly identical entry, but something caught my eye this time. I had written about Talia. But that can’t be possible, I’ve only just met her today. How was I writing about her over a week ago? 

The more I read, the more panicked I became. Each entry became more vague, but more frantic until I got to what I had apparently written yesterday. ‘DO NOT TRUST THEM.’ I could feel my pulse quicken.

I flipped back through my journal trying to remember anything that may help me make sense of these entries, but nothing came. Could I even trust my own memories at this point? Just then my door opened and Kennedy walked in. Wearing an identical blue dress.

“Mia, what have I told you about that journal? They’re not allowed, it’s detrimental to your treatment.” She said while walking over to me. “Hand it over.” She stood over me, her hand out, looking like a disappointed school teacher. Disappointing her felt like a punch to the gut. 

I stared at her for a moment, our eyes locked. I started to hand her my journal.

“It’s just,” I brought the journal back to my chest. “I’ve been having a lot of trouble remembering things lately, and this is helping me.”

Kennedy was visibly upset with my reluctance to hand it over. “Mia, you know this is for your own good. You’re the one who told me you wanted to forget, that’s why I brought you here.”

“When did I tell you that?” I felt like I was losing my mind.

“The day we met of course, the day I found you. It’s okay that you don’t remember, that’s the point. We’re giving you new memories, ones that won’t make you sad or hurt or angry. You trust me don’t you? Because you know, trust is all we have here, and if you don’t, this might not be the place for you.” 

“No, no I’m sorry, you’re right.” I handed her my journal. “It’s just been a long day is all, didn’t sleep too well last night.” I gave her a strained smile. I could tell she didn’t fully believe me, but giving her the journal caused her to relax her stance a bit.

“It gets easier, you just have to keep trusting me, I know what I’m doing. Now come on, it’s your first Sunday Ceremony with us, you don’t want to be late.” I nodded and followed her out of my room. 

As we walked to the dining hall together I still felt uneasy. I don’t know what to believe or who to trust. Kennedy hasn’t done anything but treat me with kindness, but I can’t shake this feeling like I’m in some kind of danger. I made a mental note to myself to try and remember everything that happened tonight. If I couldn’t write in a journal I’d leave myself clues some other way.

When we entered the hall everyone was wearing the same blue dress except one older woman. She sat at the front of the room on some sort of altar above everyone else on what I can only describe as a throne. It was gold and had some embellishments of flowers running up the arms and down the legs. She was wearing a white dress that stopped right at her ankles, the sleeves were made of lace, and she wore a giant gold pendant that looked like some kind of bird.

She sat expressionless, watching over everyone as we all made our way to our tables. As Kennedy and I sat down, the old woman and I locked eyes. She held my gaze for a moment before continuing to scan the room. 

“Who is that?” I whispered to Kennedy. 

“That’s Melinda, she runs the place. There’s a small group of  teens who call her ‘the overseer’ which I think is a bit dramatic sounding. Most of us just call her Mother Mel since she does so much to take care of us.”

Mother Mel. That name was setting off alarm bells in my head, but I didn’t know why. Kennedy kept going.

“She’s the one who allowed you in without the waiting period. She really felt for your situation in a way I hadn’t seen before. It’s really lucky on your part, she usually doesn’t allow those with violent tendencies in so easily.”

“What? What do you mean violent tendencies?”

Kennedy didn’t answer me and a hush fell over the room. Melinda stood up and brought her hands together.

“Welcome to another Sunday Ceremony, how wonderful it is to be here with you all again.” She paused to look around the room. I followed her gaze the whole time. If I had to guess, there were probably 150 people in the room. Where did they all come from? Have there always been this many people here? 

As I turned back to Melinda, it dawned on me there were no men here. “Now, as you all know, we’ve gained a new sister in the last couple of weeks. Mia dear, please stand up for us. Everyone in the hall turned to look at me. 

Very slowly, I stood up from my seat and looked out into the sea of women wearing identical blue dresses. 

“Mia!” Melinda shouted. “We are so beyond excited to have you here with us. Tonight is the night you truly become our sister.” Suddenly, everyone was standing and Kennedy was pulling me towards Melinda. I couldn’t get any words out to ask what was happening, my mind was racing. Within seconds I was standing in front of Melinda. Everyone began to hum the most haunting melody at once. The words ‘DO NOT TRUST THEM’ were flashing in my mind.

“Mia, please follow me.” Melinda made her way down from her ‘throne’. Kennedy nudged me forward as she hummed along with everyone else. I followed Melinda out of the dining hall and into what I assumed to be her office. She gestured for me to sit and she did the same.

“So, Mia. Tell me, how are you?

“I’m good I guess.”

“You guess?”

“I think I’m just overwhelmed. There’s so much going on here and it’s a lot to take in is all.” Melinda nodded, smirking slightly. 

“Well, I’m sure Kennedy explained to you the exception I made to let you in here.” I nodded. “She also showed me this.” Melinda said, reaching into her desk. She pulled out my journal. How did she get that? When did Kennedy even have the time to give it to her? “You know Mia, trust is all we have here. If someone starts questioning our treatment, everything will be thrown into chaos. Now, I know that I can help you, that we can help you, but you have to follow the rules. So, I’m going to offer you something I don’t normally allow.” She paused before handing me a file labeled ‘Mia Fisher’. 

“This is your file from Dr. Alice’s sessions with you. It details everything that happened from the incident to today’s session. Sorry about cutting that short by the way, some things just can’t wait.” She shrugged. “We’ve been keeping the details from you because when you do remember, you break into fits of rage to the point we need to sedate you for your own safety. It’s why your memory has been spotty lately. So, I’m giving you the choice to read your file right now, to know everything.”

I sat there silent, switching between looking at Melinda and the file. ‘DO NOT TRUST THEM’ it kept replaying over and over in my head. But here she was, offering me answers that I’ve been desperate for all day. Maybe I was overreacting before. 

“I want to read it. I have to know.” Melinda nodded.

“Just remember that all your sisters are here for you when you’re reading.” She got up from her chair and made her way to the door. She looked back at me for a moment. “Once you finish, please come back to the Sunday Ceremony, you’ll need our support.” And then she was gone.

I stared at the closed file for just a bit longer, unsure if I was ready for what I was going to discover. I took a deep breath, then began reading.