He Took the Memory Potion Instead of Me Chapter 06

He Took the Memory Potion Instead of Me Chapter 06

That was where the memories stopped.

The day after tomorrow was my twenty-fourth birthday.

A few days earlier, Callum had texted me from a new number.

Short messages. Careful.

He wanted to see me one last time for my birthday. To put everything to rest.

[Think of it as closing the book on the last seven years.]

[After that, we go our separate ways. For good.]

I said no.

My parents had called. They wanted me home in Pine Hollow for my birthday.

First time in twenty-four years they’d ever offered to celebrate it.

The second I walked in, Mom shoved a photo in my

face.

“So he’s done time, and he’s got a bad leg-but he’s a good, honest man.”

She was beaming. “Just settle down with him, okay? Stop making things so complicated.”

Dad lit a cigarette next to her.

“What’s there to talk about? His family already wired the money. You back out now, we have to give it back. After everything we’ve spent raising you-this is how you repay us?”

He flicked the ash off his cigarette. “Besides-your brother would’ve wanted you settled by now.

You know that.”

The person I hated most in that moment was me.

I was the pathetic one.

Even then, I was still hoping they’d love me.

Like waiting for two animals to open their mouths and speak.

I shoved past them and went straight to my brother’s room.

I took the last thing he’d left behind.

Then I texted Callum back. Yes.

At the Whitmore estate, Callum led me down to the basement.

Two cups and a ceramic vial sat on the table.

He said he’d gotten the memory-wipe potion from some folk healer out in Raven Hollow.

“Let’s just end it here. I can’t do this anymore. I’m too tired.”

He pulled the cork.

A strange smell filled the room-wet earth and something floral, nothing I recognized.

“I just want to forget you. Please.”

The second Callum turned to grab a tissue, I poured the weedkiller into my cup.

One last selfish thing.

We were supposed to drink it together.

But the paraquat had an acrid stench that made me flinch.

Callum stopped me right away. “Too bitter? Here-let me try mine first…”

And that was how we ended up here.

Callum walked me back down to the basement, talking the whole way.

“You know, a hostage who walks out just because the door’s unlocked? That’s kind of rude. At least pretend I’m threatening you.”

“And don’t think I’ll go easy on you just because I fell for you the second I saw you.”

He paused. His voice shifted.

“That smile you gave upstairs-don’t do that. If you don’t feel like smiling, don’t. Nobody’s worth faking it for.”

Maybe deciding to die gave me permission to stop being polite.

I didn’t want to pretend anymore.