"He has selective amnesia, a type of dissociative amnesia. It is a condition where one blocks selected memories in a certain period because of events too difficult to take, pushing the memories inside their brain deeply buried. He might recall some events like where he had gone to but could not remember the people he engaged to at that time. In his case, as the interview test results show, he can remember where he stayed during his summer vacation days, but he can't remember the people he talked to, played with, or interacted with. Specifically, the playmates. And younger siblings. He doesn’t remember having younger siblings."
Chase's mother sobbed as she listened to the doctor's explanation about her nine-year-old son's condition.
"As for treatment, dissociative amnesia usually requires two distinct periods or phases of psychotherapy—the initial phase and the final phase. For the initial phase, the patient will be engaged in a supporting and calm conversation with a therapist. The patient could regain his memories little by little through this or everything in an instant. Usually, it happens after being triggered. When the person has finally regained his lost memories comes the final phase. It is where he would have to deal with the traumatic events and recover with it."
Dr. Kant eyed the two people with sympathy, a bit hesitant to what he was about to say but knew he couldn't let his emotions get in the way of his job. Being a psychiatrist for the Daltons and at the same time a friend, wasn’t as easy as other cases, particularly when it regarded the family’s youngest child.
"As for Chase's case though, we think it would be difficult for him to recover."
Chase's mother looked at Dr. Kant then with her puffy eyes and trembling lips. "W-What do you mean?"
Dr. Kant promptly looked down then looked at his friend seriously. "The portion of his brain's limbic system, the hippocampus, where old and new memories are being processed and stored, was found to have an abnormal volume, and the stress caused by traumatic events were able to reduce this volume even more. This means…If Chase has regained his memories through a dangerous way in the initial or final phase, there's a possibility it could bring a huge damage to his brain. If that happens, he could start losing his other memories including the recent and the future ones."
The psychiatrist could only give a sympathetic look at the miserable couple as their bodies shook at the overwhelming, terrifying information. Mrs. Dalton felt her frame give in, she almost collapsed and fell into the tiled white floor if not for the strong arms of her husband beside her.
Dr. Kant's eyes then caught the small frame of a child by the door, fidgeting while leaning on its side. His eyebrow arched as he asked the parents about the child.
"Is the girl by the door Chase's adopted little sister?" he asked calmly after he waited for the parents to stop crying miserably in each others' arms, recalling Chase's personal information that stated he had two adopted younger siblings.
Mrs. Dalton's red-rimmed eyes wavered as she met Dr. Kant's gaze, with quivering lips she answered.
"No. She's not…She's not."
Isabella felt the streaming liquid down her cheeks as she recalled the painful conversation she had heard on the last day she had seen the nine-year-old Chase she cared for, idolized, adored, loved the most in the entire world. She had been seven then. A weak, powerless seven-year-old.
"One day, I'll come and find you. I will come and make you remember me…" She muttered the once promise she had kept with herself on that very last day.
It was the last day where she was able to look at Chase, stare at his sleeping figure on that lonely hospital bed.
It was the last day where she saw Chase's family, the last day they hugged her and brought her back to her previous island, leaving her in a friend's care there. Alone. By herself. With no Anna. With no Chase.
Chase felt frustrated. He just had a therapy session with Dr. Kant and the doctor offered some other techniques such as hypnosis so he could recall whatever memory he had lost. By the clinical interview he had and based on his old records, Chase found out he had selective amnesia. He couldn't believe it at first. It was so surprising that he thought it was a bluff because he was Chase. He was Chase Dalton who had fame, money, good family, and even a perfect girlfriend—an almost perfect life. He had everything. How come he didn't know this? How come there was a part of him that he failed to know? To understand…?
From the hypnosis procedures, his mind wandered to different events that only increased his inner turmoil. He hated it. He couldn't remember anything at all. And what he can only see while undergoing the said therapy were places, familiar to his mind and soul. It was his grandmother’s house, and some parts included the areas around that one house. The people had blurred images, and only their voices were being heard but they were not that clear too.
"Chase."
"Chase."
Chase's head tilted up and immediately met Dr. Kant's gaze with his own. A very sympathetic and concerned look filled the doctor's eyes as he spoke.
"I'm doing this because I can see you have become a strong, brave man. You can do this Chase, that's what I believe. But if you're still not ready—”
"Dr. Kant, I'm ready. I don't want to run away anymore. I wanted to face all of these, settle them once and for all. I-If ever it hurts, I'm sure I'll be fine, I’ll be fine," Chase whispered and stuttered the last few words more to himself as he remembered he had a family and a girlfriend who would always be there for him if ever he'd have a mental breakdown after regaining his lost memories.
He would be fine. Chase believed and was sure he would be just fine.
Chase decided he'd talk about the matter to Isabella as soon as he saw her. He wanted to let his lover know everything that was going on with him after all. And he knew Isabella would be there for him, to support him and envelope him in her arms if Chase ever needed them to.
He pulled over his car and went inside Isabella's apartment, now pushing the sixth-floor button on the elevator. His palms started to sweat, and Chase felt a sudden thud on his heart. He felt like something was about to happen he wouldn't like. His mind screamed to retrieve his steps and go back, go away. Though even with all the screams, he found himself getting out of the elevator and now on the front door of the younger's apartment. His slightly trembling hand typed the pass code, opened the door and he was about to call out Isabella when he heard other voices further inside the room that made his heartbeat stop.