Annie's POV

I woke up to bright lights above my head, my eyes burning at the sight. I slowly waited for my eyes to focus as I took in my surroundings.

I felt an oxygen mask over my face and all of a sudden, a huge rush of pain. I looked down slowly to see more than half of my left leg gone, and in its place, a bandage.

I yelped and saw my mother jump in a chair next to my bed.

"Annie, you're awake!" Mom exclaimed as she stood next to me. "Do you need me to get a nurse to get you some painkillers?"

I nodded, feeling the immense amount of pain on my leg intensify; I guess the anesthetics and other medications I was given for my surgery wore off.

My mom and a nurse came back into the room. Mom helped me sit up as the nurse placed a tray down.

She handed me a glass of water and some pills to take. I quickly gulped them down, wishing this pain would go away.

Once the nurse left, I took another look at my leg. There was nothing but the bottom of my left thigh and up, a huge bandage wrapped around my leg.

"It's gone." I whispered as a tear formed in my eye, finally taking in the thought of having only half of a left leg.

Mom wrapped her arms around me. "I know, sweetie. But it's okay now, they got rid of all the cancer cells in your leg."

"They did?" I asked, the tear now falling down my cheek.

Mom nodded. "Yes."

"What time is it?" I asked, searching for my phone.

"It's almost nine PM, you were out for a few hours after the surgery." Mom replied.

"Is anyone else here?"

"No, sweetie. But maybe tomorrow." Mom brushed the little bit of hair I had with her fingers. "Those painkillers are probably going to get you asleep again soon, so I think you should get some rest. Sleep the pain off."

I nodded. "Oh, okay. Thanks Mom."

She smiled and nodded back, sitting back in a chair across the room.

Although the painkillers were starting to make me feel sleepy, I felt wide awake. I laid back in my bed and stared at the white ceiling and tried to regain my memories back.

Even though I had no more cancer cells in my body, I still felt like I had lost this battle, it felt completely unreal that I had "won". It didn't feel like a victory because I still couldn't remember more than half of what I had forgotten.

I was slowly regaining my memories back, but it wasn't quick enough.

•••

"Merry Christmas!" I awoke Monday morning to see my close friends and family surrounding my bed.

I grinned. "Hey everyone! Merry Christmas!" I gave everybody a hug.

"We wanted to come celebrate with you here, since you couldn't be home today." Hayley explained as she sat on the edge of my bed.

"That's so sweet, thank you." I smiled.

"Would you like to open your gifts? We each brought you something." Dad asked.

"Sure! And thank you!" I replied. Dad came over and handed me his and Skylar's gift.

I opened the bag to see a photo we had taken at Dad's house. In it was Dad and Skylar in the back, and Hayley and I in the front. I was holding Georgie, Dad's puppy, and now I remembered taking that photo.

It was right after I apologized to Dad for being so mad at him. He wanted a family picture and we all took one in the living room; we all looked so happy.

"I love it! Thanks Dad and Skylar!" I said as we hugged.

I opened up Hayley's gift and a couple other gifts from Mom and Hayden and Mr. Jimmy.

And next up was Brennan.

"Merry Christmas, Jules." He smiled as he handed me the bag.

I opened it up to see a huge photo collage on a cork board. There were pictures from when we first met up until I had lost my memories. I saw a picture of Brennan and I standing in potato sacks when we were around 6, and I remembered we were at a carnival and had participated in a sack race (which I had won).

Another picture was us when we were around 10 at a water park. Katie and Caleb photobombed in the background making weird faces, which made me laugh.

I spotted another picture of Brennan, Katie, Ryan, Caleb, Hayley, Sydney, Luke, and I wearing matching Christmas sweaters and taking a picture under a giant Christmas tree in New York. I was around 12, and I begged Mom to take us to New York from Christmas until New Years. We all went together and had a fun time.

And lastly, I saw the picture I had in my room of Brennan and I at Epcot. We both looked so happy, and a part of me ached for that feeling again; that's when I realized even though I didn't remember us, I missed us.

I wiped away a small tear before anyone could notice. "Thank you Brennan, I love it."

He smiled and nodded and let Katie hand me her gift.

After I opened everyone's gift, I thanked them and we all chatted a bit about our holiday plans and such.

At one point, when everyone else was talking, Brennan came over and stood next to me.

"Hey." He said with a small smile.

"Hi." I looked up and smiled back.

"I know this definitely wasn't the best way to spend Christmas," Brennan began. "Would you want to spend New Years Eve at my place with us?"

"If I'm out of the hospital by then, sure." I replied.

"Okay." Brennan smiled.

"Unfortunately, Mom just texted that we have to go." Katie said loudly. She then came over to hug me. "It was great seeing you."

"You too." I said to her and everyone else. We all hugged and I waved as they left, leaving Mom and I alone again.

"That was nice of them to come." Mom said.

I nodded. "Yeah. Do you know when I'll be discharged?"

"I think they said on Thursday if everything is okay." Mom replied.

"Okay." It was an awkward silence after that for a few minute before I said, "Is there anyway we could stay in Maryland?"

Mom sighed. "Annie, we've talked about this—"

"Barely!" I exclaimed. "Please, Mom, this is my home. I don't want to leave my friends, or Dad and Skylar, or gym."

"I know, Annie, but all the arrangements have been made." Mom explained. "There's no turning back now, it's too late."

I felt myself getting angry, and that's when I sort of lost it. "You didn't even ask for Hayley and I's permission!"

Mom's eyes grew wide as she stared at me angrily. "I didn't have to."

"Yes, you did!" I shouted. "You and Jimmy getting married concerns us! If it didn't, I wouldn't have cared!"

"Julianna Grace LeBlanc!" Mom shouted back.

"Just leave me alone." I muttered as I sunk back in my bed. "If you want, you can leave me here alone. I'm sure Jimmy would love to see you tonight."

Mom sighed and picked up her purse. "You know what? Fine. I think we need a small break from each other anyway."

I watched as Mom left the room and closed the door behind her; that was one of the biggest arguments we had ever had, and it had to be on Christmas too. The last big one was after Caleb died, and what we should do with his stuff.

A few minutes after Mom had left, I began to feel guilty about everything I had said. Even though I was very angry and had to tell her how I felt, I was a little harsh.

I tried calling Mom to apologize, but she wouldn't pick up. So I just left her a voicemail and a text before falling asleep, hopefully getting out of this hospital soon.

•••

A/N: hey everyone, long time no update, sorry about that. I've been slacking (obviously) on here and I've just been uninspired to write lately.

But your comments and votes is what keeps me going, so thank you everyone :)

Anyway I officially leave for sleepaway camp tomorrow! It's about a four hour drive to get there, so if I'm inspired enough, I may write another chapter for this story or one of my others before I get to camp, because we're not allowed to bring phones. It honestly feels unreal that I'm leaving tomorrow, but I'm very excited :D

So yeah, what did you think of this chapter? Did you like Brennan's gift? Do you agree with Annie or Ms. Katie about the argument? And sorry if it was boring, I know it definitely was not my best.

Also this has nothing to do with anything but my favorite show, Stranger Things, premiered one year ago today! That show has truly changed my life and is just incredible ad if you've never seen it go to Netflix and if you don't have Netflix just personally message me and I'll give you free sites to watch it on (I'm being serious) 😂

And I know a chapter or two ago I said this story was coming to an end in a few more chapters, but I had an idea pop in my head like a minute after writing that, and it may make this story last longer. Would you guys want that? Comment a '😁👌' if so!!