Chapter 3

Allison Day POV:

The doctor sat across from me, his expression earnest, almost sympathetic. Dr. Elias Vance, a man renowned for his controversial, cutting-edge therapies. He held up a holographic scan of my brain, a swirling nebula of data.

"Mrs. Day," he began, his voice calm, "I need to confirm your decision. This procedure is irreversible. Memory erasure is not like deleting files from a computer. It's... profound. Are you absolutely certain you want to proceed?"

I looked at him, then at the swirling image of my own mind. My mind, a prison of pain. "I'm certain," I said, my voice flat, empty of emotion.

He sighed, pushing a hand through his silver hair. "We' ve only performed this on patients with extreme, debilitating PTSD, where traditional therapy has failed. It's a last resort." He paused, his gaze softening. "You're young. Your brain is still remarkably neuroplastic. There's a chance... a small chance, that this procedure could have unforeseen side effects. That it might even unlock dormant pathways."

I just shook my head. "I don't care. I need to forget him. All of it."

His eyes lingered on mine. "You mentioned you were found five years ago, after an accident. Amnesia."

"Yes," I confirmed, a distant echo of a forgotten past stirring within me. It felt like another lifetime. I was found on a beach, battered and bruised, with no recollection of who I was or where I came from. Erik Alford, a struggling pianist then, had discovered me. He was kind, gentle, and he took me in. He named me Allison Day. It felt like a fresh beginning.

"He was my rescuer," I continued, the words a dull ache. "My knight. He taught me everything. How to live again. How to love."

Our early days were a blur of shared dreams and quiet intimacy. We spent hours in his small, cluttered apartment, me sketching his hands as he played, him composing melodies that flowed from his soul. He' d cook simple meals, and I' d clean his tiny space, making it feel like a home. We were a team, a unit against the world. He was my world.

"I became his photographer," I explained, a ghost of a smile touching my lips. "I captured his essence, his passion. The album covers, the promotional shots... they were all my work. He was the artist, I was his silent muse, his biggest supporter."

The public adored him. They called him the "Piano Prince," captivated by his talent and the romantic story of the mysterious woman by his side. They never knew my name. They never knew my contribution. And for a long time, I didn't care. His success was my success. His happiness was mine.

"I remember once," I recounted, a sharp pain piercing through the haze, "he was practicing late, and overworked himself. He collapsed. I called an ambulance, frantic. He was so scared. He kept mumbling about his hands, his precious hands. They were insured for millions, even then."

Dr. Vance listened patiently.

"He held my hand so tight in the ambulance," I continued, a tremor in my voice. "He looked at me, really looked at me, and said, 'Allison, you're my anchor. My everything. I can't do this without you.' He promised me forever. He promised me he'd always protect me."

I believed him. With every fiber of my being, I believed him. We would build a life together, a beautiful, harmonious symphony.

But then, the applause grew louder. The stages got bigger. The money flowed in. And Erik changed.

The turning point was subtle, a gradual shift. He started spending more time away, on "business." He grew distant, distracted. He said it was the pressure, the demands of fame. I accepted it. I always accepted.

Then came the night of the blizzard. The car crash. My desperate call to Erik, my voice shaking, telling him about the accident, about the baby.

The baby. Even now, a phantom ache settled in my womb.

"He answered," I told Dr. Vance, my voice a hollow whisper. "But he wasn't alone. I heard a soft, purring voice in the background, a giggle. It was Barbie. I heard her say, 'Oh, Erik, your wife is so dramatic. Tell her Princess needs you more.'"

My blood had run cold then. He had made an excuse, a flimsy one, about being stuck in traffic. But I knew. I had this sickening feeling in my gut.

Later, from my hospital bed, I had searched. His private social media, the one he said was only for "close friends and family." He' d posted a picture from a candlelit dinner, clinking champagne glasses with Barbie. The caption read: "Celebrating with my true muse. The inspiration behind it all."

When he finally called me back, hours later, he had sounded tired, annoyed. "Allison, you're overreacting. Barbie is just a colleague. We were discussing a new project. You know how important my image is. You can't just accuse me." His voice had been laced with a condescension that made my skin crawl. "And what's this about a baby? You know we agreed to wait."

I remembered faking a smile, pretending to believe his lies. Pretending not to hear the subtle inflection in his voice, the way it lifted when he spoke her name, the possessiveness that had never been there for me. But a part of me, a small, stubborn part, knew the truth.

"I just needed to know," I had said, my voice trembling, "that you're still here. That we're okay."

He had sighed, a sound of profound exasperation. "Of course, Allison. Always." The words were hollow, ringing in the empty space between us.

Now, sitting in Dr. Vance's office, the memory felt like a fresh wound. He had never truly been mine. He had been a mirage, a cruel trick of a damaged memory.

"I want it gone," I repeated, my gaze fixed on the scan of my brain. "Every single memory of him. Every touch, every word, every lie. I want it all erased."

Dr. Vance nodded slowly. "Understood. The procedure is scheduled for next Tuesday. Do you... want one last memory? One last gesture before?"

A last gesture. A final goodbye to a life that had never truly been mine. I closed my eyes, picturing the penthouse, the piano, the quiet corners where I had once found solace.

"Yes," I finally said, "I think I do."

Dr. Vance confirmed the arrangements. "Alright, Mrs. Day. Tuesday it is. Rest up."