The Bermuda Police Station was located on the corner of the pier, so as to keep watch for the tourists both in the shopping square and on the ships. I saw the cruise ship in port and immediately halted.
“Are you all right, miss?” The police officer asked. “Does that look familiar? It just arrived; the passengers should be departing shortly. Maybe you were supposed to be meeting someone?”
“No. I don’t live here. All I can remember are teal eyes,” I whispered.
I had a sudden case of crippling heartbreak; my knees gave up and I collapsed at the poor officer’s feet. I crouched there, my body convulsing in tearless sobs. I could see his face in my memory, but couldn’t remember his name. I wept without shedding tears.
“I should’ve stayed. I should never have come back.” I didn’t realize I’d spoken out loud until the officer leaned over and stroked my hair whispering words of comfort and encouragement. He looked like he might shed tears for me. He tried to lift me into his arms, but all he managed to do was to wrap me in an embrace and half drag me into the station. There was a man at the counter talking to an older woman. The officer gently put me into one of the most uncomfortable orange chairs I’d ever sat in and turned to talk to the lady behind the desk.
“Beverly, will you please get this poor girl some water and a blanket? I think she’s in shock.” He came and sat next to me, holding my hand while I tried to pull myself together. I couldn’t breathe past the pain and frustration, it was just too much. I forced myself to push the feelings from me with all the strength I could muster, and slowly started to come to myself. I needed to stop having hysterics.
“I’m so sorry. I have no idea what came over me. Thank you.” My voice was still scratchy.
“Tasha? Is that really you? Oh, thank God you’re all right! I saw you hit the tide and you were gone. Oh, baby you’re safe.” The man from the counter raced over and swept me into his arms. It felt so wrong. The body was shorter and thinner than what I was supposed to have wrapped around me. I had a vivid memory of a very large man’s embrace and this was not him.
“Do I know you?” My question startled him as effectively as a blast of icy water to his face. He pulled back so he could study me, which allowed me the same luxury. His blue eyes were red rimmed and haunted. He looked vaguely familiar, and I knew I should find him memorable, but I just couldn’t place him.
“Sir, do you know this woman?” The officer stepped in front of me, effectively blocking the man from clutching me to his chest.
“My name is Keith McNamara and this woman is my girlfriend, Natasha James. I came here to report her missing, possibly drowned. We had a scuba diving accident on the ship this afternoon. I thought she’d died. Please, let me look at her.” He sounded desperate, his voice thick with hope.
“That was today? I’m sorry,” I whispered and shrugged, not remembering enough to continue the thought. I offered them all a small smile, trying to reassure them all that I really wasn’t crazy, not fully believing it myself.
“I’m Officer Damon Pendleton, and this woman claims to not have any memory of herself or of anything that happened prior to my finding her in the street. Do you have any proof that she is who you say she is? I also need proof of who you are and your relationship to her in order to let you leave with her.” He took this Keith person into the back office to discuss what to do with me.
While they were talking, Beverly found a dry pair of pink Bermuda PD sweats for me to wear. I didn’t know much, but I knew I wasn’t used to being coddled. Apart from the vague image of a man who I was pretty sure I allowed to coddle me as much as he wanted. I couldn’t think about that though, as I was again fighting overwhelming sadness.
“Thank you, Beverly. Where can I change?” I whispered because I couldn’t bring myself to talk past the lump forming in my throat. I was a mess.
“Oh, honey. Let’s get you into the powder room so you can wash some of the grime off your face. We can put this beautiful dress into a duffle bag for you to wash when you get back home, all right? Come with me, you poor dear.” She bustled around me like a grandmother taking care of an ill child. I smiled at the image she conjured in my head. It really was kind of her to help me like she was. I had the vague feeling that kindness didn’t always happen in my life.
She led me into the back where there were locker rooms leading into a small gym. We entered the ladies’ room, and she had to help me out of my dress and into the shower. As the dress was peeled from me, a small disk plinked onto the floor. My heart leapt at the sight and I knew there were answers on it, if I could just look at it. It was the single most important treasure I possessed on this earth.
“Well now, that’s a funny thing to have in your under things. I’ll put it in the little pouch here so you don’t lose it, okay, honey?” She bustled about as if it were an everyday occurrence to have a naked woman with amnesia in her showers. She helped me to get the worst of the
