Don't You Remember

Don’t You Remember

By Cheyenne Barnett

Copyright 2015 Cheyenne Barnett

Smashwords Edition

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold

or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person,

please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did

not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your

favorite eBook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard

work of this author.

Book Cover Made By Cheyenne Barnett

Stock Photos By: Susanne Winter and Mark Bray under the Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

Changes were made.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Chapter One

Carrie, you and Dimitri make the perfect couple! I'm sure he'll be popping the question any day now! Those words had echoed through my mind for years now. Everyone was so sure. I was so sure. But apparently, he had deceived us all, even me...

Every little girl dreams of finding her Prince Charming and in ninth grade, I was almost certain I had found mine. He was so perfect. Every girl longed for him. He was the new kid and had just moved to town with his family. I don't think he realized how much attention he would get, but when you move to a small town in rural Kentucky, everyone notices you.

He had jet black hair and dark brown eyes. He was tall and even for a measly fifteen-year-old, he had quite the body. But the one thing most girls went crazy over was the fact that he was Russian. His family had to move here due to his father's work but thankfully, his entire family spoke fluent English.

He made quite an impression on the entire school, but he never once gave any girl the time of day, except me. We met at lunch the second day of school. I was waiting in line to get my food and when I turned around, he bumped into me. He helped me pick up my tray and even offered to let me take his, but I refused. I was still in shock that he was talking to me. I wasn't the only one, though, it felt like the whole lunch room was watching us at that very moment.

I was always the shy girl, I didn't like attention, sure I had friends, but just a select few. I excused myself and practically ran to my lunch table. As soon as I sat down, everyone wanted to know what he said. I brushed them off and changed the subject. It would have worked too, but he came over and asked if he could join us. Of course, they said yes, and he sat next to me.

The next day, he figured out that I was in his science class and proceeded to sit with me each and every day. I might not have been very popular the first day of school, but by the third, everyone wanted to be my friend. Of course, I knew it was because of him and I didn't buy any of their attitudes.

As bad as I hated to admit it, I began falling for him. He was a true gentleman and treated me with respect. By Christmas, we were much closer and everyone could tell. Over our break, he asked me out on our first date and I accepted.

That was the start of many more dates to come and by our Senior year, we were voted Prom King and Queen. You're probably thinking that only preps get to have such a title, but not this time. Everyone thought we were perfect together, even the girls that were jealous, still couldn't reject that thought.

After graduation, we packed up and headed off to college. I majored in Nursing and he worked toward his Ph.D. in Medicine. Everything was going so well... We moved in with each other after our first year, no one was surprised, and I thought it wouldn't be much longer until he popped the question. I mean, we'd been together for almost six years, if he didn't want to marry me, wouldn't we have broken up a long time ago?

Our second year of college was when my friends started mentioning a wedding and one of my best friends actually started compiling a folder for ideas. It was crazy but I couldn't deny it, I wanted to marry him. I knew he was the one, or at least, I thought he was.

Once summer break came along, he started acting a little distant. I didn't think much of it, I'm sure he was stressed from all the work he had to do but one morning everything changed. I woke up and he was packing his things. When I asked him what he was doing, he kept saying he was sorry and he should have told me sooner. I had no idea what he was talking about and when he told me that he had dropped out and was leaving for the army that same day, I thought I was dreaming.

After I realized that I was awake and this was really happening, I started asking a ton of questions. I didn't understand why he was doing this and he never really answered me. He kissed me goodbye and said, Please don't blame yourself. This is about me, I have to do this for me. And with that, he was gone.

We had planned to go to Miami that summer with our friends. It was supposed to be the ultimate summer break, but I didn't go. My summer consisted of psychiatrists and antidepressants. My friends were worried but I just pushed them away. I couldn't be around them, they reminded me of the life I was supposed to have, not the one I had now.

I became a loner again and somehow, made it through college. I graduated with honors and had a bachelor's degree in Nursing. I became exactly what I wanted and yet, I still wasn't happy. Something was missing and I knew it was him, but I forced myself to get a job and to move away from the house that we had once shared.

Now, five years after my graduation, I'm living in a one bedroom apartment right beside the hospital. I haven't talked to anyone I went to school with since he left. I don't have a boyfriend, I haven't dated anyone in three years. I tried, but it didn't work. I compared everyone to him and I knew no one could ever take his place. I was mad at him, but at the same time, I wished he would come back for me.

I didn't even know if he was alive. I had reached out to his family, but they refused to have any contact with me. Eventually, I gave up. I threw myself into my work and became the ultimate workaholic. I hadn't taken a vacation day since I took the job and my boss became worried about me. I was still seeing a psychiatrist every three months and I was still on antidepressants.

All because of him.

About a week ago, my boss insisted I go on vacation. He said I needed a break, so I arranged to go to Hawaii for a week, which is why I'm now boarding a plane. Did I want to go? Not really and he knew I didn't, which is why he threatened my job. So, I'll pretend to enjoy some time off and maybe he'll leave me alone for another couple of years.

I found my seat and buckled myself in. I grasped my carry on tightly and awaited take off. I was daydreaming when I heard that voice, Looks like we're right here...

My eyes shot open as I looked up and down the aisle. There he stood. Dimitri Kozlovski, holding the hands of a blonde... I sank down in my seat, telling myself I had to be dreaming, there was no way he was on the same flight as me.

The blonde passed and sat down in front of me as I prayed to God he wouldn't see me. Carrie? He asked. I looked up and met those dark brown eyes. I almost got lost in them until I remembered how much pain he had caused me.

Dimitri. Funny seeing you here. I forced a smile. My worst and best day had just come true. I had hoped that I would run into him again, but at the same time, I despised him.

He had ruined me.

Before he could say anything, the Captain came over the intercom and told everyone to take their seats, we were about to take off. He reluctantly sat down and talked to the blonde beside him. Various thoughts ran through my head, should I get off and tell my boss I was sick? Maybe I could leave on another flight? And who was this blonde?

Probably his wife.

All these questions were taunting me and once the plane took off, I knew there was no turning back. I was stuck on here, with him, for at least nine hours. Why did this have to happen to me? Why right now?

Once we reached the safe flying zone, everyone was allowed to move about the cabin. I pretended to fall asleep, I really didn't want to engage in any social contact with him right now. I just wanted to land at the Honolulu airport and get on my merry little way.

I heard him turn around, probably to look at me, but he never said a word. I did overhear the blonde speak up, So, who is she?

An old friend I used to go to school with. He mutters.

An old friend, huh?

Whatever you say, dear. I'm just going to go to the restroom. I'll be right back. I could hear her walk away and as soon as she was gone, he moved again.

I know you're not asleep, Carrie. You never could sleep sitting up. My eyes flew open as I glared at him.

You don't know me, I add, watching his facial expressions carefully.

He sighs, Look, you have every right to be angry with me, but can you at least tell me about your family?

Family? I ask.

Yeah, husband? Kids?

He knew better than to ask me that. No. I'm alone.

Apparently, that made him realize something and he turned back around. Maybe he finally understood how much damage he had really done. All of this was because of him... When the blonde came back, they talked amongst themselves and he never looked back at me again…

After hours of flying, we were almost to Hawaii. It wouldn't be long now and I honestly couldn't wait to get as far away from him as humanly possible. Everything was going well until the plane started shaking.

The Captain kept assuring us that it was just turbulence, but once it started getting worse, the emergency light started flashing. Everyone started reaching for the air masks above them, then we heard a horrible noise. It sounded like a train was right beside us. When I turned around, I realized third class was gone.

Our plane was ripping in half.

The last thing I remember is everyone screaming and reaching out for their loved ones. Me? I didn't have anyone. The last thing I saw was Dimitri reaching for the blonde and holding onto the seat in front of him.

We were going down and fast.

Chapter Two

Come on! Wake up! It was him. I heard him, but he sounded distant. I struggled, but eventually got my eyes to open. What I saw startled me, I was only a few feet away from part of the plane. It was the second class cabin. I moved away from it and took in my surroundings...

I was on a beach, the few passengers that were aboard the plane, laid scattered around me. It was indeed a gruesome site but some of them were moving. They were sitting up, looking around, just as I was.

We really did crash, but where? Were we in Hawaii? If we were, wouldn't help be here by now? Then again, I had no idea how long we had been here... I finally saw Dimitri. He was on the other side of the plane doing CPR on the blonde. She looked horrible, blood soaking her clothes.

Suddenly, my nurse instincts kicked in and I rose to my feet. I examined myself, no apparent broken bones or anything major, just a few cuts and bruises. Please wake up! He cried. I had no choice. I didn't know if anyone else had medical training, I had to help. I ran toward him and knelt beside her. Switch with me, you're probably tired. He didn't argue, he removed his hands as I began compressions.

I tried to save her, I really did, but she was gone and he knew that. Just stop. He finally muttered. I sat down in the sand and ran my fingers over her eyes. She was probably already gone before you got to her.

I know. I've just never lost a patient before. He stares out into the open.

Patient? I ask curiously.

He nods. I went back to school. I was finishing up my internship this fall. He was almost a Doctor. I looked back at the blonde and he noticed, Her name was Rebecca. We were going to Hawaii on vacation. I was going to propose.

At that moment, I didn't know what to say. I was still angry with him, he left me, but he probably really did love her. I kind of felt remorse. I don't expect you to say anything, Carrie. Not after what I did.

I stood and walked away. All this was too much and I still didn’t know what was going on. I just couldn't wrap my head around it, but right now, there were passengers on this island that needed my help. I went around and checked the ones that weren't responsive. I tried CPR on each and every one of them, but it didn't work. They had been dead for a while now and there was no way I could bring them back. I started dragging them away from the shore and into a row near the tree line.

Once I finished with them, I checked the others for injury. There was one in particular that was bleeding pretty rapidly from the head. A short, thin brunette knelt beside me, I'm his wife, is there anything you can do?

I nod, I might be able to stop the bleeding. I tore off a part of my shirt and had her apply pressure to his head. Hold it in place and press down. I'll be right back. I stood up and walked over to what was left of the plane. Dimitri was still sitting on the other side, staring out at the ocean. I walked up to the cabin to see what I could find. Luggage was strolled everywhere.