Me Before You
Chapter 5

Monica Frances went down one by one the stairs in her house. Monica did feel a little dizzy, but she forced herself to move. Monica thought, if she was still lying in bed, surely her pain would be spoiled. After all, last night he had enough rest, even more. As Monica recalled, ever since Joshua left her room yesterday, she had fallen asleep. Speaking of Joshua, Monica wanted to meet Joshua in person and apologize, because the man felt guilty for what happened. That was not his fault.

Honestly, Monica was worried that the man was thinking about his mistake and ended up making Joshua's insomnia recur again, but lately it seems Joshua's insomnia began to decrease. Monica was really worried about that.

"Mother?" the first person Monica met this morning was her mother. She saw her mother was busy looking after the kitchen. The aroma of cooking began to roar as Madam Frances opened the lid of the pot.

"Monica? Why awake? You've got a lot of rest." then Miss Frances walks up to Monica and pulls her to sit at the dinner table.

"I'm fine mom. Besides I don't want to keep quiet in the room, I need refreshing too." said Monica without knowing how much her mother worries.

"But you're sick, baby."

Monica shook her head, then took the mother's hand and rubbed it. "I'm fine, believe me." Monica gave a small smile to her somewhat pale face.

Lady Frances had no choice, if Monica had said so, she would have to entrust her son. The middle-aged woman sighed, "alright, mother will not force. But you just sit here quietly, okay? For now don't help mom and dad."

"Hm-mm." replied Monica with a nod. Then Lady Frances got up from her seat and resumed her activities in the kitchen.

Monica saw her mother cooking from the dinner table, she noticed how her mother processed meat mixed with spices as well as vegetables. It feels like Monica's stomach can't wait to fill up right away. Monica must admit that her mother's cooking is very, very delicious. And the girl needs to learn a lot from her mother about the kitchen.

After everything was done, Lady Frances treated Monica with the food she had just cooked. Monica did not even realize that her mother had finished cooking, she still leaned her face on the dining table.

"You have to eat and take medicine" said the mother.

Monica also according.

"You know, I thought Joshua was worried about you after yesterday's events."

"Yes, yesterday he said."

"Yesterday?"

"When he came, I just woke up and he said all his worries. He also blamed himself for making me faint. He thought I fainted from exhaustion. I didn't faint because of that. Before I fainted, I kind of got something in my mind, like an electric shock and I could see a little girl."

Monica's words just made Miss Frances realize that something made Joshua Spencer behave like that to Monica. Could Joshua like Monica? But it was still too early for Lady Frances to expect it.

"He's a very nice person, when you just met." said Mrs Frances diverted.

"Yes, he's a good man. He's also a very open person, he told me everything he's been through. He even told me that lately he often insomnia because of his work. Is working in that city so stressful that insomnia is?" monica asked her mother.

"Eitherway. I hope you don't go there, it's dangerous."

"Is that so?" monica continued to eat her food.

Mistress Frances was silent for a moment. He did not respond to his son's last question. There was a reason that caused the middle-aged woman to not answer. He was afraid when he responded to the question, making him re-distort the old memories that had been harbored. Mistress Frances just didn't want past events to overshadow Monica.

Moreover, Miss Frances did not want Monica to end up the same as Alex.

...-οΟο-...

This morning Joshua Spencer was startled by the sound of his phone ringing. The time that he should have used to sleep, instantly disappeared because of the loud voice that was so disturbing. The man fingered the table next to the bed, looking for the whereabouts of his phone. Without seeing who was calling, Joshua immediately received the call.

"Hello?" greet Joshua with a hoarse voice, typical of newly awakened people.

"Josh, you just woke up?" voice over there.

Joshua did not immediately reply, the man frowned while scratching his back head. "Who is this?"

"Yes, God! It's me Ferdinand!"

"Ferdinand?" Joshua was more confused, a second later the man jumped, "O, Ferdinand!" exclaim that man.

"Josh, you better go to the bathroom and wash your face, it looks like your life hasn't come back yet."

"Ah, why call this early in the morning?" joshua asked directly.

"Your to say!? It's 11 o'clock!" there was a sound of breathing at the end. "Explain to me, why are you so bad?"

"It seems like my insomnia is coming back." Joshua said weakly, "during this holiday I had too many thoughts."

"Joshua I don't think the holidays can help you work well."

"Hm.. I don't know." then Joshua continued, "was there anything important until he called me?"

"Yes, it looks like Adrian asked you to come back quickly, because of some things that need to be said. Your vacation will probably be two weeks out of the month you ask."

"When I intend to ask for a longer holiday." joshua continued.

"Don't joke! If you go on vacation, my duties will pile up even more. Honestly, I can't work without your help."

"I don't think telling me to come back quickly is a good thing. I can't even think of anything while I'm in Gibbston Valley." Joshua said a little disappointed.

"Josh, I don't think you need to think about work during the holidays. Use your time for a walk. I'm worried about your health condition if you keep pushing it."

Joshua sighed, heavy. Everything Ferdinand said was true, but somehow Joshua's mind was always sidetracked by work. He always thought about all the deadlines that the boss gave him, even though Ferdinand himself who worked as an editor did not mind it.

At least during this holiday, Ferdinand can handle his super perfectionist boss. But lately there's one reason that makes Joshua Spencer think that he can't sleep. Monica Frances's. The girl made Joshua think about the girl's situation. Is she okay? Will Frances's family be upset about yesterday's incident?

Looks like after this Joshua has to go to Monica's house.

"Josh, are you still there?"

Joshua realized that his phone was still connected to Ferdinand. So Joshua was just daydreaming, thinking about Monica.

"Yes. Looks like you were right. By the way I want to see someone first. I'll call you back later." Joshua then disconnects with Ferdinand, then puts the phone back where it was.

...-οΟο-...

Monica Frances is currently only in the room. His mother did not allow the girl to go out, even for a walk. Mistress Frances's concern for her son is not separated from the old trauma that is still on her mind.

As a good child, Monica obeyed her mother's orders. After all, at home, her mother had prepared everything Monica needed.

To be honest, Monica wants to meet Joshua. The man must be worried about him, but Joshua's situation can be said to be more worrying. If insomnia is allowed to continue, it will certainly grow the disease. Should she ask her mother for permission if she wants to go to Joshua's? But seeing the sensitive Lady Frances this morning, Monica had to think twice about going out.

Just now Monica was going to lie on the mattress, suddenly the sound of knocking on the door followed by the sound of a squeak of the doorknob, making Monica's gaze fixed on the door of her room that was now starting to open.

"Joshua?"

Apparently Joshua. Just thought about. Inner Monica.

"Hi!" greet the man from behind the door. "Can I come in?"

"Of course."

Then the man went into Monica's room and sat in a chair near Monica's bed. "How are you doing?"

Monica Frances smiled in response to Joshua's question, a second later she replied, "I'm fine. Just need a break." the girl changed her sitting position, who originally stretched her legs now sitting cross-legged, the goal was to make it more pleasant to chat with Joshua. "By the way, why did you get in here? Didn't you ask me anything?"

"No." Joshua said, shaking his head. "It was your mother who told me to stop by to accompany you."

"What!?" Monica was a little surprised, "when this morning after breakfast, my mother kept telling me to be in the room."

Joshua laughed too. "That's natural, 'cause your mom's worried about you."

Monica shrugged both of her shoulders. "My mom's been a little sensitive lately." Said. "Oh yeah, you brought a book yesterday, but I haven't read one."

"Actually Monica." the sentence instantly filled Monica's gibberish and made the girl look at Joshua. "I'm sorry for making you sick. I didn't know you weren't feeling well yesterday."

Monica blinked her eyes. "Who? Me?" point it at yourself, then the girl laughs. "Yes, geez... Joshua. What happened yesterday was not your fault, yesterday it was me.." suddenly Monica held her temple, feeling a little dizzy.

"You okay?" Joshua approached to confirm Monica's condition.

Monica nodded and gestured to Joshua that he was fine. "It's the effect of my memory returning." before Joshua continued, Monica spoke again. "But still vague. In my memory I only saw a boy give me a book."

A book? Joshua began to remember that he also once gave a book to a girl who was bullied at school. It's just that Joshua forgot the girl's name.

"I also remember the boy giving the book away in the garden."

Joshua was curious about Monica's story. The story is similar to the events he experienced in the past. Is this just a coincidence? Looks like Joshua needs to figure out the answer. Joshua's soul is called upon to help the girl recover her lost memories.

"Monica, do you really want your memory back?"

"of course. I want to know who that boy is and the reason why my family hid brother's death."

...-οΟο-...

After talking to Monica this afternoon, Joshua started thinking, it seems like he can't return quickly to the city because there is something he has to take care of. Yeah, especially if it's not helping Monica Frances. I don't know what makes Joshua care so much about that girl.

After returning from Monica's house, Joshua was seen pacing back and forth in the room, while putting both hands in his pants pocket. Joshua began to think about the reason he had given Ferdinand when the man asked. Yeah, Joshua was planning to call Ferdinand again for permission to spend a few days in Gibbston Valley. Oho! Come on, right now Joshua is really dizzy. His job is too demanding for a lot of time, he can't be pestered like this.

Slowly the man began to sigh and finally sat on the side of the bed. Joshua started scratching his head origin, then lying down. His mind was too troubled to think about the reason for his departure setback.

To be honest, Joshua's thoughts are still focused on Monica. Yeah, that girl got priority in Joshua Spencer's mind.

Joshua thinks Monica Frances has a connection to Joshua Spencer's past. Joshua can't remember anything about his past. Sometimes Joshua wondered why human memory is so short that it does not remember the occurrence of an odd item. It was too complicated to think about, but his mind could not shake everything.

Either by chance or what, Joshua's phone suddenly rang. The man was a little aghast, but after realizing it, Joshua grabbed his phone and received the call.

"Yes, Ferdinand?" said Joshua. "I just wanted to call you again."

"I called you on purpose. Your habit is to say 'i'll call again soon' will definitely not call." Ferdinand sneered.

Joshua laughed, "so what do you want to talk about?"

"Is there anything I can help you with? It seems you're under stress right now."

"helpfully? Help what?"

"On your job or you might have a problem. Honestly, your insomnia isn't good for the long term."

Joshua sighed, "well. I haven't even made a single result during this vacation. Oh, come on I've only been here three days how is that possible." Joshua let out a rough sigh. "Actually I have a problem, no, it's not my problem it's just that I don't know how to get started so I can now deal with it."

"You mean?"

"It's about someone." Joshua said. Then the man told me everything. From the very beginning she was in the Gibbston Valley, about Monica Frances and her family, as well as about Monica Frances's memory and Joshua's vague recollection of childhood events. Joshua also stated the real reason why he wanted to help Monica Frances so far.

Joshua thinks maybe Ferdinand will understand his current situation and he will help Joshua.

Ferdinand is trying to be a good listener for his friend who is currently in trouble. On the sidelines of their talks, Ferdinand always gave a response in the form of 'hm' as a sign that he was still listening to Joshua tell a story.

"So that's why you want to help her?" Ferdinand concluded Joshua's story.

"Yes." Joshua said quickly, then the man continued, "I've decided. So I really need your help, Ferdinand."

"What can I help you with?" the question made Joshua rise from his fall, and sit cross-legged on the bed.

"Can you tell Adrian to give me some leeway for my vacation? I promise I'll approve his request."

...---...