Elton sat silently for a moment, then slowly reached out and took Agnes's hand, gently holding it in his palm. It was the first time he'd held her hand in years, and to his surprise, she didn’t pull away.
Agnes's fingers were cold, yet to Elton, it felt like he was holding a little sun.
He spoke softly, "Agnes, there's something I need to tell you, but please, don't be too shocked."
His words naturally made Agnes even more curious. "What is it?"
Elton took a deep breath and said, "Agnes, you've lost your memory."
Agnes was in the middle of sipping her coffee, her spoon halfway to her lips. Elton’s words froze her in place.
She frowned, looking at him with a mix of amusement and disbelief. "Elton, quit joking around. Do you think we're in some soap opera?"
Elton had always been the prankster, teasing and tricking her since they were kids. Agnes had learned to be wary of his antics. But this time, his expression was serious, his eyes held an emotion she couldn't quite place. He wasn’t kidding.
Agnes chuckled, "I've lost my memory? Then why do I remember everything? I remember you, everyone in our lives. What do you mean by 'memory loss'?"
Elton said, "Take a good look at me. Do I still look like a college freshman to you?"
It was only then that Agnes really noticed him. When she first saw Elton, something did feel off, but she'd been too sore and disoriented to dwell on it. Now, facing him directly, she realized he no longer looked like a carefree twenty-year-old.
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