I always thought there was something more to life than casting longing looks out my grimy window or huddling under threadbare quilts, shivering as the harsh winter winds blew through my body and froze my inner core. I fantasized of rising up from the shadows of clawing emptiness that strangled my soul and threatened to crush my vitality. There was a growing sensation; determination that intensified every moment I lingered on the fact that this wasn't my life. I was destined somewhere else beyond the walls of the shabby house; beyond the run-down shacks and fields abundant with weeds. I knew there was something more.

Flowing cherry red hair spilled down my back as I traced raindrops down the iced glass with a delicate finger. With my other hand my nails tapped against the window in a steady, lulling beat. The clouded sky continued to cast down freezing rain. The only light was emitted from the lamp not to far from our house that cast an eerie glow into my shadowy room. My green orbs shimmered in the light as I gazed out into the distant, my mind lost in a fantasy world.

Gradually I drew up my hand to the window again and scrawled a name so that it faintly showed through the dirt-crusted window.

'Kory Anders'

A name.

My name- right? No, it didn't fit. Like a screwy configuration. Something seemed so... wrong about my name. As if it belonged to me- but it didn't.

Rising from the window sill I crept over the timeworn floor to the full length mirror resting on the wall. Inhaling sharply and then swiftly blowing out, the gust sent dust that had collected on the mirror spiraling into the air. I took a steady step back and peered into the mirror. My emerald eyes inspected the frames and curves of my 16 year old self. From my orangish tinted skin to my flat stomach that was growling with hunger at the moment. Maybe it was a good idea to scrounge the kitchen fridge and find something to eat. I glanced at my numb hands and my feet warmly swaddled in fuzzy socks. Then again, I was comfy in this confined area of my room, so best wait till later to go and get a snack.

Smiling into the mirror, then frowning and playing every feature of my face from raised eyebrows to a scrunched up nose, I let out a soft whisper, "Kory," hanging out each letter and each syllable, "Anders"

"Kory Anders." I mumbled again for reassurance. Nothing, no click... no mesh. Emptiness.

"Who am I?"

"Who am I?" I hissed, scrunching up my face and glaring into the mirror dangerously. Boy was this getting on my nerves. I scrutinized myself again in great frustration as to find something-anything that would flicker some memory of my past. From a strand of my cherry red hair to my dainty hands I could find no hint. All I knew was that 10 months ago- I wasn't Kory Anders. I wasn't some poor little girl waking up in the hospital with doctors staring down at me. I wasn't an orphan. I wasn't homeless. For 10 months ago- I wasn't diagnosed with amnesia.

flashback

"Anything on the girl yet?" The rough voice erupted in my ears as a conversation appeared before me. My mind seemed to barely pick up whatever was going on. My eyes were shut and I couldn't move my body. I was half asleep and had a throbbing headache. I didn't know where I was but at the moment in my half-conscious state, my ears were picking up two people talking next to me.

"No sir. She has nothing. I sent DNA to the labs but we haven't picked up anything yet. There's no evidence on who she is. Except some emerald gem neckless that says 'Koriand'r'. And I don't really think that's her name. No one knows of the origin of the word. It's not any language known to man." A soft, gentle tone of a female proclaimed.

He remained silent as she hesitated and brought her voice down to a whisper. I strained to hear without making a movement. "Sir, we've done some testing with her to see if she's in good health but something's completely wrong. There are well... abnormal let's say, parts of her body. I don't exactly believe she is a normal human sir."

"What do you mean?" He asked curiously.

"Well aparently, her stomach is... larger than anything I've ever seen."

"Large? How large?"

She gulped. "Well, large as in numbers..."

"Multiple?"

Before I could hear any response my body came to full consciousness and in an instant I sprang awake in terror. My eyes shot open as the two people in front of me were startled. My location was uncertain and everything seemed a blur. I understood not where I was or how I got there or who those people were. All in all, I didn't even know who I was!

"She's awake." The female said.

"Don't worry, just stay calm, everything's fine." She assured me.

My face showed panic as I stared around the room. The women's black eyes bore into me and the aged man in the corner was limping towards me.

"Where am I?" Was the first thing that blurted out of my mouth. I was in complete shock and needed to know what was going on.

"Calm down... you're in the hospital. Don't worry, your in good hands." She assured me again.

"What is this... hospital... from which you speak?" I asked, words slowly emitting from my mouth as if I was speaking some strange language, the words seemed to be sliced together strangely, yet unfamiliar.

The two figures gave each other puzzling glances.

"Yes, you're in a hospital. The uh... place where you go when you get hurt. Police found you floating in the water. You've suffered a concussion from what appears to be a severe blow to the head. By the looks of it you have also fallen at a devastating height." She pointed out.

I stared in shock and utter horror at my bandaged body.

I was floating in the water? I fell? When? Where?!

"We also believe that you have a severe case of amnesia."

"Amnesia?" I asked, completely confused.

"Amnesia is a partial or total loss of memory. You probably don't remember a thing in the past. Neither your accident or whatever life you lead before it."

I was still in severe shock as I gawked at the dolphins decorated on the walls. I shook my head in disbelief.

How could this happen to me?

"Don't worry. Everything will be fine. All we need to do is to discover who you are and try and spark some of your memory. Then we can find anyone related to you and send you home where you can slowly finish your recovery." The male spoke.

I smashed my head back down on my pillow and stared up at the ceiling as for some help. A tear threatened to shed but I quickly whipped it away. I sniffed once, and then twice before tears started to pour uncontrollably out of my eyes.

There I sat in silence for what felt like eternity. Neither eating nor sleeping. Hunger gnawed on me and sleepiness cast spells onto me. But I stayed there for three days. I took none of the little tablets or "medications" they tried to give me. Any sharp gleaming needle that came close to me I slapped away.

After a few months of no success, I was considered healthy and sent away to a orphanage where my life became utter misery. Who knew how mean kids could actually be?

I was confused, lost, hopeless. My candle was slowly burning out. I had no idea who I was or what was happening and it was driving me insane. My head constantly throbbed with pain as I pushed harder to figure out who I was.

Who was I?