Mistaken Identity?

"Frances? Frances, are you awake?"

"Huh? Who's Frances? Who're you? Where the hell am I?"

"Honey, you're in the hospital. Don't you remember the accident?"

"No. What accident? Hospital? Ouch!"

"Don't move so fast, Frances, you hit your head. Be careful."

"My name's not Frances."

"Then what is it?"

"Um... Well, I don't know, but it's not Frances. Who're you?"

"I'm your husband! You don't know me?"

"No."

"We've been married eleven years, honey."

"Don't think so. What's your name?"

"Allen."

"Nah, you don't look like anybody I'd marry."

"Oh, honey, I'm sorry. The doctor said your memory might be fuzzy. Maybe I can help you remember."

"Whatever."

"Do you want to go back to sleep?"

"I want you to go away."

"Sorry, I'll come back in a little while."

That's so weird.

"Honey? Honey... Frances? It's Allen.

"What?"

"Do you remember anything, yet?"

"Yeah, I remember you..."

"You do, that's great!"

"...pestering me while ago."

"Oh."

"Why does my ankle hurt?"

"You broke it, too."

"I hit my head and ankle?"

"Well, the paramedics said you were climbing a tree."

"Why?"

"You're a photographer, you were getting a picture of a nest."

"Why would I want to do something stupid like that?"

"Wild guess... You're a nature photographer?"

"No, I'm not."

"You had a contract with "Wildlife Adventure" magazine. You're doing a spread on 'Birds of the Northeast'. It's almost done."

"Doesn't sound like me. Sounds dumb."

"Honey, don't you remember our honeymoon trip? We went on safari. Don't you remember the lions?"

"I'm scared of lions."

"You snuck up and took a lion's picture from twenty yards away. That doesn't sound very scared."

"Sorry, not me. I'd never go to Africa. Hey, I think my name's Julie."

"Oh, honey."


"Mr. Lewis? Could you come out here a moment?"

"Yes, okay. I'll be right back, Frances."

"Sure. Can't wait." Idiot. My name's Julie.

"Uh, Mr. Lewis, there's a bit of a situation. I'm not sure how to tell you..."

"Oh no, is it worse than you thought? Will she still get her memory back?"

"Mr. Lewis. The woman you've been talking to..."

"Out with it. I can take it."

"...she's not your wife."

"What? Yes, she is."

"No, sir, your wife, Frances, is in room 345. This is room 354. She's been asking for you, she remembered who she was about fifteen minutes ago, but we didn't know where you were. You're Allen Lewis?"

"Yes. But the woman in here..."

"...is her twin sister. It was strange when they came in at the same time, so we did a rapid DNA test on both of them. They're the same, we couldn't tell them apart until your wife remembered. Mrs. Lewis has a fractured skull and broken ankle as well. She's awake now, and her memory is recovered."

"I didn't know Frances had a sister."

"Frances didn't either. Why don’t you go see for yourself, and we’ll figure this all out later."

"Wow, that's so weird. I will. Thanks!"


Word count: 499

Written for "The Dialogue 500"