Amnesia and Star Child

Days on, Leila sat down cross legged at her coffee table in her new living room, with Mira curl up by her side, tail thumping lazily.
It had been a bit of a trip lugging all of her stuff from Boston to Agoura, but it was well worth the effort - the house was a charming little one, and even though the back yard was a fair bit smaller than she had hoped, the rest of the house was pretty good.
She still hadn’t unpacked most of her stuff - boxes lined the walls and junk was piled atop every available space, but Leila was awfully fussed.
With a magazine in one hand and a biscuit in the other, she settled herself and switched on the T.V. to MTV.
Mike still hadn’t been in contact, and Leila had convinced herself that it was just a one off, and she would never indeed see Mike again - it was depressing because she felt that they got on very well, but for some reason or another they weren’t going to meet again.
It was a bummer.
“The following live broadcast is in no way affiliated with Warner Bros. or any of their counterparts and is not an official broadcasting for the whole of Linkin Park.” The voice said.
Leila looked up in curiosity.
The image changed to Brad sitting in a chair speaking to the camera, he looked like he was under a lot of stress - especially when Leila remembered the many other Linkin Park broadcasts, she could see that this time he appeared to be very emotional.
“Hey guys, everyone out there, this is Brad Delson from Linkin Park. This is a personal plea for information from you, as the wider knowledge... To help me find a girl once named Gracie Ingrid Ann...” The screen exchanged to a picture of the girl.
Leila stared.
“... She was six years old when she was taken to the Wakefield Adoption Centre in August ninth nineteen eighty four, since then I can’t find anything more about where she is now. If anyone...” At this point Brad voice broke; he stopped and took deep breaths, blinking back the tears threatening to consume him. It took a good ten seconds for him to regain enough composure to continue. “If anyone has any information, I would be so grateful if you could ring this number, and leave a message telling me what you know... For the sake of my best friend and the friendship he and this girl had as kids... Please help me get them get reunited.” Brad wiped his cheeks and sniffed, then someone off screen handed him a handkerchief. He wiped his nose, folded it over and then dried his eyes. “Thankyou so much for paying attention... And for those of you who haven’t changed the channel yet I’m sorry for making a d - bleep - k of myself. Again, if you know anything at all, then please call this number.” There was a ghost of a shaky smile on Brad’s lips for a second before it vanished and the screen flipped to the number which was placed below the image of the smiling six year old girl.
“Okay, now if you have the information, call the number...” The host of - what ever show it was called - started chin wagging and then shifted the topic on.
Leila sat there in amazement.
If that was all an act... Brad was certainly one hell of an actor - and then... If it was or it wasn’t - the girl, Gracie, reminded her of someone... Someone... Who...
Leila couldn’t remember where she heard it or what exactly it was, but somehow the name rang bells.
It stirred long distant memories that drifted around like the last traces of fog just out of reach and then receded back as quickly as they came.
She eventually put it out of her mind and went to work unpacking.

Leila had sat down for tea when the phone rang.
“Murphy’s Law - that’d be right wouldn’t it Mira. Sit down and the bloody phone rings!” Leila grumbled and answered the call.
“Hello? Leila speaking.” Leila said.
“Hey honey, it’s ya mother.” Leila’s mum answered.
“Hey mom.”
“Alright, yourself?”
“I’m doing great, the locals are awesome. I’ve started unpacking but it’s slow going. One of the families has already asked if they could lend a hand.”
“That’s wonderful dear. Look, the reason I called was because I saw this broadcast on T.V. which happened to be tuned to one of those newfangled channels of yours... This man was looking for information about a girl. Have you seen it?” She asked.
“Yeah I did. The girl Gracie? The guy was Brad Delson.” Leila replied.
“Yes. Leila, you know you were adopted right...?”
Leila paused.
“Yeeeah...?”
“Well, watching that broadcast, it made me realize we’ve been a bit tight lipped about it all. Leila - I don’t want to give you an awful shock, but you were adopted from that centre and...”
“My name was Gracie right?”
“Well... Yes. Gracie Ingrid Ann McArley. We adopted you if I remember rightly in the same year, nineteen eighty four... Now I did a dig around for the blasted papers but I seem to have misplaced them... Either that or your father put them somewhere...”
Though her heart was pounding, Leila couldn’t help but laugh.
“He’s probably chucked them in the fire.” Leila sniggered.
“Oh don’t say that! You’re probably right but don’t curse it - I’m sure I put them somewhere safe...”
“But yeah - are you saying I’m likely to be the same kid?”
“Well... Yes - but before we get ourselves all in a flap and put the poor man through any more grief I want to find the documents...”
“Good heavens...” Leila mumbled in astonishment.