“It’s a phenomenon where a person with a brain injury constructs false memories,” she said. “They can experience extremely vivid recollections of things that never happened at all or may recall events differently from true reality, yet be a hundred percent convinced they’re accurate. It’s a brain’s way of coping, you see, filling in the blanks.”

“Even if it’s not real?” Maya said.

Dr. Soares nodded. “On a smaller scale, false memories happen to people without amnesia or brain injuries, too. If you think about it, most of us believe our memories are accurate. In general, we see our minds as video recorders, with everything memorized exactly as it happened. However, if you ask the police about eyewitnesses—”

“They’ll say they’re notoriously unreliable,” Maya said.

“Exactly,” Dr. Soares replied. “Even if a person isn’t suffering from amnesia, their memory is prone to fallacy. For example, houses burn to the ground because the owner was certain they’d switched off the stove, and in extreme cases, people create entirely fictitious memories about things they’re certain happened, but never took place.”

I held up a hand. “Wait a sec. You’re saying stuff might come back but I could have made it all up because of...what did you call it again?”

“Confabulation,” Dr. Soares and Maya said at the same time.

“Like the chickens last night?” Maya turned back to the doctor. “Ash was convinced we had chickens in the garden at home, but they were actually on the fabric of the kitchen blinds. We never had real ones.”

“The condition may resolve itself over time as the brain heals,” Dr. Soares said. “But I need you to be patient with yourself, and each other, as you navigate your way through this. Maya, it’ll be a delicate balance of knowing Ash’s recollection is incorrect but not needing to convince him otherwise because that particular memory or detail doesn’t matter when it comes to the big picture of his life. Most of all, Ash, you need to rest as much as you can. Do you work?”

“Not at the moment,” I said, still trying to wrap my head around the false-memory concept, adding it to my ever-growing list of things about my life that were pissing me off. “I’m staying with my sister in the old family home.”

“That’s a good thing. Concussions take time to heal. You need to listen to your body, and don’t overdo it. No sports or vigorous movements, another blow to your head could have dire consequences, and stay off screens as much as possible. Other than that—” she gave a small shrug “—I’m afraid a strong dose of patience is required while you get better.”

“So, was I right?” Maya said. “It’s retrograde amnesia?”

Dr. Soares hesitated. “It’s a strong possibility, yes.”