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when I entered the living room, going to give them each a hug.  “How’s everything today?”
    They both exchanged an odd glance at my seemingly happy demeanor.
    “How’re you doing?” Shelly asked, checking me over.
    “I’m … better,” I replied with a nod, resting my hands on my hips, looking back and forth between the two.
    “You certainly seem more chipper this morning,” she observed, and I knew she was wondering what had brought such an about faced change to my mood.
    “Um, that’s because I have something I need to show you,” I said, grabbing each of their hands, leading them to sit down on the sofa.
    “Are you sure everything’s okay?” Brad asked and he looked up at me.  “You’re acting a bit weird.”
    “Sorry.” I glanced back over my shoulder toward the other room.  “Something’s happened, but you’ll understand better if I show you.”
    “Okay.  What’s up?” Shelly asked, watching me with narrowed eyes.  “You’re starting to make me nervous.”
    “Wait a minute.”  I turned to leave the room.  “Stay right there!” I went back into the kitchen.
    “Our best friends, Brad and Shelly, are here,” I said to Vance.  “Do you think you’re okay with meeting them?”
    He stood, coming to me.  “I remember them from the memories you showed me,” he replied with a nod.  “I’ll be fine.”  He offered a hand to me.  I was surprised by the gesture, but gladly took it.
    Brad and Shelly were whispering together, concern written on their faces.  Both quit talking, turning to the door when we approached.
    “What the …,” Brad’s voice trailed off, his face becoming an ashen shade of gray.
    “Oh my gosh!”  Shelly placed her fingers over her mouth.  She went completely still for a second before the realization hit her.  “Oh my gosh!” she yelled jumping up off the couch and running over to throw her arms around both of us.  “I can’t believe it!  I can’t believe it!”
    She pulled back and there were tears streaming down her face.  Brad came to join us, first hugging me and then turning to offer a hand out to Vance before pulling him close and thumping him on the back.
    “How’s this possible?” he asked, stepping away from Vance with a look of wonder.
    “Let’s sit down,” Vance suggested.
    Brad and Shelly moved to the couch and Vance and I went over to sit on the loveseat across from them.
    “Well, first you should know we think the Awakening is responsible for bringing him back to life,” I explained.  “Apparently it kept working to make the change even after he had passed.”
    “Wow!” was all Brad could say while he continued to study Vance.  “I can’t believe my eyes!”
    Vance glanced at me and smiled, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze and I turned back to face our friends.
    “You also need to realize that Vance has lost his memory,” I added, watching for their reaction.
    They looked confused, their gazes flickering between us as well as onto our clasped hands.
    Vance spoke up then.  “Portia showed me all of our life together through the mental link we share, so I can relate to things I’ve seen from her memory.  For instance, I recall the four of us playing Frisbee in Scotland, but the memory is hers.  I can’t associate any of my own feelings with that moment.  It’s just a blank for me.  I see myself as if I were watching a video of everything.”
    “Okay,” Brad said, trying to assimilate this information.  “So you don’t remember us at all?”
    Vance shook his head.  “Not technically.  I mean if I passed you on the street somewhere I would’ve recognized you instantly from Portia’s memories.  But as far as remembering for myself, complete with emotions and everything, there’s nothing.”
    Shelly turned her attention to me.  “How are you handling all of this?” she asked with concern.
    “It’s been hard,” I answered with a lump in my throat, and Vance rubbed his thumb over the back