She’s Awake

Chapter 4

I opened my eyes to the faint hum of machines and the sterile scent of antiseptic. My head felt heavy, like I’d been dragged through a fog I couldn’t escape. Blinking slowly, I stared at the ceiling, unfamiliar and cold. A quiet beeping sound echoed in the room, steady and rhythmic, grounding me in the present.

Where am I?

I tried to sit up, but a sharp ache spread through my body, forcing me to stay still. Panic crept in as I looked around the room—white walls, a window with sheer curtains letting in soft light, and a man sitting beside me, his head bowed as though deep in thought.

“Who…?” My voice came out weak, raspy. The man’s head snapped up, and his eyes—dark and intense—locked onto mine.

“Miranda,” he breathed, his voice filled with relief. “You’re awake.”

I frowned, my heart racing. “Who are you? Miranda…That’s my name?”

His expression shifted, a flicker of pain crossing his face. “It’s me, Alex,” he said gently, leaning closer. “Don’t you remember?Yes…You are Miranda “

I shook my head, confusion tightening in my chest. “I don’t… I don’t remember anything,” I admitted, my voice trembling. “Where am I? What’s happening?”

Alex sat back, running a hand through his dark hair. “You’re safe,” he assured me, though his voice carried a weight I couldn’t place. “You’ve been through a lot, but you’re okay now. The doctor said you might have temporary memory loss, but it’ll come back in time.”

“Temporary memory loss?” I repeated, the words foreign and terrifying. “What happened to me? Why can’t I remember?”

Alex hesitated, his jaw tightening as though he was holding back something painful. “You were hurt,” he said carefully. “But you survived. That’s what matters now.”

Hurt? My fingers instinctively brushed against my abdomen, where a dull ache lingered. “I don’t understand,” I whispered. “Who hurt me? Why?”

Alex reached out, taking my trembling hand in his. His touch was warm, grounding. “I’ll explain everything when you’re ready,” he said softly. “But for now, just focus on getting better.”

The door opened, and a tall man in a white coat entered. His kind smile and calm demeanor instantly put me at ease. “Good to see you awake, Miranda,” he said, glancing at the monitors beside my bed. “I’m Dr. Carter. You’ve been unconscious for a while, but your vitals are improving.”

I nodded hesitantly. “Alex said I’ve lost my memory.”

Dr. Carter nodded. “It’s not uncommon after severe trauma,” he explained. “Your brain is protecting you, but your memories should return with time. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

I swallowed hard, trying to process his words. “Will I ever remember everything?”

“With proper care and patience, yes,” Dr. Carter reassured me. “For now, just rest and trust Alex. He’s been by your side the entire time.”

I glanced at Alex, who watched me with an intensity I couldn’t decipher. There was a connection there, something buried deep within me, but I couldn’t grasp it.

“Okay,” I said softly, though the uncertainty still gnawed at me. “I’ll try.”

As Dr. Carter left, Alex leaned forward, his voice barely above a whisper. “No matter what you remember or how long it takes, I’ll be here, Mira. I promise.”

His words, though comforting, left a lingering question in my mind. Who was Alex to me? And why did I feel like my life was hanging by a thread I couldn’t yet see?

It was another quiet evening in the hospital. Alex sat beside me, his strong hands carefully brushing my hair back as I sipped the soup he’d brought. The warmth of his presence was comforting, like a lighthouse in the middle of a stormy sea.

I watched him silently for a moment, the question gnawing at the back of my mind. His face held a tired tenderness, as though he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“You’ve been by my side for a long time since I woke up,” I began softly, breaking the silence. “You told me my name, and it seems… we knew each other a long time before. Are you my husband?”

Alex froze, his hand stilling mid-air. His eyes met mine, filled with an emotion I couldn’t quite place—pain, regret, and something deeper. He sighed deeply, setting the bowl aside.

“I wish I was,” he said, his voice low and raw. “I wish I married you and didn’t let him hurt you. I wish I had fought for you back then.”

His words sent a shiver down my spine, the weight of his sorrow pressing against my chest. “Who?” I whispered, my heart pounding. “Who hurt me?”

His jaw tightened, his hands balling into fists. “Aaron,” he said bitterly, the name falling from his lips like a curse.

“Aaron?” I repeated, the name unfamiliar, hollow. “Who is Aaron?”

Alex stared at me, his expression a mixture of shock and disbelief. “He was your husband,” he said, his voice trembling with restrained anger. “The one who put you in all this pain. How can you not remember him?”

I touched the ring on my finger, its cool metal a stark contrast to the heat rising in my chest. “My husband,” I murmured, the weight of the revelation sinking in. But there was no spark of recognition, no flash of memories. Only a void where there should have been something—anything.

Alex leaned forward, his voice urgent. “You loved him once, Mira, but he wasn’t the man you thought he was. He broke you, hurt you in ways no one should ever be hurt.”

I swallowed hard, my hands trembling. “If he was so terrible, why did I stay?”

Alex’s eyes softened, his voice breaking as he said, “Because you believed in love, in loyalty. You stayed for your children, for the family you dreamed of building. But he didn’t deserve you.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, confusion and fear swirling inside me. “I don’t remember him,” I whispered. “I don’t remember any of it. Why can’t I remember, Alex?”

He reached for my hand, gripping it tightly. “Maybe it’s better that way,” he said gently. “Maybe it’s your mind’s way of protecting you. But whether you remember or not, I’ll make sure he never hurts you again.”

His promise hung heavy in the air, and though I didn’t know who Aaron was, I felt a flicker of something in my chest—a strength I didn’t know I had. Even though i couldn’t remember this man , it was like there was an existing of hatred in my head of him .