Episode 7 - Who Am I?

The Devon Hightower stood at his North Carolina estate's home. The man had it all; he was tall and handsome, with pale skin and dark eyes in the backdrop of his jet-black hair. He stood there looking out the large window at all his sprawling land as he watched the moon as it glistened off the lake. He sighed as he walked back into the living room and sat down, still holding the half-empty glass of royal crown.

He was at wit's end, with his thoughts not knowing who would want to hurt Zari. Sure, he may have had enemies here and there, but not Zari. She was loved by most who allowed themselves to get to know his wife. He thought about Susie. Sure, she's childish and jealous. But would her jealousy make her go that far? Besides, the cops said it was a man they found in the crashed car. Who is he? Was he just some random thief trying to hold my wife for ransom because he knew she had married into wealth?

That I will never know until Zari gets well. How silly of me to try and make my wife upset. None of this would have happened if I hadn't thrown that stupid party and made that ridiculous announcement of wanting a divorce.

If only I could take that night back, I would a thousand times. I walked over to the sofa and sat down with a sigh. I looked at the large portrait of Zari over the fireplace as the tears threatened to fall. 

"I'm so sorry, Zari," I said as I laid my head back against the sofa and fell asleep as a tear escaped my eyelid.

*****

Early the following day, I got up and called my brother. "Hi Evan, can you cover for me for a while? I got a call from the doctor telling me that Zari will be discharged today."

"Sure, no problem. Tell my sister-in-law I send my love." 

"Okay, thanks." 

Evan sat in Devon's chair, propping his feet up on his desk, saying.

 "The only good thing about this is right now, that's all Devon cares about is Zari. This will allow me time to prove what I can do around here. Maybe our father can see my skills with Devon out of the way. Evan smirked and then grinned thoughtfully. Then he stood up, walked toward the window, then looked back at Devon's large corner office, "I'll be CEO of the family business, and who knows, with the care and attention his wife will need, it just might be permanent. Evan said, with a smirk on his face, chuckling.

****

Devon entered the hospital room, rushing to be by Zari's side. He couldn't believe him as their eyes roamed over her face, seeing a resemblance to his wife under the heavy makeup and wig. The nurse was holding her wrist, taking her pulse.

"Ms., when can you get her cleaned up?" Devon asked.

"As soon as she wakes, we have finished running our test."

Zari lay there feeling something squeezing her upper arm. After, the nurse took her vital signs and blood pressure. Zari lay there with her eyes closed, listening to all the sounds and someone talking about her condition. 

Thinking, "What were they doing?"

Once the nurse was finished and they were alone, Devon sat down next to her bed. She felt a large warm hand take hold of her hand, kissing it tenderly. All sorts of thoughts formulate in his mind that he could not utter or want to think. Like, was his beautiful wife raped? Was she beaten and made to do awful things against her will? The room was quiet now that the nurse had left out. She appeared to be sleeping soundly as he sat there and stared at her, waiting for her to awaken and see his face. For the past few nights, she would not open her eyes and look at him. But this has forced him to be patient in ways Devon never thought he could.

So, he held her hand for several hours, and this morning wasn't different. Then like a miracle, her eyes began to flutter, slowly opening in mere slits blinking in the bright hospital lights. She rolled them from side to side to see if anything or anyone was familiar. 

Then her large pretty eyes went to his inexplicable presence. She hated spoiling this strange man's pleasure and noticeable relief, but she didn't recognize him.

Devon says, "Hello." He still holds Zari's hand, smiling softly at her.

Gently she pulled her hand from his grasp and edged it a few inches away, tucking it under the sheet.

"Sweetheart?" The man's voice had an excellent sound to it. Not too deep and not too husky.

The handsome man seated by her bed- she could tell he was tempted to cradle her hand once again. He murmured endearments. But he didn't appear demented, deranged, or unbalanced. But she'd never seen him before in her life. He was the most handsome man, with a seductive smile and mysterious eyes. His hair was slightly tousled, even more out of order as he raked his fingers through the dark strands.

"Do you recognize me?" Devon asked her, slightly agitated.

Raising a hand to massage her temple, she drew back when her fingers touched the soft gauze. He looked well-built and well-dressed. Why do I feel that he is dangerous? I feel so helpless lying in this bed. "No, I don't recognize you, should I? Do we know each other?" She looked at her hand and then at his face. She realizes that they are different races. Before he could answer, she stated.

"My head hurts," she said and shut her eyes. The darkness brought relief.

"I'm sure it does. You've had a concussion."

She frowned, eyes still closed. "I did?"

You were in a car that hit a tree five days ago, but you were fortunate only to have a concussion and a few cuts and bruises. She recalled the accident, but her mind went blank after that. Briefly, the stranger touched her shoulder, his fingers warming her skin. It felt nice, she thought. Heat emanated from his body, and she breathed in his spicy male scent. It was oddly compelling.

"I'll tell the doctor you're awake. Maybe they can give you something for your headache." He spoke.

But he didn't leave, and she felt him watching her intently. After a moment, he kissed her forehead. The contact was sensual but fleeting.

'I'm glad you're all right, Zari. If I'd lost you..."

A kind-looking man in a white coat stepped up to the side of the bed. 

"Can you tell me your name?" 

Focusing hard, she stammered. "I don't know. I hear it's Zari."

"Where are you?" 

Looking around, "I guess this is a hospital." she said, smacking her lips at the absurd question.

"Yes, you are correct." 

"Why am I here?" 

"Don't you remember anything that happened?" 

"Did something happen?" 

Devon stood back, listening to the whole thing, looking shocked at his wife's confusion and hearing what she had been through.

"Yes, there was a car accident. You were found wandering not too far from the accident outside of town. When the person who found you brought you in, you passed out, and we haven't been able to ascertain who you are or what happened to you."

"Doesn't someone know who I am? What about my husband?" 

"Yes, people know who you are, but I need you to tell us who you are."

"Baby, I'm here." Devon rushed to her side. "Zari baby, your husband is right here. Do you remember me?" 

"You are my husband?" 

"Yes, remember me?" 

"I'm tired. Could you let me rest for a while? Maybe I'll be able to figure things out later." 

"Let her rest." The doctor says. Zari closed her heavy eyelids. It felt so good just to let them close. She lay there trying to remember what had happened to her. In her head, a mass of confusion was going on. She remembered being in a dark room most of the time and then a man bringing her and putting her in a car. She remembers grabbing the steering wheel. But it was like someone pressed the stop button right there. She couldn't remember anything else.

"Who am I? What trauma had brought me to this hospital? Maybe after I sleep a little, I will remember." 

"I am going to stay with my wife."

"Sure, thing, but let her rest." The doctor instructed.

Devon played over the little information he heard—trying to figure it out. Zari must have escaped the person who had abducted her seven days ago. That had to be it. Why didn't she have on shoes? What caused them to smash into a tree? Devon had so many unanswered questions. Devon stretches back to get some rest as well.

For three days, Zari was in the hospital. Devon was by her side. A couple of hours before they got ready to discharge her from the hospital. The nurse comes into the room.

"How did your visit with your family go yesterday?"

"It was hard because I don't remember them. The woman with the gray hair claimed to be my mother. She looked nice. I felt safe looking at her.

"Well, that's good because you will be discharged today. Zari's eyes grew large, requesting to speak to the doctor. 

The doctor comes to her room with the woman who says she is my mother. "Good afternoon, Zari. Your mother confirmed that is your name."

"Hi, darling. How are you feeling today?" Her mom says, smiling.

"I'm okay. I want to speak to you about something. Please don't discharge me to the man who says he's my husband. I don't know him, and he seems dangerous to me."

"Oh, dear. I'm sure you feel everyone is dangerous right now. I'm your mother, and you probably think I'm dangerous. But I wouldn't hurt a fly. You only feel that way because of your lack of memory. But Devon is very well respected. Also, he is rich and very handsome. Your husband's name is in the papers all the time. He has many projects going on to help the community. If he says you are his wife, you can trust him. You can trust me too. Zari, you are so privileged to be married to someone like that!"

"I don't care how much you admire him, don't let me go with him. I don't want to be alone with him." 

"Calm down, darling. When you regain your memory, you will feel differently."

"I don't care how you feel: I only know how I feel! I would never marry a man like him. He's not my husband!" 

The doctor shook his head. "Your family confirmed that you did marry this man. Your husband had to present proof, and he did. Trust me. We wouldn't let you just go home to a stranger though he may feel that way to you right now. He's your husband legally and has legal custody of you, so we have no choice but to put you in his care."

"It doesn't feel right." She cried tearfully. "Am I of sound mind even though I don't remember things?"

"I'm sorry, Ms. Zari. The sooner you accept, the sooner you will be able to recover." The doctor patted her on the hand and left the room.

Zari asks her mother for a mirror. Looking in the mirror her mother brought her. She saw an attractive woman with dark features. Her brows were very heavy. She didn't look healthy to herself.

"Who was I? And what kind of life did I live before? And what kind of marriage did we have?" Then she looked at the tall man taking claim over her as her husband, waiting for him to answer her questions.