The Decision

My body still hurting from the accident I slowly sat up on the hospital bed. As I moved, the sterile white sheets crumpled and I shook my head in an attempt to clear my head.

His words 'unborn child' reverberated in my mind weighing me down. As I said "This is insane" my voice cracked a little. "I cant—I can't do this."

My heart was racing when I looked at him. A substitute wife? To live with a billionaire stranger under some unwritten agreement? It felt wrong but I was afraid to turn down his offer. What if I had nothing and nowhere to go?

He moved in closer, his gaze unblinking. "You have no memory, Ava. You have no recollection of your life prior to the accident. I'm giving you a place to heal and stability. Consider it."

 My frustration and rage were growing inside of me. I didn't want to be someone's short termed wife or even some sort of crazy bargain.

" You're... asking me to be someone I'm not." I said, my voice sharp.

His gaze softened slightly." I know it's difficult but you'll be under no obligation to trust me. You should think about what I have to offer . It's not just a place to sleep or a place to find refuge. I can help you get back on track."

 I shook my head once more and swallowed hard. "I cannot accept this. Something about it feels like I'm being sold off. I've never even met you. There is nothing I know. Why would I put my trust in you?*

 He didn't recoil or retreat. He continued to stare into my eyes. "Because Ava, you're stuck. Because you are lost and in pain. I'm not requesting your trust at this time. I'm requesting an opportunity. An opportunity for us both to ease things."

With my chest still constricted, I muttered "But why me?Why would you pick me out of all people? Why not someone else?"

 He paused for a long moment before responding in a calm, thoughtful tone. "I need someone with situational awareness. Someone who is able to see the chaos without bringing their past into it and who has no agenda.And right now you're the only one who fits."

I couldn't look at him for some seconds and instead I looked down at my hands"I'm not sure I can do this. I no longer even recognize myself. It took everything because of the accident. I feel as though I'm beginning anew, starting from the beginning."

The tone of Alex's voice grew softer, almost pitying. "I understand how it feels. You don't have to know everything at this moment. You simply require time. Take some time to recover. And I'm giving it to you."

 I felt like screaming and pushing him away, to utterly reject him, to tell him to go and never return. But there was a part ofe who didn't want to be alone and I didn't know where I would end up.

 "I can't be your stand-in wife with more vigor. I can't even recall who I was before the accident. How can I act like a substitute wife or someone else's wife? This is crazy" I said

Alex never wavered in his composure. "It isn't about acting. It's about providing a secure environment for you to recover and regain your sense of direction. I'm providing a means for you to escape loneliness and uncertainty. This is a temporary arrangement rather than a marriage. Our mutual assistance is essential. That's all."

 "Help each other?" I asked, again my voice trembling. "It feels wrong. It seemed as if I was being confined to a role which I didn't want . You mention a professional arrangement of some sort and it makes me feel confined. I don't need this."

"Ava you need security. You are in need of someone who can provide that for you without expecting anything in return other than your presence. Just consider it."He stopped once more, his face unreadable. "Consider it a chance, a strategy for improving a difficult circumstance. It's not ideal, I know that. I'm trying to give you something genuine even though life isnt perfect. Something steady at least until you're prepared to take charge of your own life."

 Tears were stinging the back of my eyes as I swallowed. "But… but what if my memory is lost? What if I never know who I am again? What if this is it? The only thing I'll ever know?"

Alex moved forward once more, speaking in a low solemn voice this time. "I'll assist you then. Let's work it out together. But Ava you won't be by yourself. I promise that."

"I'll think about it."I muttered with hardly a word out of my mouth.

The door clicked open once more and the nurse entered before Alex could reply. She paused looking between us with a firm yet courteous expression.

"I'm sorry to bother you Mr. Navarro but Ava needs to go to bed...orders from the doctor."

Her presence did not appear to have an impact on Alex. Rather he stood up straight and briefly turned his focus to her.

"I understand," he said calmly.

He faced me again and we just looked at one another for a while. Despite my doubts I was unable to ignore the offer that was hovering over me. He was offering me an escape route but what did that actually signify?

 "I—" I began but was at a loss for words. My mind was in too much disarray to come up with a logical answer.

 With a low but firm voice Alex said "Consider it. When you don't have any other options I'm giving you mine. A chance to recover. An opportunity for stability even if it is only temporary."

 I inhaled to regain my composure but the uneasiness that was developing inside of me persisted. I wanted to tell him that this whole arrangement was too much and too quick and I wanted to reject him.

However I was hampered by something, the apprehension of solitude, the anxiety that there is nowhere else to go.

"At this time I am unable to make any promises to you" I muttered."I just cant."

For a moment his eyes darkened with something unreadable and his lips pressed together. He then gave a nearly grudging nod.

"I get it. But I'll be available if you decide to change your mind." Alex pulled a sleek business card out of his jacket pocket without saying another word.

He threw it before me onto the bed. In the quiet room the sound of the card hitting the sheets was oddly loud.

His voice was low but sharp as he muttered." Call me if you change your mind." He paused and looked at me for a minute.

But after giving me a last glance, he turned and walked out of the room, his footsteps echoing in my ears and leaving me to beat the thoughts alone.

My mind was racing and my heart was pounding as I gazed at the card on the bed for a long time. I was at a loss as to what to do. I had no idea who I could put my trust in.

But for some reason I kept thinking that Alex Navarro was my only and last choice.