“Elizabeth, my shift is over in a few. Nurse Lauren is going to be in and she’ll look after you, okay?”
Liz didn’t respond. She just looked out the window. Matt only imagined that she didn’t care who it was that would watch over her, they were all strangers.
The nurse gave him a sympathetic look before jotting something down in the log and walking out. The room fell silent. There wasn’t much going on while the nurse had been there, but the difference was deafening. Liz kept her eyes out the window, clearly avoiding him. She glanced at him uncomfortably. He realized this was the first time they’d been alone since her accident. Come to think of it, this was the first time they’d been alone since he’d walked out on her two nights before. He remembered the look in her eyes that night. They were filled with so much emotion; love, fear, pleading. He’d even felt her heart breaking. Now there was nothing in her eyes. No memories of the love she felt for him, no fear of losing him. It was pure vacancy. It made him wonder if what the doctor had told him earlier was true. That this could be the cause of any stress she’d been under.
“I know what you’re thinking,” he said finally, still standing a healthy distance away from her. He had decided he wouldn’t come closer until he knew she wasn’t afraid. He wasn’t sure what he was expecting, all he knew was that he never wanted to see her struggle to defend herself from harm the way she had the night before. A memory that would haunt him till the end of time. And brought out every protective instinct he had left.
“You’re wondering if it’s proper hospital etiquette to leave you in a room with a stranger,” he continued after she turned to face him.
Liz eyeballed him up and down as if to concur. But still said nothing and turned back to the window.
“I’m not a stranger, Lizzy.”
“Why do you call me Lizzy if I prefer Liz?” she questioned.
He smiled, taking one step toward her. “Because despite what you tell people… you love it when I call you that.”
She gave him a slow weak smile. “Thank you. For stopping them. I was…lucky to have you here.”
“I want you to know that you can trust me. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
Then how did I get here?He imagined her wondering.
“I’m sorry for my…outburst yesterday.” Her lip curved on one side. “Probably wasn’t my best moment,” she added, surprising him.
He took two more steps forward. She watched him with caution. “Liz, you have nothing to be sorry for. You woke up in a strange place, not knowing who you are or how you got here,” he paused and took in a deep breath. “Or anyone around you,” he added regretfully.
Now that he’d thought about it, he completely empathized with her reaction. People she didn’t know were all less than a foot away from her; one claiming to be her husband while the others trying to inject her with something she didn’t consent to. He couldn’t imagine anything scarier. Not even the thoughts he had in his head about what might have happened to her, could have compared to how she felt when she woke up.
“I know who I am now,” she started defiantly. “I’m Elizabeth Owen. 27 years old. A grade school teacher.”
Matt fell silent. Wondering if she was starting to get her memory back in facts of her life rather than events.
“You’re Matthew Owen.”
Matt frowned. This wasn’t his Liz talking. His eyes strayed down to her waist, just noticing that a file had been stuck to the side of her bed. “You’ve been reading,” he said, staring at the manila folder.
“The nurse wanted to make sure I kept it, in case it turned out that I had one of those conditions where you forget who you are every 30 seconds.”
Matt nodded. He’d seen a movie like that once, never imagining that was a real condition. The reality of her condition hit him more at that moment than it had before.
He wiped his forehead and took a few more steps towards her. “Liz, I am so sorry,” he said after a moment.
She frowned. He imagined she was expecting some reassuring words that she was going to be okay. Confirmation that she can trust the doctors in the facility to take care of her. But she probably wasn’t expecting an apology. She quickly glanced over him.
“Why? Were you driving the car?”
“No.” He finally took her hand and held it, lightly stroking the scrapes. “But I um…I’m responsible.” His voice turning raspy. “Liz, I know this doesn’t mean anything to you, but…you’re my whole world. If I’d lost you…” his voice cracked and his eyes burned.
“Matthew?”
He burst a short laugh. “Yes, Elizabeth?”
“My head hurts.” She feigned a tired look.
He glanced at the top of her head. “I don’t doubt that,” he said softly. Although she may not have been completely honest about the headache, he was angry at himself for getting so emotional with her so quickly. He should have known better and couldn’t blame her. He gently placed his hand on her head and guided her onto her pillow.
“Liz, Dr. Tai came by to talk to you earlier. I told him you were sleeping. Is it ok if I go find him for you, or would you rather wait?”
