Liz sat on one of the bar stools along the kitchen island as she pondered other advice and guidance that her doctor had given her. He seemed to be the only one who wanted her to get her memory back. Now thinking about her own husband’s unwillingness, previous to last night, to help her remember anything at all. Were they having problems? A scarier thought entered Liz’s mind. Was there a pending separation and he’d only shown up at the hospital because he was her only contact?
No.
It couldn’t be.
There was her brother Marcus.
Then again, Marc didn’t seem like he was itching for Liz to get her memory back either. He wouldn’t even go through family albums with her without clamming up.
What was her only known family hiding from her?
Suddenly Liz remembered the hypnosis from the night before. If the purpose of it was to help Liz get her memory back, why did Matt suddenly stop it? What was she on the verge of saying or remembering that Matt didn’t want?
Nothing made sense. However, the coffee was beginning to taste a lot better to her. Maybe the good doctor was onto something.
Was he good?
On the drive home from the hospital yesterday after Matt had vowed to be the man she needed, and followed through, Liz wondered what Matt and Dr. Tai had initially planned. And why was it suddenly pulled to a halt? The doctor certainly did not seem pleased when they left. He seemed irritated.
Liz put her mug down abruptly, deciding she needed to know why.
An hour later, Liz sat and waited in the same spot where she had the day before with her husband. The same nurses and technicians that had once fussed over her incessantly as a patient, now flew by her as though she were invisible. She had asked the same receptionist if Dr. Tai was in and if she could speak with him. After a quick nod, she was directed to the same seating area. After thirty minutes, she began to get impatient and asked again. Only for a generic excuse for the delay and point to have a seat. After another few minutes, Liz turned at a familiar voice. Only this time knowing it wasn’t quite her husband’s voice, as she had thought the last time she heard it.
Ben stood at the same reception desk, demanding to see what the hospital had submitted to his insurance company.
“Of course, Mr. Owen. Please have a seat and we’ll call you when it’s ready.”
Ben gathered his papers and turned toward the waiting area. Liz quickly turned away.
“Liz?” he called.
She turned, trying her best to act surprised to see him. “Hi, Ben.”
“Is everything okay?” His voice full of concern as he approached her.
“What? Oh no, yes. Everything is fine. I’m just here to see my doctor.”
He looked around. Looking almost annoyed. “Matt didn’t come with you?”
“No,” she said casually, hoping it wouldn’t lead to any questions.
Ben shook his head. “He should be here with you. I’ll call him.”
“No don’t. He...I don’t want him to know I came here today,” her eyes silently pleading with his.
Ben looked at Liz for a moment. His face unreadable. “Can I ask why?”
Liz turned. “There’s just something I’m confused about.”
He took a seat next to her and seemed to want to press further. But Liz could see he was hesitating. “You know, Liz,” he started after a long moment. “I know you don’t remember this, but you and I are actually pretty close.” He seemed to be waiting for her to respond. “If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate. Please.”
Liz watched him. He seemed so sincere. She wondered how a sincere man like him could be married to a seemingly unsympathetic person like Megan.
After a breath, Liz began, “I was just here with Matt yesterday. We came to see Dr. Tai, my neurologist and,” she hesitated, “apparently my hypnotist.”
Ben’s frowned. “Hypnosis? Is that a way of helping you get your memories back?”
“Sort of. They want to use it to see where the factors lie.” Liz went into the short version of what the doctor and Matt had told her and what happened in the room, including Matt’s eagerness to call it. She stopped when Ben’s expression appeared more enraged than curious.
