"How is he?" Grandpa Albert asked as he stood up from his seat, as he saw the doctor coming out of the private ward.
The doctor sighed as he stated while looking at the reports.
"For now, he is stable." The words sent relief through my body. I could also see Grandpa and Josh releasing their breath, which they had held for a while.
"But..." The doctor paused, which made my breath hitch. Grandpa stepped forward as he asked, "But what?"
This time, his voice turned ice cold, leaving goosebumps all over my body. This tone was kind of a warning for the doctor to be careful before he spoke.
The doctor cleared his throat as he adjusted his glasses. " Mr. Morris, I am not trying to scare you, but we think that Mr. Dave has regained some of his memories."
My eyes unintentionally went down as my mind kept repeating that incident when he addressed me as his wife. That moment, it felt like a dream, but now, listening to the doctor, the reality hit. Hard.
I was still in my trance when the doctor's voice broke the chain of my thoughts, "He remembers that he is married." He took a long pause as if calculating the effect of the words he was about to say.
Taking a deep breath, he finally revealed, "But he could not remember the time when he got married and the time he spent after that, which made him pressurize his brain, leading to a mental breakdown."
My legs went weak as I took a step back, not wanting to believe those words. So, this was because of me. The realization sank deeper by every second, and it became harder to even breathe, let alone stand on my feet.
While I stepped back, on the other hand, Grandpa also staggered when Josh caught him. With his help, Grandpa sat back on the chair. His breathing started to get shallow as he covered his face with his hands.
I could understand his situation. Albert Morris, who never even bats an eye in any situation. The roots of the Big Star Agency, which always remain calm and composed, were now sitting there.
Though he, too, was on the verge of a breakdown, he did not want any of us to see it. After a while had passed, he finally rubbed his face as he stood up with the support of Josh.
"So, what can we do, doctor, to stabilize his condition?" His voice felt heavy with all the emotions, yet he tried his best to keep his tone firm. His determination seared through his gaze.
The doctor, when he heard the question, took a long, deep breath as he adjusted his glasses, "In these cases, rather than the medications, we cannot provide a specific solution."
I ran my hand through my hair, listening to his words. Though the frustration started to grow over me, I could not do anything bout it.
The helplessness made me feel like a pathetic idiot who cannot do even one thing right.
God, please help me. Just me, one chance to repent for my mistakes.
The thought kept running into my mind when suddenly the doctor continued after a long pause, " But from my experience, I say that it is a good sign that he already started to remember."
He walked in front of the Grandpa as he sat beside him, as he too looked up at him. "What do you mean?" Grandpa's eyes furrowed. He looked hesitant about confirming something.
The doctor did not react; instead, he started to explain his idea, "I meant that if something or someone triggered him to remember some fragments of his memory, we can use it for our benefit."
"How?" This time I jumped in. Knowing there would be some way to compensate for the damage, I stepped ahead. The doctor moved his gaze in my direction and stared at me for a long time, which made me a little uncomfortable.
I wanted to ask what the matter was when he asked, "I did not mean to sound rude, but who are you?"
I blinked, still processing what he just asked. Who am I?
What could I say? Mrs. Elena Morris or his soon-to-be ex-wife?
My role in Dave's life was never clear, and now it has been blurred even more. I stood there still trying to get some words out of my mouth when Josh blurted out, "She is Mr. Dave's wife."
Dave's wife.
The word felt foreign as if the significance it used to hold in my heart, in my life, had vanished away. I did not deny or accept the fact and just stood there.
He seemed a little surprised, but then schooling his expression, he nodded along.
"As Mr. Morris informed me, Mr. Dave was with you, am I right?" My lips until now were sealed, not having any more words to speak out, so instead I just nodded in reply.
"So, can you explain in detail what happened yesterday that triggered him and how he reacted towards you?" His assertiveness made me a little dumbfounded when he explained, " I know it sounds a little intrusive, but from my perspective, I need to know every single detail in order to find a solution for him."
I could not look into anyone's eyes, but for Dave's sake, I would eventually have to tell the truth. So, taking a few long and deep breaths, I stated the whole thing. Of course, excluding the kiss part.
After I told him, he hummed in response as he nodded, "Okay, I got it." He turned to Grandpa as he finally stated, "I think Mrs. Elena is the key to regaining Mr. Dave's memory."
My eyes widened, and all the heads turned in his direction. I felt Grandpa's gaze fixated on me. I did not want to look at him, knowing all well what was going on in his mind.
"Are you sure, doctor? Isn't there another way?" My head turned to him.
His grandson's health was at stake, yet he asked for an alternative. His words evoked an unknown warmth inside my chest.
Before today, he used to tell everyone now and then that I was like his granddaughter, but today I felt it.
My eyes started to burn like crazy when I heard the doctor's voice, "Other than the medications, some therapy sessions could help but if Mrs. Morris gets involved, it will be faster."