It felt surreal to think that three years had passed since that car accident. Three years I spent sleeping, trapped in the darkness, and another three years I had spent awake, living this beautiful life.
But here was the truth: I remembered nothing.
Not the accident. Not the time before it. Not my childhood, not my teenage years. My mind was completely blank, like a brand new notebook waiting to be written in.
The only history I had was the one I had lived since opening my eyes.
And that history was perfect.
I was Aureliana Vance. I was Rhydian's wife. I was Wynne and Maven's mother. That was all I knew. That was all I needed to know.
"Mommy, catch me!"
Maven screamed happily as she ran across the huge lawn, her brother Wynne chasing right behind her. They were growing up so fast, smart and energetic, the perfect mix of me and Rhydian.
I sat on the bench, watching them with a wide smile.
"Enjoying the view?"
A deep, warm voice sounded beside me. Strong arms wrapped around my shoulders from behind, and a chin rested on top of my head.
Rhydian.
"Always," I said, leaning back into his chest, closing my eyes and inhaling his familiar scent. "They are getting so big."
"They are," he murmured, kissing my temple. "Just like their mother. Getting more beautiful every day."
I laughed softly, turning my head to look at him. "Flirt."
"Only for you," he grinned, sitting down next to me and taking my hand in his. His large hand completely enveloped mine, warm and safe.
Questions Without Answers
We sat there in comfortable silence for a while, just watching our children play under the warm Baguio sun.
Sometimes, the silence in my mind would feel heavy.
"Rhydian?" I asked softly.
"Hmm?"
"Do you ever get sad?" I asked, playing with his fingers. "That I don't remember anything? I mean... we are husband and wife. We have kids. We've been married for three years now since the official wedding... but I still don't know how we met. I don't remember what we were like back then."
Rhydian turned to look at me, his dark eyes soft and full of endless patience. He never got angry. He never pressured me.
"Aureliana, look at me," he said gently, lifting my chin so our eyes met. "Why would I be sad? Yes, you forgot the past. But you didn't forget how to love. You didn't forget how to be kind, how to be amazing, how to be you."
He squeezed my hand.
"I spent three years sitting by your bedside, talking to a shell, hoping you would hear me. Now, you are here. You talk to me. You laugh with me. You sleep in my arms. That is more than I ever dared to wish for. The past is gone, baby. We don't need it."
"But don't you want me to remember you?" I whispered, feeling a pang of guilt. "Don't you want me to remember loving you for the first time?"
"I have you now," he said firmly. "And you love me now. That is worth more than any memory. You are my wife today. That is all that matters."
Life as We Know It
Life in the mansion was peaceful and full of love.
I ran the house, took care of the kids, and took care of my husband. Even without memories, my instincts were perfect. I knew exactly how he liked his coffee. I knew exactly what made him smile. I knew exactly how to soothe him when he was tired from work.
It felt like I had done it all my life.
One evening, we were having dinner as a family.
"Mommy, tell us the story again!" Wynne asked, his mouth full of food.
"What story?" I smiled.
"The story of how you woke up!" Maven chimed in. "And you saw Daddy and you knew he was your hero!"
I laughed and looked at Rhydian. "Is that how the story goes?"
"That is exactly how it goes," Rhydian said seriously, though his eyes were twinkling with amusement. "Mama woke up, and she knew right away that we were meant to be together."
To me, that was the truth.
I didn't remember anything else. I didn't remember any other men, any other lives, any other problems. My world started the day I opened my eyes and saw his face.
And it was perfect.
The Night Sky
Later that night, after the twins were fast asleep in their rooms, Rhydian and I went out to the balcony.
The city lights below us twinkled like stars, and the mountain air was cool and fresh.
He held me from behind, his arms wrapped securely around my waist, his hands resting gently on my stomach. We stood there like that for a long time, just breathing together.
"I love you, Aureliana," he whispered into my hair, his voice deep and emotional. "So much it scares me sometimes."
"I love you too, Rhydian," I said, turning around in his arms to face him. I wrapped my arms around his neck, looking up into his eyes. "I might not have my memories. I might not know where I came from. But I know who I am now. I am yours. Completely and totally yours."
His breath hitched. He looked at me like I was the most precious thing in the universe.
"You are," he said hoarsely. "You are mine."
He leaned down and kissed me, slow and deep, pouring every ounce of his love into it. It was a kiss that said welcome home, I waited for you, I love you forever.
I kissed him back with everything I had. No doubts. No fears. Just pure love.
I might have lost three years of my life sleeping.
But I gained an eternity of love waking up.
And I wouldn't trade it for anything.