Paralysis

13th Level

I’m in Guillaume’s arms.

_ “I’m so happy to see you again, I was so scared,” I said, sobbing

_ “Shh,” he said tenderly. “Calm down. I’m here now and no one can separate us anymore.”

Samira appears, covered in blood, an axe in her hand. She raises her weapon and is about to strike us with it. I wake with a start. It was only a dream.

I look around me; the light is blinding. I’m in a hospital room. I take off the oxygen mask and notice the drip needle in my arm. I immediately try to pull it out.

_ NO!, cried a woman’s voice. Don’t remove the drip

It’s a nurse. She approaches me, looks at the machines around me, touches my forehead and smiles warmly.

_ Your fever’s gone now; you gave us a fright. Have you been awake for a while?

I shake my head. I look at my arm and shudder, remembering Samira’s countless needles.

_ Is there a problem? Are you cold?

I shake my head and start to panic.

_ Please... take this needle out, I beg you... I...

_ I can’t, I’m sorry, the doctor...

_ I beg you, I scream, crying

_ All right, all right. Please calm down. You’re still weak

She removes the drip and I calm down immediately.

_ Where’s my husband?

_ Your husband is in a room nearby, but...

_ I’m going to see him, I say, trying to get up

_ Wait! You’re too weak. Wait here a moment

She leaves the room and returns two minutes later with a wheelchair. She helps me get into it and we leave the room. We pass through two long corridors before entering a new room. Guillaume is there, sitting on the bed, calm, his gaze vacant, a huge bandage on his head.

_ Good evening, Mr Grishwall, said the nurse kindly

_ G-good evening, my love...

He lifts his head and looks at me, his gaze empty and questioning. He frowns and seems to be searching his memory. He looks at the nurse and looks at me again.

_ Excuse me, but... who are you?

The blood drains from my face and tears well up in my eyes. I stand frozen, unable to comprehend what is happening. Seeing my state of shock, the nurse tries to come to my defence.

_ But come now, sir, that’s your wife, Mrs Grishwall. Don’t you recognise her?

_ *He sniggers. My wife!? Impossible... I already have a fiancée, her name is Samira... Samira Goldsmith

Second shock! I’m on the verge of fainting. I’m weeping bitterly and am completely frozen. He still thinks he’s engaged to that witch Samira. What on earth is happening to him!?

A doctor has come in, all smiles, but I’m not paying any attention to him.

_ I see my two most complicated cases of the week are awake. Mr Grishwall, how are you?

_ Fine, thank you

_ And your head, is it still hurting?

_ Not really, I feel much better

_ I’m glad to hear it

The doctor looks at me and his expression turns sad for a moment.

_ Madam... Let’s go and talk in your room

The nurse nudges me and we head back to my room. I’m still in a state of shock. “Who are you?... My fiancé’s name is Sami...”. The doctor snaps me out of my thoughts by snapping his fingers in front of my eyes.

_ Madam? Are you all right?... Did you speak to your husband?

I nod slowly.

_ Did he recognise you?

I shake my head just as slowly. He sighs deeply and sits down on the bed opposite me.

_ When he arrived here a week ago with that serious head injury, I suspected it would end up like this. I regret to inform you that your husband is... suffering from amnesia. The blow to his head was so severe that...

I stopped listening to him. “Amnesia...” I burst into tears. Why is this happening to me? I won’t be able to bear it. And that Samira… I’ll never be able to forgive her for all this…

_ It will take time, madam. He’ll need your support to regain his memory. It could take a few days, months or longer, but you must keep hope alive, whatever happens.

I don’t reply; I’m lost for words. He leaves, followed by the nurse, but I stay where I am. I don’t know what to do or what to think. How can I support him when he still believes he’s intimately connected to that viper?

Guillaume’s perspective

That woman from earlier... she must have got the wrong person. I’m not married and I’m not ready to get married. Besides, I don’t even know her, yet... seeing her cry made me want to comfort her; I don’t know why. And Samira, I wonder where she is. I haven’t seen her since I woke up.

A nurse enters my room, closing the door behind her. But it’s...

_ I’m so happy to see you again, I was so scared, she says, throwing herself into my arms

_ Shh, I say tenderly to calm her down. I’m here now, and no one can separate us

I wait a moment for her to calm down before continuing.

_ I’ve been waiting for you for a while now, Samira. Where were you?

_ Sorry, darling. I was looking for the right outfit to come and see you, she says, straightening up. Do you like it?

_ No. That outfit makes me want to f**k you too much

_ That’s not a problem

She climbs on top of me and starts kissing me passionately. I really want to f**k her hard right here and now, but I feel like something’s missing... or that something’s out of place... So I push her away. She looks at me questioningly.

_ You know, don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m still recovering... Go easy on me, baby

_ I’ll try, but I can’t promise anything.

She leans in close to my ear and whispers slowly

_ I can’t promise anything because I want you so much and I can’t wait for us to get our life back together... Just you and me