It's all coming back to me now

Chapter 3

Ruby's POV

I woke up to an intensely bright light hitting my eyes. My whole body ached, like I’d just gone through some grueling workout.

“Damn... everything hurts,” I muttered to myself.

“Ruby! Oh my God, you're finally awake!” I flinched as I saw Jade standing there, looking relieved but anxious. “Don’t move just yet. I’ll go call the doctor,” she said quickly before hurrying out of the room.

What happened? Why am I in a hospital? The last thing I remember was us drinking together, laughing, and then helping me going to the car... But I can’t remember whose car. I’m sure I was being led to a black car, but the memory is hazy, the details fading as I try to hold onto them.

I looked around, noticing the sterile white walls, the steady hum of machines, and a clock reading at 10:35 PM. It felt surreal, like the last pieces of the night before were just out of reach, slipping further away the more I tried to grasp them.

I’m so thirsty. I need a lot of water. My throat feels incredibly dry, and I can feel a tube attached to me, probably feeding me fluids or medicine. Where is Jade? It feels like it’s taking forever for her and the doctor to come back to assist me.

“Oh, it’s great that you’re awake,” a doctor entered with a nurse by his side. He walked over to me and smiled gently. “If you can understand me, raise your hand and If not blink your eyes.” I managed to lift my hand slightly and blinked. “Do you remember what happened?” he asked. I blinked again in response. “Alright, are you feeling thirsty?” I raised my hand slightly. He nodded and reassured me, “This will be quick, alright? Ms. Jade is already contacting your relatives to inform them. You’ve been unconscious for three days. And right now, your wife is still asleep.”

I frowned, a mix of confusion and shock rippling through me.

Wait, what? Wife? Did I hear that right? I have a wife? How? I mean, I’m only 20 years old, and I’m still in college, pursuing Computer Engineering! What are they talking about? I’m single, as single as it gets! Sure, maybe I’ve had a few conversations that were leading to something, a bit of “getting to know each other,” but nothing serious, and definitely no plans for a girlfriend or boyfriend, let alone a spouse.

As I closed my eyes, feeling the odd sensation of them removing the tubes and various attachments from my body, my mind was racing with questions. I couldn’t help but feel entirely puzzled by everything going on around me. What really happened to me? And who is this wife they are talking about?

After they removed everything that was attached to my body, they immediately handed me a glass of water. I took a sip, feeling the coolness soothe my dry throat. “You’ll still need to undergo some examinations, so you won’t be discharged just yet. We’re also waiting for your wife to wake up. Both of you sustained major injuries, including head trauma, which is likely why you don’t remember the accident. Your car was struck severely that night, and since you were unconscious at the time, it’s understandable that you can’t recall it.”

“W-wife? I…I don’t even know that I have a wife.”

“Hey, you fool! You’re married!” Jade’s voice snapped me out of my confusion, and I turned to look at her.

“J-Jade… but how can that be? Aren’t we still in college? You’re studying Medical Technology, Carla’s in Nursing, and Cherry, Jen, and I are in Engineering, right?”

“Ruby! This isn’t funny. We’re all in our 30s now, and you’re married,” she said, frowning as I tried to piece everything together. “Today is November 16th, November 16th, 2020,” I said slowly.

“Girl, no! What…what are you even talking about?” Jade started to say before I felt a sudden pain in my head, clutching it instinctively.

“Ms. Jade, please step out of the room for a moment,” the Doctor requested. “I’ll answer your questions later, but Mrs. Delen has just woken up and needs rest.”

“Ma’am, I’m going to administer a sedative, okay? You need to rest; it’s natural to feel overwhelmed by everything right now,” the nurse assured me as she prepared the injection. I nodded, feeling a strange mix of relief and exhaustion wash over me, letting myself sink into the bed as sleep gradually took over.

____________________________

In the quiet hallway outside Ruby's room, Jade paced nervously, her mind racing with questions. She looked up as the doctor stepped out, her expression tense with concern.

“Doctor,” Jade started immediately, barely able to keep her voice steady. “I don’t understand. Why can’t Ruby remember Sanae? They’ve been together for years. How can she just… forget her wife like that?”

The doctor sighed, motioning for Jade to sit on a nearby bench. “Jade, Ruby’s memory loss appears to be a form of selective amnesia, likely triggered by both the head injury and the intense emotional trauma of the accident. When the brain experiences physical and emotional stress like that, it can sometimes block out specific memories—especially those tied to distress or unresolved emotional pain.”

Jade frowned, struggling to take it all in. “But Ruby and Sanae… I know they were having problems, but they were together for so long. This… this doesn’t make any sense.”

The doctor nodded sympathetically. “It’s actually more common than you might think. When a person undergoes something as traumatic as a major accident—particularly if there was already emotional strain present—the mind can choose to shield itself by repressing memories connected to painful events or relationships. Ruby’s relationship with Sanae, if it was troubled, might have been too overwhelming for her mind to process after the accident.”

“But… she loved Sanae. How could she forget all of that?” Jade’s voice cracked as she tried to imagine how painful it would be for Ruby if she did regain those memories.

“Love is complex, Jade. And so is memory. In cases where a relationship becomes strained, the emotional stress can create a mental block. Ruby’s mind may have decided, unconsciously, that those memories were too painful to access right now.”

Jade lowered her gaze, struggling with what to say. She finally managed, “Ruby… and Sanae… they were going to get a divorce. I don’t even know if Ruby knows that, or if she ever will.”

The doctor nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. “That actually fits what we’re seeing. Knowing they were on the verge of a divorce could explain why Ruby’s mind has blocked out those memories. Her brain might be protecting her from the pain of losing someone she once loved deeply.”

Jade swallowed hard, looking toward Ruby’s door with a mix of sadness and sympathy. “So, what does this mean for her? Will she ever remember Sanae… or the divorce?”

“It’s possible,” the doctor replied carefully. “Selective amnesia can be temporary, and memories may return over time, especially with the right support. But even if her memories of Sanae come back, they’ll need to be processed slowly and carefully. Rushing them back could be more harmful than helpful.”

Jade took a deep breath, trying to come to terms with the reality of the situation. “So… she may remember her wife, but not the pain?”

“It’s hard to say. Memory is unpredictable. She may remember everything, or she may only recall the parts of their life that brought her happiness. It depends on how her brain decides to cope.”

Jade nodded, her expression resolute. “Thank you, Doctor. I’ll do everything I can to support her, whatever happens.”

The doctor placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “That’s all you can do, Jade. Just be there for her. She’s lucky to have someone like you by her side through this.”

With a final nod, the doctor left, and Jade took a moment to steady herself, bracing to return to Ruby’s side.

As the group wrapped up their plans, a tense silence settled over the table. The conversation about helping Ruby remember had unearthed raw emotions, and it wasn’t long before the silence was broken.

Cherry, her voice laced with frustration, muttered, “This entire situation… It wouldn’t have come to this if they had both just… I don’t know, communicated better. Maybe if Sanae hadn’t pushed Ruby away after everything, they wouldn’t be here.”

Ish’s head shot up, her expression stormy. “Are you seriously saying this is Sanae’s fault? Ruby was the one who became distant. She shut down, Cherry. After the miscarriage, she just… pulled herself away. And then she left Sanae feeling alone in it!”

Cherry’s expression hardened, her hands balling into fists. “Don’t twist this, Ish. Ruby went through hell, too. Losing the baby hurt her deeply, and maybe she didn’t know how to process it. But she loved Sanae. She just needed time to work through it on her own.”

“And in the meantime, she left Sanae to deal with it alone?” Ish shot back, her voice rising. “Sanae needed her just as much, Cherry. Ruby disappearing emotionally wasn’t the answer. It left Sanae feeling abandoned.”

Cherry glared, her frustration breaking through. “Don’t pretend Sanae was perfect in this. She acted like Ruby’s pain didn’t matter, like Ruby had no right to grieve in her own way.”

“Grieve? Ruby was pushing everyone away, including Sanae,” Ish retorted, anger filling her voice. “How do you think Sanae felt, watching the person she loves become a stranger? It’s like Ruby was shutting out anything that reminded her of the baby… and that included Sanae.”

Jen and Carla exchanged worried glances, sensing the argument escalating. Aiza leaned in, reaching out to place a hand on Ish’s shoulder, a gentle but grounding gesture.

“Both of you, enough,” Jen finally said, her voice steady but firm. “This isn’t helping anyone. Blaming each other won’t change what happened. They were both hurting, both dealing with something unimaginable. That pain tore them apart, but they both loved each other deeply.”

Aiza gave Ish a reassuring squeeze, her own voice calm. “Jen’s right. It’s nobody’s fault. They both suffered in ways none of us can fully understand. The only thing we can do now is be there for them—give them the chance to heal, together, if possible.”

Cherry and Ish slowly relaxed, the tension easing as they looked away, guilt softening their expressions.

“I’m sorry,” Cherry mumbled, casting a sideways glance at Ish. “I just… I want them to be okay. Ruby’s my friend, and I know she loved Sanae. I don’t want to see her lose that.”

Ish nodded, her voice quieter. “Me too. And I know Sanae still loves her, despite everything. If there’s a way back for them… I just want her to be happy, too.”

Jade looked around the table, sensing the unity returning among her friends. “Let’s take this one step at a time. They’re both still here. And we’ll help them find their way, however we can.”

The group nodded, a shared sense of purpose filling them again. The road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but they knew that, together, they’d give Ruby and Sanae the best chance at rediscovering the love they had once shared.

As the initial tension settled, Jade leaned forward, her expression resolute. “Alright, we need a solid plan. If Ruby is going to remember Sanae, it can’t just be random reminders. We have to help her connect the dots carefully. And we need a plan for how we tell Sanae, too… in a way that won’t shatter her when she wakes up.”

The group nodded in agreement, each feeling the weight of the task ahead.

Carla took a deep breath. “Let’s start with Ruby. We know that pushing her too hard could backfire. So what if we create natural, familiar moments that might stir her memory, things she and Sanae used to do together? If she’s around places and people that mean something, it might help jog her memory gently.”

Jen chimed in, a thoughtful look crossing her face. “Exactly. We don’t need to bombard her with information; it’s better if the memories come on their own. We can bring her back to places they loved going to, show her photos subtly, like when we’re all together. And maybe some old friends who know them well can visit, to remind her how close they all were.”

Cherry nodded, visibly more hopeful. “We could even suggest little things they used to do as a couple. Sanae would bring Ruby coffee in the mornings, right? And Ruby would always take her to the lake on weekends. We can recreate those moments without forcing her into anything.”

Jade took a sip of her coffee, mulling it over. “So, if we bring her back to those places and surround her with familiar people, it might awaken the emotions connected to those memories, even if the exact details don’t come right away.”

Aiza added, “And maybe small tokens that hold meaning between them. I remember Sanae would always wear that necklace Ruby gave her, the one with the little engraving. Little things like that could help Ruby make those connections back to her.”

Ish, her expression hopeful but cautious, raised a concern. “That sounds good… But we also need to think about Sanae. She’ll wake up, and she won’t know what’s going on. She’s already been through so much, and this could be the hardest thing she’s faced yet.”

The group exchanged solemn glances, each understanding how fragile this part of the plan would be.

Jade spoke up, her tone gentle but determined. “I think the best way is to take it slow with her, too. She doesn’t need to know every painful detail the minute she wakes up. We can focus on her recovery first. Then, once she’s stable, we can explain things in a way that doesn’t make her feel like she’s lost Ruby completely.”

Jen added, “Maybe tell her that Ruby has some memory loss but that she’s surrounded by people who care about her and are helping her recover. We can explain that Ruby doesn’t remember certain parts of their life together, but we’re hopeful things will improve as we go.”

Ish looked down, her hands clenched tightly. “She’ll be devastated… but maybe if we tell her that we’re doing everything we can to help Ruby remember, she’ll feel like there’s still hope.”

Aiza gently rubbed Ish’s back. “And we’ll remind her that she’s not alone. We’ll all be here for her. She’ll have support every step of the way, just like Ruby does.”

Cherry took a deep breath, her voice filled with determination. “So we take it one day at a time. First, we help Ruby feel connected to the life she had with Sanae. And when Sanae wakes up, we gently help her understand what happened and reassure her that Ruby is still here… even if things are different for now.”

Jade looked around the table, seeing the strength and unity in her friends’ faces. “Alright, then. We have a plan. We help Ruby remember, piece by piece, and we support Sanae when she wakes up. One small step at a time.”

The group nodded, a renewed sense of purpose washing over them. They knew it would be a difficult journey, filled with delicate conversations and fragile emotions, but they were committed to helping Ruby and Sanae find their way back to each other—one memory, one moment, one day at a time.