It's all coming back to me now

Chapter 4

After Ish, Aiza, Jade, Cherry, Jen, and Carla had a deep discussion about how they would explain Ruby's situation to Sanae when she woke up, the group went their separate ways for the night, each feeling the weight of the coming morning. Early the next day, Jade received a phone call with the news that Sanae had finally opened her eyes. She quickly shared the good news with the others, and they all made plans to meet at the hospital as soon as possible.

Jade arrived first and decided to check in on Ruby before joining the others. As she walked into Ruby's room, she noticed Ruby looking at her intently, as if trying to piece together the memories she couldn't quite reach.

"Good morning, Bish! Ready to meet your wife?" Jade asked with a bright smile.

Ruby looked at her, puzzled. "Do I really have a wife?" she asked, slowly settling herself into the wheelchair with an expression of disbelief and curiosity.

Jade chuckled softly, nodding. "Yes, you do, and I'll introduce you to her soon," she replied warmly, giving Ruby a reassuring smile as she positioned herself behind the wheelchair, gently starting to push it down the hallway toward Sanae's room.

The journey to Sanae's room felt like a significant moment, almost as if they were stepping into a new chapter of both their lives. Jade could feel the anticipation in the air as they drew closer to the room, where Sanae lay waiting, unaware of how much her presence and Ruby's journey to her would mean to everyone.

As they approached Sanae's room, Ish stepped out with a serious and worried expression on her face, her gaze heavy with concern.

Jade immediately noticed. "Hey, what's going on? Is she awake already like fully awake? Why do you look like that?" Jade asked, her voice filled with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

Ish let out a heavy sigh, rubbing her temple as if trying to ease a headache. "Yes, she's awake and doing fine, physically. But... there's a problem." Ish hesitated before continuing, looking down for a moment as if gathering her thoughts. "She... she doesn't remember us. Any of us. Not even me."

Jade's eyebrows knit together in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding. Are you all messing with me or something?" she asked, skeptical, as she pushed Ruby into the room where Sanae was lying awake, though looking around with a hint of confusion in her eyes.

"Hi, Sanae!! How are you feeling?" Jade said, trying to sound cheerful. "I'm here with someone special-your wife," she added, gesturing toward Ruby with a hopeful smile.

Ruby gave a small, awkward smile and waved. "Um... hi, I'm Ruby. Apparently, I'm your wife."

Sanae's eyes narrowed as she looked between them, an irritated frown forming on her face. "Are you kidding me right now? First, you all tell me you're my friends, and now you're introducing me to this stranger, claiming she's my wife? Are you seriously expecting me to believe this?" Sanae's voice was sharp with frustration, her confusion quickly turning into anger.

Jade, a bit shaken, quickly looked over at Ish. "Ish? Ish, we need you," she called out, clearly concerned.

Ish took a deep breath, trying to remain calm, and nodded. "I think it's time to call her siblings."

"You should all get out! Now! None of you are allowed to be in my room!" Sanae shouted angrily at the group, her voice filled with frustration and a hint of panic. Her friends stood in stunned silence for a moment, taken aback by the hostility in her tone.

"Hey! Don't yell at them like that-they're your friends!" Ruby snapped, feeling protective of the others. She then turned and looked at the group, clearly confused herself. "Is she really my wife? I don't think she is; her attitude is terrible," Ruby muttered, shaking her head with disbelief.

Sanae scoffed, crossing her arms and looking Ruby up and down critically. "Impossible that you're my wife. You're not even petite!" she said dismissively, with a look that suggested she couldn't imagine the idea.

Jen, sensing that tensions were escalating and everyone's emotions were all over the place, quickly stepped in, trying to calm the situation. "Okay, everyone, I think we need to leave for now. Let's step outside, get some fresh air, and wait for her siblings to arrive. Everything that's happening is overwhelming, and we all need a moment to breathe and get our heads straight," she said, gently urging them toward the door.

The group hesitated, exchanging glances before nodding in agreement. Slowly, they exited the room, each of them weighed down with a mix of emotions-worry, confusion, and sadness over the situation with Sanae. As they stepped into the hallway, the reality of her memory loss started to sink in, leaving them all uncertain of what to do next.

Inside, Sanae sat in silence, left alone with her thoughts. She glanced around the empty room, her mind buzzing with questions she couldn't answer. Her head was filled with an overwhelming sense of confusion and suspicion. She couldn't understand why these people claimed to know her, or why this stranger, Ruby, was supposedly her wife. Nothing felt real, and her mind raced with doubt.

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Sanae's POV

"I didn't mean to be rude; I didn't mean to yell at them or say that a beautiful lady isn't my type. I'm just so confused by everything that's happening. Sure, their faces seem familiar, but no matter how hard I try, I can't remember any of them."

As I sat there, struggling with these foreign yet familiar faces, my youngest sister, Akane, finally arrived with her boyfriend by her side. The sight of her brought a wave of relief. Her eyes were red and swollen, evidence of the tears she must have shed. Despite everything, she managed a small, comforting smile.

"Echann," she said softly, using her childhood nickname for me before wrapping her arms around me in a tight embrace. Her voice dropped to a whisper, "I can't believe this happened. I'm so sorry. Ish just told me about what happened with you and Ruby."

I pulled back slightly, looking at her in confusion. "D-do you know them?" I asked, my voice filled with uncertainty.

Akane nodded, releasing her embrace and offering me a gentle smile. "Yes. Ish is your best friend, and the woman with light skin beside her is her wife, Aiza. Jade, Jen, Carla, and Cherry-those are Ruby's closest friends. And Ruby... she's your wife," she explained, each word sinking in heavily, leaving me more bewildered than ever.

I struggled to process her words, my heart racing as I grappled with the idea. "Wh... why can't I remember them? Why can't I remember even having a wife?" I stammered, feeling the weight of emptiness pressing down on me. Akane sighed softly and took a seat next to me on the hospital bed, her expression a mixture of sympathy and patience.

"What's the last thing you remember?" she asked gently, as if she were handling something fragile.

I took a deep breath, trying to piece together what little I could recall. "The last thing I remember... I was painting. And then I wake up here, in this hospital bed, and... everyone is just frustrating me," I admitted, feeling a strange sense of vulnerability in revealing that.

Akane looked at me with a pained expression, then gently took a seat beside me on the hospital bed, her voice soft and understanding. "The accident you were in... it was traumatic, physically and mentally. Trauma like that can cause memory loss, especially when the brain has suffered a sudden, intense impact. You and Ruby were in a serious car crash just four days ago. You were on your way to pick her up from a bar where she was with her friends, and according to the police, the brakes malfunctioned. You lost control of the car, and the collision that followed was intense."

She paused, giving me a moment to absorb her words, then continued, "When people experience accidents like that, the impact can sometimes injure parts of the brain responsible for memory. The trauma of the event itself can make the brain block out people and events, almost like it's trying to protect you from the pain. This type of amnesia you're experiencing is caused by both the physical injury and the emotional shock you went through."

She reached over and squeezed my hand gently. "Right now, it's like your mind is covered in a fog, hiding everything that might bring back the memories of that night or the people close to you. That's why you can't remember Ruby or even the other people who mean so much to you. But it doesn't mean the memories are gone forever-they're just temporarily out of reach."

Her words settled over me like a dark cloud, a mix of relief and despair. The thought that I'd forgotten not only my friends but also my wife-someone who, if what they said was true, shared a life with me-was overwhelming. Akane leaned closer, her voice soft but resolute. "I won't force you to remember everything right now. Even Ish, your best friend, understands that you need time. You'll need further testing and support as you heal, so you'll have to stay in the hospital a bit longer. But don't worry, I'll be by your side until you're discharged." She smiled and placed a comforting kiss on my forehead.

I tried to imagine what life had been like with Ruby, what memories I'd once held of these friends who seemed so determined to be here for me. I couldn't grasp them, but I could sense that those memories were valuable, and for now, that would have to be enough.

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Ruby's POV

I looked at my friends, their expressions a blend of frustration and sadness that was palpable. It was as if they were carrying the weight of the situation on their shoulders, and the concern in their eyes was hard to miss. The room felt heavy with unspoken emotions, each of them grappling with the uncertainty of what had happened.

"I'm sorry," I finally said, breaking the tense silence. They turned their attention toward me, their gazes searching for reassurance. "I know this situation is frustrating for all of you. I promise I will do my best to remember. Thank you for taking care of me and my... my wife." I managed a small smile, hoping to ease the tension that hung in the air.

One of my friends, Ish, let out a gentle sigh and shook her head slightly. "None of us wanted this to happen," she replied softly, her voice filled with empathy. "We were just so excited to see both of you awake again. We understand that this part is incredibly hard, but we're here for you. We'll guide you through this, every step of the way, until you remember each other."

Her words struck a chord within me, a comforting reminder that I wasn't alone in this strange and disorienting journey. I could sense the deep bond we shared, one that transcended the memories that felt so distant right now. Their support was a lifeline, giving me hope that perhaps, one day, the fog in my mind would lift, revealing the connections I longed to reclaim.

"Please, share whatever you can with me," I urged, my voice steady but filled with longing. "Tell me stories or remind me of our past, even if it's painful. I want to know everything; I want to feel connected again."

Ish exchanged glances with the others, and they nodded in agreement. "We're here for you, Ruby. No matter how long it takes, we'll share all the memories we have. Together, we'll bring them back. You're not alone in this."

As they spoke, a flicker of hope ignited within me, mingling with the uncertainty that still lingered. I might not remember the intricate details of my life or the love I shared with my wife, but with their unwavering support, I felt a sense of determination rising within me. Perhaps I could piece together the fragments of my past and rebuild the connections that had been lost in the wake of the accident.

Each moment spent in their presence felt like a step toward rediscovering not just my memories but the very essence of who I was, including having Sanae in my life.