Until I Remember You

UNTIL I REMEMBER YOU

UNTIL I REMEMBER YOU

EPISODE ONE: THE HOUSE THAT LOVE BUILT

Morning sunlight slipped gently through the curtains.

Amara slowly opened her eyes.

For a few seconds, she simply stared at the ceiling.

Then she turned.

David was still asleep beside her.

She smiled.

His hair was messy, one arm stretched across his pillow, and his lips were slightly parted. He looked nothing like the serious businessman everyone outside their home knew.

To Amara, he was simply her husband.

Her David.

She reached over and gently tapped his shoulder.

"David."

No response.

She tapped him again.

"David, wake up."

He groaned.

"Five more minutes."

Amara laughed. "You've been saying five more minutes for the past fifteen minutes."

David opened one eye.

"Because five minutes with my beautiful wife is never enough."

Amara rolled her eyes.

"Flattery won't save you."

David smiled and pulled her closer.

"Good morning, Mrs. Okonkwo."

"Good morning."

He kissed her forehead.

Then suddenly—

"Daddy!"

They both froze.

A tiny face appeared at the bedroom door.

Tamara stood there holding her teddy bear.

David smiled.

"Good morning, princess."

"Daddy, you promised!"

He frowned playfully.

"Promised what?"

Tamara placed her hands on her waist.

"You promised to take me to school today."

David looked at Amara.

Amara shrugged.

"You promised her."

David sighed dramatically.

"Then Daddy has no choice."

Tamara screamed happily and ran toward him.

"Yay!"

David caught her and lifted her onto the bed.

Amara watched them with a smile.

This was her favorite part of life.

The noise.

The laughter.

The little moments nobody else understood.

She looked around their bedroom.

The photographs.

The wedding picture.

The family portrait.

Seven years of marriage had filled the house with memories.

It wasn't a perfect marriage.

They argued.

They misunderstood each other.

They got angry.

But they always found their way back to each other.

Because this wasn't just a house.

It was home.

Downstairs, Esther was already preparing breakfast.

"Good morning, Madam."

"Good morning, Esther."

Tamara ran into the kitchen.

"Esther! Daddy is taking me to school!"

Esther laughed.

"Ah-ah! So Oga has finally resumed his duties?"

David walked in behind them.

"Excuse me. I have always been a responsible father."

Amara raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

David pointed at her.

"Don't start."

She laughed.

Breakfast was filled with teasing and laughter.

David reached for Amara's plate.

"Give me that."

"Why?"

"You have more eggs than me."

"That's because I got here first."

David quickly exchanged their plates.

Amara stared at him.

"You just stole my breakfast."

"I prefer your food."

"You mean my eggs."

"Same thing."

Tamara burst out laughing.

"Daddy, Mummy is angry."

Amara shook her head.

"I'm not angry."

David leaned closer.

"Are you sure?"

"Very sure."

He smiled.

"Good."

He reached for her hand beneath the table and squeezed it.

She squeezed his back.

A small gesture.

But one that meant everything.

Later that morning, David stood at the front door preparing to leave.

He adjusted his tie.

Amara stood beside him.

"Don't forget you're coming home early."

David smiled.

"I know."

"Dinner."

"I know."

"And don't make me wait."

He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"I'll be back."

Tamara ran toward him.

"Daddy!"

David crouched.

"Yes, princess?"

"You promised me ice cream."

He laughed.

"I remember."

He kissed her cheek.

Then he stood.

Before walking away, he tapped the doorframe twice.

Amara smiled.

Their little tradition.

Whenever David left home, he tapped the doorframe twice.

It meant, I'll come back.

He walked toward his car.

Then stopped.

He turned around and waved.

Amara waved back.

He entered the car.

Two short honks.

Their other little tradition.

Amara smiled.

Then watched until his car disappeared down the street.

She had no idea that it would be the last completely ordinary morning of their lives.

That evening, Amara prepared dinner.

She checked the time.

7:15 p.m.

David was late.

She called his phone.

It rang.

No answer.

She called again.

Nothing.

Her heart began beating faster.

Then—

Her phone rang.

Unknown number.

Amara stared at the screen.

She hesitated before answering.

"Hello?"

There was silence on the other end.

"Hello?"

A man's voice finally came through.

"Am I speaking with Mrs. David Okonkwo?"

Amara frowned.

"Yes. Who is this?"

Another silence.

Then the man's voice became serious.

"Ma'am… I need you to remain calm."

Amara's smile disappeared.

"Why?"

The voice on the other end paused.

"There has been an accident."

Her hand went cold.

The phone nearly slipped from her fingers.

"An accident?"

"Your husband was involved in—"

Amara stopped breathing.

"Where is my husband?"

The voice continued.

"He's been taken to the hospital."

The world around her suddenly became silent.

The dinner.

The house.

The photographs.

Everything disappeared.

All she could hear was one sentence repeating inside her head.

There has been an accident.

Amara grabbed her handbag.

"Which hospital?"

BLACK SCREEN

END OF EPISODE ONE