Until I Remember You

THE CALL THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

UNTIL I REMEMBER YOU

EPISODE TWO: THE CALL THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

The drive to the hospital felt endless.

Amara sat in the back seat of the car, gripping her phone so tightly that her fingers had begun to hurt.

She kept calling David.

No answer.

Again.

No answer.

Her eyes filled with tears.

"Please pick up," she whispered. "Please, David."

Beside her, Fatima held her hand.

"Amara, breathe."

"I can't."

"You have to."

"What if something happened to him?"

Fatima didn't answer.

Neither of them wanted to say the words aloud.

When they finally arrived at St. Michael's Specialist Hospital, Amara jumped out before the car had completely stopped.

She ran toward the emergency entrance.

"David Okonkwo!" she cried. "My husband was brought here. David Okonkwo!"

A nurse looked through the computer.

"Ma'am, please calm down."

"How can I calm down? My husband was in an accident!"

The nurse quickly checked the screen.

"He's in the emergency unit."

Amara's heart dropped.

"Is he alive?"

The nurse looked at her.

"He's receiving treatment."

That wasn't the answer she wanted.

"Is he alive?"

"Yes."

Amara closed her eyes.

A sob escaped her.

"Thank you, God."

Fatima wrapped an arm around her.

"He's alive. That's what matters."

Amara nodded, wiping her tears.

Then the emergency doors opened.

A doctor walked out.

He removed his gloves.

"Mrs. Okonkwo?"

Amara rushed toward him.

"Yes."

"I'm Dr. Emmanuel. Your husband was brought in with severe injuries."

"Is he going to be okay?"

The doctor hesitated.

"We're doing everything we can."

Her heart sank.

"What does that mean?"

"He suffered significant head trauma."

Amara's lips trembled.

"His head?"

"Yes. We're running scans now."

"Can I see him?"

"Not yet."

"Please."

"Mrs. Okonkwo, you need to understand that your husband is in critical condition."

The words hit her like a slap.

Critical.

Amara stepped backward.

Fatima caught her.

"Can I at least know what happened?"

The doctor sighed.

"His vehicle collided with another car. He was unconscious when he arrived."

Amara covered her mouth.

"Was he alone?"

"Yes."

She closed her eyes.

Images of that morning flooded her mind.

David standing at the door.

His smile.

His promise.

I'll be back.

She opened her eyes.

"You said he was unconscious?"

"Yes."

"Has he woken up at all?"

"No."

Amara's voice broke.

"Please save my husband."

The doctor nodded.

"We'll do everything possible."

Then he disappeared behind the emergency doors.

Almost an hour passed.

Then another.

Amara sat in the waiting area, staring at the floor.

Fatima sat beside her.

Neither spoke.

Then a familiar voice broke the silence.

"Where is my son?"

Amara looked up.

Mrs. Okonkwo.

David's mother.

She rushed into the hospital with Chidinma behind her.

The moment she saw Amara, her expression changed.

"Where is David?"

"They're treating him."

"What happened?"

"There was an accident."

Mrs. Okonkwo stared at her.

"You were with him?"

"No."

"Then why weren't you with him?"

Amara looked confused.

"I was at home."

Mrs. Okonkwo scoffed.

"At home?"

Fatima immediately stood.

"Ma'am, this isn't the time—"

"I wasn't speaking to you."

Amara slowly stood.

"I don't know what you're trying to say."

Mrs. Okonkwo's eyes hardened.

"My son leaves this house perfectly fine and ends up fighting for his life."

"Are you blaming me for his accident?"

"I didn't say that."

"But that's exactly what you're implying."

Chidinma stepped between them.

"Mum, please."

Mrs. Okonkwo looked away.

"We'll discuss this later."

Amara sat back down.

Her hands were shaking.

Fatima squeezed them.

"Don't listen to her."

Amara whispered, "I don't have the strength to fight anyone right now."

Hours later, the doctor finally returned.

Everyone stood.

"Doctor?"

He looked exhausted.

"We've completed the surgery."

Amara's breath caught.

"How is he?"

"The surgery went well."

A collective sigh filled the corridor.

Amara almost collapsed from relief.

"Can I see him?"

"He's in the ICU. He's still unconscious."

"When will he wake up?"

The doctor paused.

"We can't say."

Amara's smile disappeared.

"What do you mean?"

"The head injury was severe. We need to monitor him closely."

Mrs. Okonkwo stepped forward.

"Will he survive?"

The doctor looked at her.

"His condition is stable for now."

"For now?"

"Yes."

Amara felt tears roll down her cheeks.

Then the doctor added something that would change everything.

"There is another concern."

Everyone became silent.

"What concern?" Amara asked.

The doctor folded his hands.

"Because of the area of the brain affected by the injury, there's a possibility he could experience memory problems when he wakes up."

Amara stared at him.

"Memory problems?"

"Yes."

"What kind?"

"We won't know until he regains consciousness."

Amara's heart began pounding.

"Could he forget things?"

The doctor nodded slowly.

"It's possible."

"What things?"

"Recent memories are sometimes affected after traumatic brain injuries. But we cannot predict exactly what he will remember."

Amara looked toward the ICU doors.

"His family?"

"Possibly."

"His work?"

"Possibly."

Her voice became barely audible.

"His wife?"

The doctor didn't answer immediately.

That silence was enough.

Amara's face went pale.

"You're saying… he could forget me?"

"Mrs. Okonkwo, we're not saying that will happen."

"But it could."

"Yes."

She looked down at her wedding ring.

Her fingers trembled.

Eight years.

Eight years of memories.

Their first meeting.

Their wedding.

Their arguments.

Their laughter.

Their daughter.

Their home.

Everything suddenly felt fragile.

That night, Amara sat outside the ICU.

Through the glass, she could see David lying motionless beneath the white sheets.

Machines surrounded him.

She pressed her palm against the glass.

"David…"

Her voice cracked.

"I'm here."

She swallowed hard.

"You promised me you'd come home."

A tear rolled down her cheek.

"So please… wake up."

She touched her wedding ring.

"You don't have to remember everything."

She smiled through tears.

"Just remember me."

Behind her, Mrs. Okonkwo watched silently.

Then her phone vibrated.

She looked at the screen.

A message.

From an unknown number.

She opened it.

Is he awake?

Mrs. Okonkwo stared at the message.

Then slowly typed:

Not yet.

Another message came almost immediately.

When he wakes up, I want to see him.

Mrs. Okonkwo looked toward Amara.

Her expression changed.

She typed:

You will.

She locked her phone.

And looked back at her son.

For the first time that night, a small smile appeared on her face.

Inside the ICU, David remained unconscious.

But beneath the blankets…

His fingers moved slightly.

Just once.

Then stopped.

BLACK SCREEN

END OF EPISODE TWO

To be continued…