Before He Forgot Me Again

CHAPTER ONE

THE STRANGER SHE SAVED

The Man in the Rain

Three years earlier...

Rain poured over the city.

Elena Carter pulled her coat tighter around herself as she hurried home from work.

It was nearly midnight.

The streets were almost empty.

She had spent the entire evening working at a small café because the extra hours were the only thing keeping her rent paid.

She was tired.

Cold.

Hungry.

And all she wanted was her tiny apartment and a warm cup of tea.

Then she saw him.

A man was lying beside the road.

Elena stopped.

Her first instinct was fear.

The man was dressed in an expensive black suit, completely soaked by the rain.

There was blood near his temple.

"Sir?"

He didn't move.

Elena looked around.

Nobody was coming.

She pulled out her phone.

She should call an ambulance.

She knew that.

But before she could dial, the man suddenly opened his eyes.

Dark eyes.

Confused eyes.

He stared at her.

"Where..."

His voice was weak.

"Where am I?"

Elena crouched beside him.

"You're hurt. Don't move."

He looked at her.

"Who are you?"

"Elena."

He frowned.

"Elena..."

"Yes."

He slowly tried to sit up.

Pain crossed his face.

Elena immediately stopped him.

"Don't!"

He stared at her again.

"What's my name?"

Elena froze.

"You don't know?"

He shook his head.

"I don't remember."

A chill went through her.

She called the emergency services.

But before they arrived, the man grabbed her wrist.

"Please."

Elena looked at him.

"Please, what?"

"Don't leave me."

Something about his voice broke her heart.

She didn't know this man.

She didn't know why he was lying on the street.

She didn't know what had happened to him.

But she couldn't leave him alone.

So she stayed. The hospital doctors couldn't find any identification on him.

No wallet. No phone. No documents.

Nothing.

His injuries weren't life-threatening, but the blow to his head had caused severe memory loss. The doctor spoke quietly to Elena.

"He may recover his memories."

"When?"

"We don't know."

"And until then?"

"He needs someone to look after him."

Elena stared at the sleeping stranger.

She sighed.

"This is crazy."

The doctor smiled faintly.

"You don't have to take responsibility for him."

Elena knew that.

She also knew she couldn't afford another person's expenses.

But when she looked at the man again, something inside her refused to walk away.

She returned the next morning.

He was awake.

He looked at her.

"You're back."

Elena smiled.

"I said I'd come back."

He studied her face.

"You kept your promise."

She shrugged.

"I didn't promise anything."

"You did."

"When?"

"Last night."

He looked almost embarrassed.

"You told me not to worry."

Elena laughed softly.

"I say that to everyone."

For the first time, the stranger smiled.

And neither of them knew it yet...

But that smile would become the beginning of everything.