Chapter 9: The woman who Forgot Herself
1054 Words
Marie's Point of View
•••
The faint beeping of hospital machines dragged Marie slowly out of unconsciousness.Her eyelids fluttered weakly.
Morning sunlight poured gently through the cream hospital curtains, bathing the room in a pale golden glow. The scent of disinfectant lingered heavily in the air while the distant wheels of hospital stretchers echoed through the hallway.
Marie groaned softly as her head still felt heavy.The doctor's sedative had drowned her in deep sleep for what felt like forever.
Slowly, she tried to remember something-anything,but her thoughts were blank.Empty like pages erased from a book.
She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing herself harder.Nothing,no memories,no clear images.
Only one name echoed repeatedly inside her head.Mia.
Suddenly,the door opened gently.Marie looked up weakly.
An elderly woman walked in first, dressed in a soft ash-colored cardigan with warm but tired eyes. Beside her stood little Mia clutching her teddy bear tightly.
The moment Marie saw the child,something inside her chest melted instantly.
"Mia..." she whispered emotionally.
Before anyone could stop her, Marie stretched out her arms weakly.
Mia ran straight into them.Marie hugged her tightly against her chest like a mother reunited with her lost child.
"Oh my baby..." Marie whispered shakily. "I missed you so much."
Mia buried her face into Marie's hospital gown happily before quickly reaching for her small notepad.
Her tiny fingers scribbled excitedly,then she raised it.
"I miss your bedtime stories."
Marie blinked softly.
"Stories?" she asked faintly.
Mia nodded eagerly.
Marie frowned slightly in confusion.Something about it felt familiar... but distant.
Like hearing a forgotten melody.
"I used to tell you stories before bed?" she asked softly.
Mia smiled brightly and nodded again.
Marie forced a smile despite the strange ache in her head.
"Then..." she whispered gently while brushing Mia's hair back, "I'll tell you another one tonight."
Nanny Ann smiled quietly from where she stood.
For the first time in days, Mia looked genuinely happy again.
"You gave this child quite the scare," Nanny Ann said warmly.
Marie looked toward her apologetically.
"I'm sorry..." she murmured.
Then suddenly, confusion crossed her face again.
She looked around the room slowly.
"How long have I been here?"
Nanny Ann hesitated briefly."A week."
Marie's eyes widened immediately.
"A week?!"Shock flooded her face.
"The last thing I remember..." she whispered weakly, "there were two men sitting here."
Nanny Ann nodded."Yes. David and Mike."
Marie looked puzzled."They stayed?"
"Almost every day," Nanny Ann explained softly. "Especially David. He kept asking the doctors when you would wake up."
Marie stared blankly at the blanket over her legs.
"A whole week..." she whispered.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"So... they all thought I wouldn't wake up?"
Nanny Ann's expression softened sadly.
"Mia cried every night."
Marie's heart squeezed painfully.The little girl immediately held her hand tighter,then Nanny Ann added quietly "And someone else came too."
Marie looked up slowly,but before Nanny Ann could continue,the hospital room door opened again.
---
Sir Kelvin's Point of View
••••
"She remembers nothing."
Nanny Ann's words echoed heavily inside the study room.
Kelvin remained seated silently on the leather couch, whiskey glass resting loosely between his fingers.
Rain tapped softly against the massive windows behind him.
The room smelled of alcohol and exhaustion,but outwardly,he acted unaffected.
"So?" he muttered coldly before taking another sip.
Nanny Ann frowned deeply.
"So?" she repeated in disbelief. "That's all you have to say?"
Kelvin shrugged lazily."She'll recover eventually."
Lie.
Every single morning for the past week, fear had become the first thing he tasted upon waking.
Fear that Marie might die because of him,fear that Mia would lose another woman she loved,fear that he had finally crossed a line even grief could not excuse,but his pride refused to let anyone see that, especially Nanny Ann.Especially himself.
He reached for the whiskey bottle again Suddenly,Nanny Ann snatched it away sharply.
"Enough!"
Kelvin glared irritably. "Give it back."
"No."
"Nanny Ann-"
"You're drowning yourself instead of facing reality!"
The room fell silent.
Outside the slightly opened study door,Nikki stood quietly listening her eyes slowly filled with tears.
For days now, she had watched her father spiral deeper into self-destruction,the drinking,the isolation, the guilt he tried so desperately to bury and suddenly,for the first time in years she pitied him.
Unable to hold back anymore, Nikki pushed the door open.Kelvin looked up in surprise.
"Nikki?"
Without saying a word-
She walked straight toward him and wrapped her arms tightly around him.Kelvin froze completely.
Then Nikki broke down crying.
"Dad..." she whispered painfully. "You're not a monster."
The words shattered something inside him instantly.
His breathing trembled.
Nanny Ann quietly stepped out of the room, leaving father and daughter alone.
Nikki held him tighter.
"One day..." she whispered tearfully, "you'll become the sweet dad you used to be again."
Kelvin's eyes burned painfully.
For years, he had buried every emotion beneath work, anger, and grief, but now everything collapsed.
"I'm sorry," he whispered hoarsely. "I'm so sorry, Nikki."
Tears slid down his face uncontrollably.
"I wasn't there for any of you after your mother died."
Nikki cried harder hearing the pain in his voice.
"We missed you..." she whispered.
Kelvin shut his eyes tightly.
"I know."
And for the first time since Maya's death-
Father and daughter cried together.
---
Days passed...
The mansion felt painfully empty,cold,silent without Marie's presence, even the walls seemed lifeless.
Mia could barely sleep without murmuring Marie's name repeatedly in her dreams.David buried himself in endless outdoor runs,Nikki stayed unusually quiet.
And Kelvin secretly stopped by the hospital almost every evening after work always unnoticed,always distant.
He never stayed long,never entered if people were around,never admitted concern,but he came anyway.
Yesterday, however, he hadn't gone.He got trapped in board meetings.
So today,he finally decided to visit again.As Kelvin stepped out of the elevator into the hospital hallway dressed in a dark charcoal suit, his heartbeat felt strangely uneven.
He adjusted his wristwatch stiffly before walking toward Marie's room.
Then suddenly,He stopped.The room door was slightly open and inside he saw Nanny Ann,Mia and Marie...Awake.
Kelvin froze instantly,at the same moment,Marie slowly lifted her eyes toward the doorway.
Their gazes collided.Shock flickered across both faces.Nanny Ann's eyes widened,Mia brightened immediately.
And for the first time since waking up,Marie stared directly at Alberto Kelvin with absolutely no recognition in her eyes.
- Writer
