kiss of regrets

Chapter 6:Amnesia

Blake sat in his office, his fingers drumming on the surface of his desk as he stared at the file in front of him. The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from the desk lamp that cast a warm glow over the papers scattered across the polished wood. His heart was heavy, weighed down by the information he had just uncovered.

The truth about Liam had been elusive, hidden beneath layers of secrecy and forgotten memories. But now, as he looked at the contents of the file, everything was starting to make sense. He had spent weeks investigating, digging into Liam’s past, trying to understand the connection between them. And now, the pieces were finally falling into place.

Blake leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly as he tried to process what he had learned. The file contained details about Liam’s life—his early years in the orphanage, his struggles growing up, and most shockingly, the fact that he had been diagnosed with amnesia. It explained so much—the confusion in Liam’s eyes when they had met, the way he seemed to know Blake but couldn’t place him.

But there was more. Blake’s heart ached as he read the section about Liam’s grandmother, who was currently in the hospital. The file mentioned that she had been Liam’s only living relative, the one person who had taken care of him after he left the orphanage. And now, she was gravely ill, leaving Liam even more alone in the world.

But the most startling revelation was the connection to Eugene, Blake’s past lover. The file revealed that Eugene, like Liam, had also been an orphan. It was a connection Blake hadn’t expected, one that deepened the mystery of why he had been dreaming about Liam for so long.

Blake closed the file and rubbed his temples, trying to make sense of it all. The connection between Liam and Eugene, the dreams, the amnesia—it was all too much to take in. But one thing was clear: Liam had been through more than Blake could have imagined, and now he was facing it all alone.

He couldn’t let that happen. He couldn’t walk away, not now. Blake stood up, determination hardening in his chest. He needed to find Liam, to talk to him, to help him understand who he was. But first, he needed to see Liam’s grandmother. Maybe she could provide some answers, or at the very least, offer some comfort in these difficult times.

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Meanwhile, Liam was making his way to the hospital. The sun was high in the sky, casting long shadows on the pavement as he walked. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, memories that didn’t quite fit together, and questions that had no answers.

When he reached the hospital, the sterile smell of disinfectant and the hum of fluorescent lights greeted him. It was a place he had come to know all too well in recent weeks, a place that was both a sanctuary and a source of deep sorrow. His grandmother had been there for some time, and each visit brought a mix of hope and despair.

Liam approached the front desk and gave his name to the receptionist. She smiled at him kindly, recognizing him from his frequent visits, and nodded toward the elevator. “She’s in room 412, Mr. Victor.”

Victor. The name sounded foreign to him, almost like it belonged to someone else. He nodded his thanks and made his way to the elevator, his heart heavy with the weight of everything he couldn’t remember.

When he reached his grandmother’s room, he hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open. The room was quiet, save for the soft beeping of the heart monitor and the rhythmic hiss of the ventilator. His grandmother lay in the bed, her frail form almost lost in the sea of white sheets. Her eyes were closed, her breathing shallow but steady.

“Grandma,” Liam whispered as he stepped closer, pulling a chair up to the bedside. He reached out, gently taking her hand in his. It was cold, the skin paper-thin and fragile. He could feel the faint pulse beneath his fingers, a reminder that she was still here, still fighting.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked at him with a tired but loving gaze. “Liam,” she murmured, her voice weak but filled with warmth. “You came.”

“Of course I did,” Liam said, forcing a smile as he leaned in closer. “How are you feeling today?”

His grandmother’s lips twitched into a small smile. “I’ve had better days, my dear. But seeing you always makes things a little brighter.”

Liam felt a lump form in his throat. He tried to speak, but the words caught in his chest, tangled up with the emotions he couldn’t quite name. Instead, he just squeezed her hand, hoping that she could feel the love and gratitude he couldn’t put into words.

They sat in silence for a while, the quiet punctuated only by the sounds of the machines. Liam didn’t know what to say—didn’t know how to tell her about the confusion in his mind, the gaps in his memory, the man who seemed to know him better than he knew himself.

“Grandma,” he finally said, his voice trembling. “I… I don’t remember things. There are so many things I can’t remember, and it scares me.”

His grandmother’s eyes softened, and she reached up with her free hand to touch his cheek. “Oh, my dear boy,” she whispered. “You’ve been through so much. But you’re strong, Liam. You always have been.”

Liam closed his eyes, leaning into her touch. He wanted to believe her, wanted to believe that he could find his way through the darkness in his mind. But it was so hard, especially when he didn’t even know where to start.

“Do you remember when you were little,” his grandmother said softly, “and you would get lost in the garden, wandering among the flowers? You always found your way back, Liam. You always found your way home.”

Liam nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He didn’t remember the garden, but he could picture it in his mind—a small, overgrown paradise filled with flowers of every color. He could imagine himself as a child, wandering among the blooms, lost but unafraid.

“You’ll find your way this time too,” his grandmother continued, her voice growing weaker. “You just have to be patient, and trust that everything will come back to you in time.”

Liam opened his eyes, looking into hers. There was so much love there, so much faith in him. It made his heart ache, knowing that she believed in him even when he couldn’t believe in himself.

“Thank you, Grandma,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You’ll never have to find out,” she replied with a small smile. “I’ll always be with you, Liam. In here.” She placed a trembling hand over his heart, her touch light but firm.

Liam nodded, tears spilling down his cheeks. He leaned forward, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I love you, Grandma,” he whispered, his voice breaking.

“I love you too, my dear,” she murmured, her eyes closing as she drifted off to sleep.

Liam sat by her side for a while longer, holding her hand and watching her sleep. The peaceful rise and fall of her chest was a small comfort, a reminder that she was still here with him, even if only for a little while longer.

But eventually, the weight of everything became too much. He needed air, needed to clear his head, to escape the suffocating confines of the hospital room. He gently released his grandmother’s hand, standing up and brushing the tears from his cheeks.

He made his way out of the room, down the hallway, and up the stairs to the rooftop. The air was cool and crisp, a welcome change from the sterile atmosphere inside. He walked over to the edge, leaning against the railing as he gazed out at the city below.

“Who am I?” he whispered to the wind, his voice barely audible. “Why can’t I remember anything?”

The questions had been haunting him for weeks, ever since the first time he had met Blake at the orphanage. There was something about Blake, something that tugged at the edges of his memory, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t piece it together.

“Why does Blake know me?” Liam asked himself, his voice growing louder as he stared out at the horizon. “Why do I feel like I know him too, but I can’t remember anything?”

The frustration was overwhelming, a crushing weight on his chest that made it hard to breathe. He gripped the railing tightly, his knuckles turning white as he fought to keep his emotions in check. But it was a losing battle. The more he tried to push the thoughts away, the stronger they became, until they consumed him entirely.

“I just want to know the truth,” Liam whispered, his voice breaking. “I just want to remember who I am.”

The wind picked up, whipping through his hair and carrying his words away into the sky. Liam closed his eyes, letting the cool breeze wash over him, trying to calm the storm raging inside.

He stayed there for a long time, lost in his thoughts, until the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The city below was alive with lights, a stark contrast to the darkness that lingered in his mind.

Eventually, Liam opened his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling a small sense of peace settle over him. He didn’t have all the answers, and he didn’t know when—or if—he ever would. But for now, he had to keep moving forward, one step