PIECES

Part 2

Anna's POV

I walked home feeling exhausted. Kelly and I had gone through several shopping malls checking out for the gown I was supposed to wear for my wedding reception...

After checking out the dresses, I finally settled for a blue spaghetti strapless gown and a forest green mermaid gown...

I tried the gown, which fitted me perfectly. I felt like a little princess in it...

I sunk on the couch, carefully placing the shopping bags at a corner. I was staring blankly at the ceiling when Kelly's words flashed through my mind...

Abel and I had been together for over three years and he never proposed to me, but he had been with Rose for just eight months, after which he tied the knot with her...

I let out a self depreciating laugh, shaking my head vigorously, not wanting to dwell on it...

I couldn't say I wasn't hurt by that action of his, but I just wanted to focus on my wedding...

I was still lost in thoughts when I heard the door bell ring. I couldn't help but frown. Who could it be?

I pushed myself out of the couch and swiftly moved to the door. I was taken aback by the person standing there...

"Kevin?" I called out surprised...

"Hey my darling! How are you doing?" He asked as he pulled me into a gentle hug, before moving in, pulling my hand...

"I didn't expect you to show up at this time"

"I know. I just missed you. Are you tired? Mind if we step out for dinner?" He asked, his tone calm, filled with warmth...

"Well, I'd have loved to, but I'm really exhausted. I had to go shopping with Kelly today. I just came in" I said, not daring to meet his gaze. I didn't want to see the disappointing look in his eyes...

"Settled then. Excuse me..." He said.

Before I could raise my eyes to look at him, he made his way to the kitchen. I trailed behind him and asked...

"What are you doing?"

"You're tired, and I want to have dinner with you. So how about you go and freshen up, and wait for me to do my magic..."

"No, no, no! I'll make dinner. Just go sit in the living room, okay?"

"Nope. You just go freshen up"

"But..."

"No arguing. Just get going. No arguments"

He said waving his hand dismissively. The look on his face clearly showed he wasn't going to take no for an answer...

Not wanting to argue further, I walked away...

I couldn't help but feel grateful having a man who always stood by me, caring and looking after me...

After Abel and I broke up, I met Kevin. Initially, I didn't want to have anything to do with him, but with time, my ideas began changing. We've been together for a year and two months, and now we'll be getting married...

*****

Rose stared blankly at the man infront of her. She didn't know wether or not to cry. Her heart felt heavy. After battling with her mind, wether or not to stay, she stormed out of the ward...

Laura who had been staring unsure of what to say to her friend, followed behind...

"Rose, please calm down. I understand what you're going through"

She said, her hands on her friend's shoulder...

"You don't understand Laura, you don't. My husband... He..! Oh my God!" Rose cried, unable to control her emotions...

"Why don't you talk to the doctor first?" Laura suggested...

Rose wasn't paying attention to her and just kept sobbing...

"Rose, please get hold of yourself" Laura said. She couldn't shake off the distress...

After sobbing for about twenty minutes, she forcefully wiped her tears and walked straight to the doctor's office...

"Mah, please sit" the doctor said upon seeing her in his office...

"Dr Maurice, I just want to know. Why did he ask about someone else instead of me? I'm his wife, yet he didn't care when he saw me. I felt like a stranger before him. What's going on?" Rose glared, though her tone was low, she was trying so hard not to lash out. Her heart was heavy...

She had received a call saying that her husband had regained consciousness. She couldn't help but let her tears out. They were tears of joy...

But her excitement didn't last long. When she arrived the hospital, her husband turned towards her direction and coldly bombarded her with questions...

"Rose, you? I wasn't expecting you. Where's Anna? Did she go home to get me something to eat?"

At that point she felt like her heart was no longer functioning. Her mind went numb. Unsure of what was going on, she said...

"Babe, you're awake!"

"Are you calling me babe? Is this how cheap you've become?" He scoffed. She was taken aback by his words. Her heart ached, her mind raising...

She was too shocked to react...

"Doctor I'm asking you something. Talk to me" Rose screamed, slamming her hand hard on the table...

"Rose, you please calm down. Sit let me explain" the doctor said, though he understood the reason for her outburst

She stared at the doctor for a while contemplating wether or not to sit. Just then, her friend walked in, urging her to sit...

After listening to what the doctor had to say, Rose was at a lost for words. The more the doctor's words echoed in her mind, the more her heart ached...

She felt a lumb in her throat, unable to say anything...

Rose's POV

"Partial amesea. What's that even supposed to mean? Why didn't he just forget everything? What's the point? So he doesn't even remember he's married?" I heard Laura ask the doctor. Though her voice was low, it carried a hint of annoyance....

"Well, it's just a result of the accident. Given his condition, you don't need to force him to remember anything, else it may cause more harm than good. He might just end up losing his memory and never regaining them again. You need to be patient and act like nothing has happened. You need to go according to his pace" I heard the doctor say, but my heart was just too heavy to respond...

After a brief moment, I noticed Laura glance at me before turning to the doctor...

"So, what are you trying to say?"

"Well, he doesn't remember he's married right? So you'll have to act like you're not his wife..."

"Hold on a second. He was just asking after his ex. I mean, from what he said it's obvious he thinks he's still with his ex, so..." Laura didn't finish what she had to say, but I immediately understood. Curious, I looked at the doctor who shook his head slightly then said...

"You'll definitely have to bring her back to act like his fiancee, for the time being, until he gets well"

"Absolute nonsense!" Laura said, her expression darkening...

I mustered courage and asked...

"For how long will this go on? I mean, when will he get well?"

"Well, he's treatment would take about 6 months to upto a year. But I can't guarantee. It could be less and it could be more. However, all depends on how you chose to handle the situation" the doctor replied. Though his words were simple, I understood perfectly the message he was trying to convey...

Once we left the doctor's office, I couldn't help but sigh in frustration...

"What are you planning on doing?" Laura asked. I didn't say anything. Truth was I didn't know what to do myself...

"I'll be leaving" I said.

Laura nodded in understanding as she opted coming with me but I declined. I just needed some space and time to clear my head...

Once I got home, the dinning table was already set with the aroma of different dishes filling the air...

Without caring much about the food, I sank into the couch, my mind dazed...

It wasn't long when my mom walked into the living room, catching a glimpse of me...

"Good thing you're back. I was just about..." She stopped her sentence midway upon seeing my face...

"Have you been crying? Who hurt you? How dare someone make my daughter cry?" My mom asked in a raised voice, furious...

I felt my heart warm up a little, making me cry more. Here was my mother ready to defend me and my husband was there calling me cheap...

"Mama..." I called out in a hoarse voice...

"Abel... Mama, Abel" I said, crying...

"What happened? Speak up!" My mother asked, a hint of urgency and helplessness in her voice...

"Mama..."

I called out crying helplessly...

I watched as my mom sat on the floor, her hands on her head...

"My son in-law is death?" She asked. I didn't say a thing, just shaking my head in disapproval...

"Then why are you weeping and calling his name?" My mother asked, clearly annoyed...

"Mama, Abel doesn't remember me anymore!" I said. I watched as my mother stared at me, shocked and surprised at the same time...