#Chapter2
A month later...
A mild ache in my backbone and limbs brought me to conscious. I blinked my heavy eyelids a few times to adjust against striking light scattered in the room. My throat felt parched in dryness and I started coughing. The mere action made me squeamish and burned the empty stomach.
Hell
Immediately, two arms wrapped around my shoulders making me sit and rubbed my back soothingly. My spinning head rested on the shoulder of the owner and eyes tear in misery.
/"Water,/" I whispered roughly not finding my voice. It was all blurred, the surroundings. A cool glass was pressed against my lips and I took a small gulp but winced at the cutting sensation. It felt like someone has stabbed me directly in the oesophagus.
/"Slow. Take it slow./" A familiar voice guided gently and I followed. Once I was satisfied, he removed the glass and rubbed my sides. I shivered and fell back on the bed not finding the strength to cope. The face of the man was still blurred. Everything appeared foggy.
/"Hey. How are you?/"
He asked making me look at him for the first time. What happened to me? Why am I like this? What is wrong with me? Not knowing the answer, I just stared at him blankly and figured his hairs were raven. His fingers caressed my scalp soothingly and I sighed relaxing my throbbing muscles on a warm bed.
/"Crystal?/"
He said again tapping my cheek and I frowned slapping his hand away lightly. Who is Crystal?
My thoughts lived short as a light knock came from the double doors and the man shouted 'come in'. Two people in white coats entered inside. Still, I didn't see clear. Their faces were obscured. To get rid of that sickening tactility I rubbed my eyes tiredly.
/"Mrs. Romero, how are you now?/" The elderly male asked in a gentle tone and I blinked. My vision got little better with time so I was able to make an outline of his face. He was wearing glasses and a curious look rested on his nose. /"Can you see me?/" He asked leaning closer and I pressed myself further in mattress not liking the closeness. In no time, a pair of black nerdy glasses were placed on my nose and I saw everything clearly. I nodded adjusting the spectacles. I wear them? The elder man had silver hairs and wrinkles over his forehead. He silently noted something on the notepad and looked at me.
/"Can you talk?/" He asked and I gulped wincing at the soreness in my throat.
/"Yes./" It came out raspy and chocked but I managed to speak. He nodded again noting the reaction.
/"Does anything ache?/" He asked and I looked at my legs that were covered under a soft duet.
/"Legs and my back,/" I replied slowly and he nods.
/"How much? On the scale of 10./"
/"7,/" I spoke in confusion and he nodded grimly before jotting more points.
/"What is the last thing you remember?/"
At his words, my mind flipped at 360 degrees. I froze feeling my core churn. My hands cupped my forehead when pain shot at the left side of my skull. I yelped in shock feeling the world slipping from my fingers. Black dots danced in sight and my nerves clenched in panic.
/"Blank. Everything is blank./" I whispered not understanding the situation.
/"Okay. Don't pressure yourself. No stress, please./" He commanded but I was already thrashing. Bile rose my throat. /"Nurse, inject her with haloperidol, she is hyperventilating./" Warm hands rubbed something on my shoulder before a stinging sensation erupted on my arm. I winced feeling my body failing and everything went dark.
Third Person
As soon as she lost her conscience, the man rubbing her shoulders instantly wore a cold mask. His stormy dark eyes pins at the nervous doctor, who in return adjusted his stethoscope stiffly.
/"What is wrong with her?/" He asked with a clenched jaw and the doctor gulps, shaking like leaf and clears his throat.
/"I believe she is suffering from amnesia. It might be temporary or permanent. The accident damaged major tissues of the spinal cord earlier. But in the span of these nine months, they have recovered well. Thankfully, she isn't suffering any paralysis. Her legs are fine, as you said she walked till your office a month ago. We ran a few scans when she was unconscious. The left side of her skull is not swollen anymore, but a hair-sized fracture is still there. Unfortunately, it will never heal. She shouldn't take much stress or will suffer from severe headaches. The chances of getting partial paralysis are also high because of that minute disfigured tissue of the brain, boss. Since my team was giving her regular doses of required nutrients and various other supplements along with the much-needed therapies, it is possible that she might soon walk again normally./" He recited sincerely and relief courses the anxious man.
/"Will she be alright?/" He asked that question timidly and the doctor nodded immediately.
/"She is a strong woman, boss. She survived such a big accident and woke up from the coma in the meantime. I am sure that she will do fine but the same can't be said about her memories./" He assured and the man sighed.
/"I don't want her to remember anything./" The man mumbled bitterly and the doctor pales hearing the venomous declaration. How can someone dare to fight the natural process? Only those who don't fear God.
/"Boss?/"
/"I don't want her to remember the past, if she does, you are dead./" He threatened the poor doctor and looked back at the woman with an unknown emotion. /"Past is too harsh for her. I want her to live a beautiful life now./" He finished and the doctor nodded understanding the true meaning behind the brazen words of this ruthless man.
/"There are a few drugs, that can help./" The doctor reminded fearing for his life and the man nods without a second thought. He has lost her once, it couldn't happen again, otherwise, he will lose his mind. She is here, so close to his heart, what else could he ask for.
/"Alright. But no one should know about this. If anyone gets the slightest air of the matter, consider yourself and your loved ones killed./" He ordered and the doctor nodded taking his leave but paused at the doors.
/"Make sure to give her medicines on time. She is physically weak and tired. Nine months of slipping and jumping from the coma have sucked all her energy./" He mumbled and rushed out of the double doors followed by equally terrified nurses.
The thought of memory loss gave the man some hope as he laid beside her staring at the ceiling. His left hand was wrapped around her waist possessively. The past could snatch her from his claws. She is too fragile to go through it once again. He will keep her close and safe and won’t repeat those darn mistakes. Unknowingly, his hold tightens around her. A fire burnt behind his eyelids and they moistened as he remembered their last encounter.
You can't keep me caged, Romero. I am free.
The words echoed in his ears clear as daylight. Of course, he can't keep her caged. She was free. Those words will sound beautiful to a normal spectator but they have given him nightmares for the past nine months. Goosebumps crawls his spine whenever those words replay in his mind. The words spoken so gently wakes all his demons and forces them to hide.