Page 10 of Tell Me You Love Me Again

“Yes, sir. Your wife was involved in a multi-car accident earlier this evening and was brought into our hospital. I’m sorry it took so long to reach out to you, but we had to wait to retrieve her belongings from the officers from the scene. We nee—,” I didn’t even wait for her to finish because I knew she was about to say that she needed me to come down there and I was on the fuckin’ way.

“I’m on the way.”

“Perfect. When you get here, ask for Dr. Kwon and they’ll be able to assist you.” I thanked the nurse and hung up. I ran upstairs to throw on some sweats and a t-shirt before grabbing my keys and running back down the same stairs with my phone in my hand. Once I was in the truck, I said a prayer all the way to the hospital. I needed God to look out and keep my wife here with me. I wanted to be mad at Chiara, but right now, her health and safety were more important than my pride.

My mind was running rampant as I cruised the interstate as fast as I could without the police stopping me and giving me a ticket. All I could think about was how bad of a condition my wife had to be in for them to be calling me and her not calling me herself. The entire ride there, all I could do was pray that my wife was alright and safe. I didn’t know what I was about to walk into, but I prayed God saw fit to spare my wife.

***

I got to the hospital in a little over an hour. When I got there, I wasted no time pulling into the first parking space that I saw. Getting out, I ran to the front and through the doors and straight to the nurse’s station.

“Hey. I got a call about my wife. She was in an accident and I—”

“Sir, I need you to take a number and wait until it’s called,” the rude receptionist said. Had this been any other situation, I would’ve snatched that damn gum out of her mouth along with her fuckin’ tongue. She better be glad I’m a changed man.

“A number? Look, I was called about my wife. Someone said I needed to come down here. Can you tell me where she is or who else I can speak to?” I asked as nicely as I could.

“Look. I already told you to take a number. You’re not the only one in here,” she snapped. That pushed every nice bone I had left in my body out, but before I could snatch her by that raggedy ass lace. I heard my name being called behind me.

“Mr. Hastings?” I turned around to face the voice and saw a middle-aged Asian man in a white coat. I naturally assumed he was the doctor.

“Yeah. That’s me,” I stated.

“Okay, good. I’m Dr. Kwon. Your wife was brought in this evening because she was involved in a car accident.”

“Yeah. That’s what the lady on the phone said. Why didn’t Chiara call me herself?” I was growing impatient with all of their asses.

“Well, as I stated, Mrs. Hastings was involved in a severe car accident. She has a few bruises, but that’s not the extent of her injuries,” he stated. I still didn’t respond because I needed him to get to the point. When he saw the blank expression on my face, he continued to speak.

“Well, uhm. As a result of the accident, Mrs. Hastings is experiencing a case of amnesia.”

Amnesia? Did he just look me in my face and tell me that my wife has amnesia?

“Wait a minute. You mean to tell me my wife doesn’t remember anything at all?” I asked for clarity.

“Not exactly. She remembers her name, but unfortunately she doesn’t remember being married. She referred to herself as Chiara Livingston, not Hastings,” he informed.

What the hell?

“So, you mean to tell me if I go in there right now, my wife will look at me as a stranger?”

“I hate to say it, but yes, sir.” I couldn’t believe this shit. Not only did my wife run off and end up in an accident, she won’t be able to remember any of it…she won’t remember me.

“Can I see her?” I asked. I didn’t care what anyone said. I knew she would remember me as soon as she saw my face.

“Sure. Follow me.” I followed the doctor down the hallway and into the elevator. I watched as he pressed the button for the fifth floor before closing my eyes and taking in a deep breath. I didn’t know how I was going to deal with this, but for my wife…I’d figure out how to take the stars out of the sky.

I heard the elevator ding, eventually coming to a stop. Opening my eyes, I saw Dr. Kwon exit the elevator with me following closely behind.

“Right this way, Mr. Hastings.” He headed down another hallway before stopping in front of the door.

“She maybe still asleep. I had the nurse to give her a sedative to calm her down. She went in distress after hearing about having a husband. She thinks it’s a rouse and the person who caused the accident is coming after her.” I listened to him tell me that my wife might see me and become frightened, and I wanted to find the muthafucka who hit her and kill them with my bare hands.

“Aight, Doc. I get it, but I need to lay eyes on my wife before I lose my shit in this hospital.” He nodded and opened the door and allowed me to enter inside of the room before him. When I saw my baby lying in that bed sleeping peacefully, I couldn’t help the tears that fell from my eyes and cascaded down my cheek, settling in my beard.

Walking closer to the bed, I pulled up the empty chair and took a seat at her bedside. Grabbing her hand, I kissed it gently.

“Snook,” I called her by the nickname that I gave her.

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