“How are you feeling?”
Frustrated. I hurt. He needs to do something about it. That’s what hospitals are for.
“He moved his arm,” Hugo says excitedly.
The doctor or nurse man smiles. “That’s great news. Are you feeling better?”
I scowl. “No,” I grit out. “Everything hurts.”
Silence surrounds me. The nurse-doctor stares at me, a smile slowly climbing his face. I’m not sure me hurting is something to smile over. Sadist.
“He just said that out loud,” Hugo says. “Right? You heard that? I didn’t make it up?”
I look at Hugo again, a little confused. He’s staring at me with uncertainty. Excitement. Apprehension.
“Yes,” I answer. “Why wouldn’t I say it out loud?”
I’m further confused when moisture fills his eyes. “You haven’t spoken in more than a week,” he explains.
“Oh.” Well, that’s… horrifying. “What have I been doing?”
“Laying in bed,” he answers. “Do you-do you remember me?”
That’s the first true understanding I get that something really bad happened to me. My breath catches as I stare at Hugo. How could I forget this man? I’ve been in love with him for ages. He’s mine. He’s finally mine. I sure as hell won’t forget that.
But my words are caught in my throat because he’s waiting for disappointment. I can see the hurt deep in his eyes. Sadness etched into the lines of his skin. He’s waiting for me to tell him I don’t know him.
Why, though?
I nod. “Yes. Of course, I do.”
He sucks in a sharp breath. “You do? From… earlier today?”
Earlier to… today? Oh, no. I don’t even remember earlier today. Jesus I don’t remember… Panic fills me as I stare at him.
“Shh,” he murmurs, pressing his face against mine. I feel his tears on my skin. His body shakes as he tries not to cry. I grip him as tightly as I can, taking a handful of his hair in my fist. “It’s okay. I’m right here. I’ll never leave you. You’re okay.”
His words are there, but nothing feels okay right now. I’m not remembering something, I just don’t know what it is. I have a terrifying feeling that I wasn’t remembering Hugo until now either.
“I love you,” I whisper. “In case I forget again, I want you to know that I love you.”
I feel his sobs throughout my whole body. I feel them in my bones. The pain and sorrow that I don’t quite understand—which in me feels like dread and fear.
“I love you too,” he says, voice shaking. “Even if you can’t remember me tomorrow or next week or in an hour. I love you. So much, Torin. I’m not going anywhere, I swear. I’m always going to be here. Every time you wake up. I promise.”
“You have hockey.”
He laughs through his tears and practically climbs on the bed to get closer. “You do remember.”
“I’m sorry I forgot.”
Hugo shakes his head. He’s saying something. For a long time, I’m not sure what it is he’s saying. I can’t hear it clearly through either of our tears. But after a while, I hear his words. Over and over again, he’s sayingI love you.
I grip him as tightly as I can, trying to get closer to him. I don’t care how much I hurt. How much my body aches or how badly my head throbs. I’ll never be able to get close enough to Hugo.
I’ll never forget you again,I promise him. I don’t dare say those words out loud, but I don’t care what else I forget, I will remember Hugo Bladen. My Hugo. The love of my life. Ican’tforget him again.
Chapter Thirty-Five
