turned and walked away, his shoulders down and his head hanging.
For a moment she felt guilty for not letting him back in, then pushed it aside. Her fingers went to the base of her throat, in what seemed to be an automatic movement, but there was nothing there. It felt empty, as if there was something missing there too.
“Are you looking for your necklace? It’s right here.” The nurse put the cup down on the side. “Let’s sit you up a little so you can drink your tea, then I’ll get it for you.”
Pain flooded her as the nurse gently began helping her sit up. Her skin grew cold and clammy, stars flashed in front of her eyes and she screwed them tight. She pushed back into the pillows, the pain easing a little, only to be replaced by wave after wave of dizziness.
The monitor chimed and the nurse cancelled it, her cool fingers taking Niamh’s wrist. “You OK, Niamh? You’re not going to pass out on me now, are you?”
“I’m really dizzy.” She opened her eyes. “But, no, I don’t think I’m going to faint.”
White teeth shone in the nurse’s dark face as she smiled. “Good, glad to hear it. Here’s your necklace.” She reached over to the drawer and pulled something out, before placing a gold cross on a delicate gold chain, adorned with a single diamond into Niamh’s hand.
Turning it over Niamh ran her fingers over the initials engraved on it. “NFH...” A warm feeling of belonging and love and something else flooded her.
The cross lay in a red box, soft white cotton wool surrounding it. A card sat to one side, a verse on it. ‘Whilst we were yet sinners, Christ died for us...’
“Romans five verse eight.” She looked back down at the cross, trying to bring back the memory or whatever it was. “Could you put it on for me, please?”
“Sure.” The nurse fastened it around Niamh’s neck. “Your husband says you never take it off. It looks really pretty. OK, your tea and pain meds are on the side. I’m right here if you need anything.”
“Thank you.” She picked up the cup and took a sip. Letting the hot liquid slide down her throat, she finished it in several long swallows, taking the meds at the same time. She put the cup down and leaned back against the pillows. It was raining, huge drops pounded against the window. She closed her eyes, listening to them, the sound mixing with the beeping and hissing of the machines.
How long will it be before my memory comes back? Right now I’m here in this moment of time. No past, no future, just a present.
Her fingers went to the cross around her neck, playing with it. That had triggered something, but it wasn’t enough. She needed more.
4
Jared paced the hallway while the doctor was in with Niamh, as he had done countless times over the past day. He knew there were risks of brain damage with every head injury, he saw way too much of that in his line of work to doubt it, but he’d hoped and prayed she’d wake and be fine. But she hadn’t.
Lord, she looked at me in horror, pulled back from me scared. Why is she so frightened of me? We’ve known each other nine years, been married for eight, happily for the first six of those eight. I’d never hurt her, she knows that, yet she looks at me if I’m a total stranger. I don’t understand why.
He turned and caught sight of Dr. Anders coming out of the ward. He moved over to him. “Doctor? How is she? What’s wrong with her?”
The doctor’s calm voice did nothing to reassure him. “I’m recommending she sees a neurologist first thing in the morning. Right now she remembers nothing recent to waking up here. She’s forgotten at least eight years. That could be temporary or it could be longer lasting.”
No…That’s why she doesn’t know me .
Jared took a deep breath, his heart sank into his stomach, and his gut twisted around it, squeezing it to the point of breaking. He struggled to get the words out. “Are you saying she might never remember
For a moment she felt guilty for not letting him back in, then pushed it aside. Her fingers went to the base of her throat, in what seemed to be an automatic movement, but there was nothing there. It felt empty, as if there was something missing there too.
“Are you looking for your necklace? It’s right here.” The nurse put the cup down on the side. “Let’s sit you up a little so you can drink your tea, then I’ll get it for you.”
Pain flooded her as the nurse gently began helping her sit up. Her skin grew cold and clammy, stars flashed in front of her eyes and she screwed them tight. She pushed back into the pillows, the pain easing a little, only to be replaced by wave after wave of dizziness.
The monitor chimed and the nurse cancelled it, her cool fingers taking Niamh’s wrist. “You OK, Niamh? You’re not going to pass out on me now, are you?”
“I’m really dizzy.” She opened her eyes. “But, no, I don’t think I’m going to faint.”
White teeth shone in the nurse’s dark face as she smiled. “Good, glad to hear it. Here’s your necklace.” She reached over to the drawer and pulled something out, before placing a gold cross on a delicate gold chain, adorned with a single diamond into Niamh’s hand.
Turning it over Niamh ran her fingers over the initials engraved on it. “NFH...” A warm feeling of belonging and love and something else flooded her.
The cross lay in a red box, soft white cotton wool surrounding it. A card sat to one side, a verse on it. ‘Whilst we were yet sinners, Christ died for us...’
“Romans five verse eight.” She looked back down at the cross, trying to bring back the memory or whatever it was. “Could you put it on for me, please?”
“Sure.” The nurse fastened it around Niamh’s neck. “Your husband says you never take it off. It looks really pretty. OK, your tea and pain meds are on the side. I’m right here if you need anything.”
“Thank you.” She picked up the cup and took a sip. Letting the hot liquid slide down her throat, she finished it in several long swallows, taking the meds at the same time. She put the cup down and leaned back against the pillows. It was raining, huge drops pounded against the window. She closed her eyes, listening to them, the sound mixing with the beeping and hissing of the machines.
How long will it be before my memory comes back? Right now I’m here in this moment of time. No past, no future, just a present.
Her fingers went to the cross around her neck, playing with it. That had triggered something, but it wasn’t enough. She needed more.
4
Jared paced the hallway while the doctor was in with Niamh, as he had done countless times over the past day. He knew there were risks of brain damage with every head injury, he saw way too much of that in his line of work to doubt it, but he’d hoped and prayed she’d wake and be fine. But she hadn’t.
Lord, she looked at me in horror, pulled back from me scared. Why is she so frightened of me? We’ve known each other nine years, been married for eight, happily for the first six of those eight. I’d never hurt her, she knows that, yet she looks at me if I’m a total stranger. I don’t understand why.
He turned and caught sight of Dr. Anders coming out of the ward. He moved over to him. “Doctor? How is she? What’s wrong with her?”
The doctor’s calm voice did nothing to reassure him. “I’m recommending she sees a neurologist first thing in the morning. Right now she remembers nothing recent to waking up here. She’s forgotten at least eight years. That could be temporary or it could be longer lasting.”
No…That’s why she doesn’t know me .
Jared took a deep breath, his heart sank into his stomach, and his gut twisted around it, squeezing it to the point of breaking. He struggled to get the words out. “Are you saying she might never remember
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