Chapter 53

As days turned into weeks, Ava became more and more worried. Why wasn't he waking up?? Why?? She was frustrated but never left his side.

Her heart raced as she sat by Alex's bedside, watching him intently. The early morning light streamed through the hospital window, casting a soft glow on his face. She had been tending to him, hoping against hope that today might be the day he'd wake up, that he'd remember.

As she adjusted the blanket covering him, Alex's eyelids fluttered. Her breath caught in her throat, anticipation building. His eyes slowly opened, confusion etched across his features.

" Ava? " he mumbled, his voice hoarse from disuse.

Relief washed over her, threatening to spill into tears of joy. She reached out, ready to embrace him, but froze as his hand raised, halting her movement.

" Who are you? " Alex's voice was laced with bewilderment, and Ava's heart sank like a stone.

Her mind whirled. How could he not remember her? She blinked back the sting of tears and forced a calm tone. " Your babysitter " she replied, attempting to keep her voice steady.

Alex shot her a disbelieving look. " Babysitter? That's absurd. I don't need one. Are you out of your mind? " His words were sharp, cutting through Ava's hope like a knife.

Confusion and frustration mingled within her. " What the hell is going on, anyway? Why am I in a hospital? " Alex's brow furrowed as he pressed a hand to his forehead, a pained expression crossing his face.

" You don’t remember what happened a few weeks ago? The accident? " Ava's voice quivered slightly, clinging to the hope that he'd remember something, anything.

" That was years ago. Who are you, anyway? And where’s Jack, my brother? " Alex's tone grew more insistent, and Ava's heart clenched at his words.

She felt a lump form in her throat. He remembered everyone but her. Why? How? Questions swirled in her mind, but she held herself composed.

Without a word, Ava reached for the call button beside the bed, summoning the doctor. Her eyes never left Alex's face, searching for a glimmer of recognition that didn't come.

The doctor hurried into the room, a sense of urgency in his movements as he approached Alex. After a thorough examination, the doctor confirmed what Ava had feared—a temporary memory loss.

As the doctor explained the situation to Alex, Ava sat in silence, her thoughts a tumultuous whirlwind. The ache in her chest grew with every passing second. He had risked his own life to save her and she showed gratitude by nursing him back to health, and yet, he couldn't remember her.

Her gaze drifted to Alex, who listened intently to the doctor's words, still grappling with the reality of his memory loss. She felt a surge of compassion for him, even as her heart shattered with the weight of his forgotten memories of their time together.

Ava struggled to maintain her composure, silently promising herself that she would help him recover, regardless of the pain of being forgotten by the person she cared for deeply. As the doctor left the room, she turned to Alex, a glimmer of hope flickering in her eyes.

" We'll help you remember, Alex. I'll be here for you " she whispered, her voice filled with determination, despite the pang of hurt within her.

Alex thought he heard her utter some words but when he looked at her, her lips weren't moving and he tilted his head, wondering if he heard her wrong.

Just as Ava attempted to console herself and muster the strength to support Alex through his memory loss, the door creaked open. Jack, Alex's brother, stepped into the room, his eyes filled with concern and relief at the sight of his brother awake.

" Alex! You're finally awake " Jack exclaimed, rushing to his brother's side.

Alex turned to Jack, his expression a mix of confusion and slight recognition. "Jack, is that really you? " His voice held a hint of uncertainty.

" Yeah, it's me, buddy. How are you feeling? " Jack's concern was palpable as he scrutinized his brother's face for any sign of improvement.

Alex's gaze flickered between Jack and Ava, a puzzled expression knitting his brow. " Who's she? " He gestured towards Ava, his voice tinged with curiosity.

Ava swallowed hard, bracing herself for the inevitable. " I'm Ava, your babysitter " she repeated quietly, trying to mask the ache in her voice.

Alex shot a glare in his brother's direction " Can you hear her, Jack?! Since when did I have a babysitter?? A babysitter??! " He shouted but ended up groaning as a sharp pain was met with a terrible headache.

Jack furrowed his brow, exchanging a perplexed glance with Ava " What are you talking about, Alex? You don't... "

Alex cut in " Remember her " He finished Jack's sentence, a touch of frustration creeping into his tone. " I don't understand. What's going on? Why can't I remember? "

Jack shot Ava a sympathetic look, realizing the gravity of the situation. "Ava's been here looking after you. You were in an accident, and she's been taking care of you since. And before the accident, she was your babysitter "

Alex's eyes widened in disbelief and incredulity, grappling with the new information. He struggled to process the reality of the situation, his mind unable to bridge the gap between the past he remembered and the present he couldn't comprehend.

" I had a babysitter?? Why? " He asked Jack incredulously.

Jack sighed " What did the doctor have to say about this? "

Alex copied his action and sighed too " He said the memory loss is temporary and everything will fall into place with time "

Jack nodded as he processed the information " Why is it just her you can't remember though? " He asked thoughtfully.

Alex just shrugged, feeling lost himself

" Do you know who Liam is? " Jack asked

Alex nodded " Of course I remember " and he chuckled.