Chapter 54
Ava remained silent, her heart heavy with the ache of being a stranger to the person she had grown so attached to. She watched the interaction between the brothers, feeling like an outsider in a moment meant for family reunions and shared memories.
Jack turned to Ava, his expression a mixture of sympathy and gratitude. " Thank you, Ava, for taking care of him. I'm sorry, this must be a lot to take in for both of you "
Ava managed a faint nod, forcing a small smile. " Of course, Jack. I'm just glad he's awake and getting better "
Jack approached Alex's bedside, placing a reassuring hand on his brother's shoulder. " We'll figure this out together, okay? Don't worry, we'll get you back to normal soon "
Alex nodded, though a tinge of uncertainty lingered in his eyes. His thoughts were a jumble of confusion, unable to reconcile the reality in front of him with the memories locked away in the recesses of his mind.
As Jack and Alex conversed, Ava silently excused herself from the room, needing a moment alone to collect her thoughts. She wandered down the hospital corridor, grappling with the bittersweetness of the situation. Her heart ached for Alex, yet she couldn't help but feel the sting of being forgotten, a painful reminder of their shared past that now existed only in her memories.
With a heavy sigh, Ava leaned against the wall, steeling herself for the challenging road ahead. She was determined to support Alex in his recovery, even if it meant enduring the heartache of being a stranger to someone who was a friend.
Her little lady decided it was time to show up " He was never your friend, duh "
Ava rolled her eyes " We were "
" No, you weren't " Her second voice insisted and the mind argument continued for a while until Ava pushed the voice out of her mind.
Ava wandered the hospital corridors, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. She found solace in the quiet, distant murmur of the bustling hospital, a place where her thoughts echoed louder than the surrounding noises.
As she walked, memories flooded her mind—moments shared with Alex, the laughter, the conversations they had the day before the accident happened, and the bond that had formed between them.
" Never forget your endless fights " Her inner voice put in and Ava smiled at that. Yeah, their endless fights
The vivid recollections stung her heart as she grappled with the fact that Alex couldn't remember any of it.
Lost in her thoughts, Ava was startled by a gentle touch on her shoulder. She turned to find a nurse standing there, concern etched on her face.
" Are you alright, dear? You seemed lost in thought " The nurse asked in concern
Ava managed a small smile, attempting to mask the turmoil within. " I'm okay, just needed a moment to gather myself "
The nurse nodded understandingly " It can't be easy for you, seeing someone you care about struggle like this. But you're doing a wonderful job supporting him "
Ava's eyes widened a bit " Care about? He's my boss "
The nurse smiled knowingly " Of course I know. You care about him, don't you? "
Ava smiled " Yeah... Yeah, of course "
The nurse returned her smile with a warm one " So don't you worry, okay? Everything will be fine. It's just a matter of time "
Ava felt a surge of gratitude for the nurse's empathy " Thank you. I just want to help him through this, even if he doesn't remember "
The nurse offered a reassuring pat on Ava's hand before returning to her duties, leaving Ava with a sense of renewed determination. She squared her shoulders, ready to face the challenges ahead, whatever they might bring.
As Ava made her way back to Alex's room, she steeled herself for the difficult task of navigating through his unfamiliarity. Upon entering, she found Jack engaged in conversation with Alex, the two of them discussing snippets of their shared past.
She approached quietly, not wanting to interrupt their exchange. Jack noticed her presence and gestured for her to join them. " Ava, come. We were just talking about some of our old adventures "
A pang of longing swept through Ava as she listened to them reminisce about moments she had shared with Alex. Her heart ached at the realization that those memories were now fragmented, distant echoes to Alex's current reality.
She smiled faintly, masking the ache within her. "Sounds like you both had quite the experiences "
" Yeah, I took care of his sorry ass after our parents' deaths " Jack said lightly
Alex shot him a playful glare but said no word to that.
Ava nodded " He's a handful, I know " And Jack laughed.
Alex glanced at her briefly, an inscrutable expression crossing his face before returning his attention to Jack. " This is weird. I feel like there's a whole part of my life missing "
Ava's heart clenched at his words. She longed to fill in the gaps, to help him retrieve the lost pieces of his memory, but she knew it wouldn't be an easy journey.
" I'll be here to help you remember, Alex " Ava said under her breath, her voice filled with sincerity. " We'll take it one step at a time "
As the conversation continued, Ava remained by Alex's side, offering support while grappling with the bittersweetness of being present yet feeling like a stranger in the life of someone she cared so deeply for. She vowed to stand by him, holding onto the hope that one day, he would remember the bond they had shared, despite the daunting uncertainty that lay ahead.
" Care to tell me a bit of the accident? " Alex asked all of a sudden, staring at both Jack and Ava who shared a look. None of them said anything for a while.
