Tom and Desai are brought together by circumstance, friendship, and understanding of what each other really need from the other. A monster threatens their happiness, but they rise above to reach the pinnacle they both want and need. True love always...
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She smiled warmly at him as she said, "The very best. Caring. Kind. Loving. Honest. Tender. Careful. Gentle. Funny." She grinned as she began to quote Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach when feeling out of sight for the ends of being and ideal grace.
"I love thee to the level of every day's most quiet need, by sun and candlelight. I love thee freely, as men strive for right; I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. I love thee with the passion put to use in my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
"I love thee with a love I seemed to lose with my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death." She placed her palms on his chest and felt his heartbeat.
He pulled her to him, and she pressed her hands closer to his chest as he captured her in his arms and lay his head on hers. "And she quotes poetry," he said softly. "Desai, thank you, for being here and helping me while I – we go through this." He pulled back as he still held her looking into her eyes as he said, "I need to ask your forgiveness."
He smiled as she scrunched her face and asked, "Forgiveness? For what? You haven't done anything."
"Oh, Desai, yes I have," he said as tears began streaming down his face. "Let's sit down," he suggested as he moved them to the bed bench.
"Thomas, I understand your frustration. I really do."
"I know that and that is why I have to beg your forgiveness because I have treated you in such a horrible way – I don't think that I would have treated a rude stranger the way I've treated and talked to you." He hung his head then raised it up to look at her as he cupped her face. "I am truly sorry for the way I've treated and talked to you. And I can't promise that I will remember you or us." He shook his head and said sadly, "I wish I could. But I will promise that I will always be here for you and the children. I won't abandon you. I do like you, Desai. And I am attracted to you."
"Thank you, Thomas. If it helps I like you – as much as I love you." Right now she couldn't ask for more than that. He was once again being honest and as kind as he could in the situation. Neither of them knew if he would get his memory back. But whether he did or not they would go through it together and come out stronger than before. She believed that. She had to. He could fall back in love with her should he not get the memories back. It could happen.
Three days later was another therapy session the first two were to get basic information from both of them. And they had been brutally honest with the psychiatrist. Or at least Desai knew she had.
Today (Monday) Thomas was scheduled to see Robert Holland, M.D., all on his own. Desai checked her watch then knocked on the bedroom door. "Thomas?" (Knock, knock.) "Thomas? Are you okay? Are you ready to go?"
"No!" he yelled. "I'll never be okay again!"
He sounded so despondent. And dour. "Thomas? Is there something wrong? I'm coming in." Desai opened the door to find him still in bed with a pillow over his head. "Thomas are –"
