The Song

Part Seven

As Aston came back into the room, Julia stood up to leave. “I’ll come see you again soon,” she said, giving me a hug and whispering in my ear, “Trust him.”

“Bye Jules.”

“Everything ok?” Aston asked.

“Yeah, just got some family updates and that.”
“Right,” he said, sitting down with a sports bag at his feet, “I brought you some stuff.”

“Thanks.”

“You want me to help you to the en suite to get cleaned up and change into something more comfortable?” he asked.

I stared at him for a second, remembering what Julia had said about trusting him. “Yeah, sure. Thanks.”
Gently he helped me up from the bed, his arm around my back as I walked slowly into the en suite. I had hardly been out of bed since the accident and walking was proving very difficult. It didn’t matter though, Aston was there supporting me.

“Here hang onto this bar and I’ll grab your things,” he said, leaving me for a second and getting the bag.

Inside was a shampoo bottle, toothbrush and toothpaste, and all sorts of pieces of clothing. I didn’t recognize any of them, but then again, I wouldn’t would I?

“I don’t think I can do this on my own,” I sighed, looking over at the shower. My knees were shaking and I found it hard just to stand holding the railing.
“I’ll help.”
I felt my cheeks blush red again at the thought of him helping me bathe, but I brushed it aside. He was my husband, I’m sure he’d done a lot more than help me bathe before.

“You ok?” he asked.

“What?”
“Your face…”

“Oh,” I mumbled, “Just awkward you know. I’ve never… showered with anyone before. In my memory at least…”
“Well you have, in my memory,” Aston said with a coy smile. My cheeks burned again and I did my best to look anywhere but at him. “I’ll just grab something to wrap up your cast,” he added hastily, realizing he may have overstepped his boundaries a bit with that statement.

I watched him bustle around for a minute and then he helped me put a plastic bag around my cast so I wouldn’t ruin it. Once it was secure he carefully undid the ties at the back of my hospital gown, undressing me slowly.

“These bruises are awful,” he muttered.

“What?”

“Didn’t you notice?” he asked me, switching on the shower and leading me in. “You’ve got dark bruises all along your shoulder and back.”

“Gosh no wonder I’m sore,” I replied.

“Jheeze Jess!” he laughed, scrubbing my back gently.

He talked to me throughout the entire wash, taking care to wash my hair and get all the soap out. I was so distracted by what he was saying that I hardly noticed how awkward the situation was. Hardly.

“Let’s get you in some clean clothes,” Aston said as he switched off the shower and wrapped me in a scratchy white hospital towel.

“Thanks.”

“Any preferences?”

“Something comfy,” I said simply.

“Right.”

He grabbed out some sweatpants and a t-shirt as well as some clean underwear, helping me slip into it and climb back in bed.

“That wasn’t so bad,” he said, passing me a hoodie to keep warm.

“It was fine, thanks for helping.”

“No worries.”

We sat in silence for a few minutes, not really sure what else to say. I had no idea where to start with him. Julia had said to trust him, but I didn’t know anything about him. Or us.

“Umm…” he said looking over at me, “The doctor wanted me to talk to you about what happens when you’re discharged. He said it might as soon as two days from now.”
“Oh, right.”
“He suggested you come stay at home. Our home,” Aston explained, “It might help you get your memory back if you’re in a place you spend a lot of time. I’m going to take another week or two off work to help you out so you won’t be alone. If you’re ok with that.”

“You don’t have to,” I said.

“Jess, I want to help you get better.”

“What’s our house like?” I asked, changing the subject slightly.

“We picked it together,” he shrugged, “It’s quiet, out of the way. There’s plenty of space, you can have your own room no problem.”

“Ok, I’ll stay there. I can hardly imagine my Mum or Julia being of much help, and with my Dad and Caroline in America…”

“Yeah, that’s what I figured,” Aston smiled.

“I appreciate all your help,” I told him.

“I’m your husband, that’s what I’m here for.”
“I know, but… it’s really nice.”
“You’d have done the same for me.” He smiled at me again, a sweet smile. His eyes seemed so worried and I couldn’t help but feel awful about things.

“Julia said I still teach piano,” I said, trying to lighten the mood a bit.
“Yeah, and you write,” Aston said.

“Wait!” I said, startled, “Do my students know?!”

“Know what? That you haven’t got your memory?” Aston asked.

“Well, any of it.”

“I went through the list and called them all after the accident,” he said, “I cancelled lessons indefinitely. I told them you’d be in touch when things were better. Most of them adore you, they sent cards.”

“Oh, where?” I asked, looking around the room. There were a few bouquets of flowers and teddies around, and I hadn’t even thought to see who they were from.

“Here,” Aston said, passing me a stack.

“Awww, I still teach William Hartford?” I asked, smiling when I saw a familiar name.

“You’ve got a couple that you’ve been teaching since before I met you,” Aston said. “They’re little prodigies. It’s good to know you remember the name.”

“It’s weird,” I said, “The last memory I have of him he was like seven. He’s got to be at least eleven now. Maybe older.”

“It is weird.”

I flicked through the rest of the cards, asking Aston to fill me in on who some people were. Apparently I’d made some new friends over the last few years because there were quite a few names that I didn’t recognize.

“I don’t like this,” I muttered as I set the cards to the side.
“What?” Aston asked.

“Having no idea who those people are. Who you are. What’s going on in the TV shows. All of it.”
“I don’t envy you,” Aston said, reaching out and giving my hand a light squeeze, “But I’m here to help.”

I smiled over at him, my eyes catching his, that terrified look still there.

When would I start to remember?