"The Husband I Never Knew I Had..."

"Confusion..."

Franco:

"You had someone else!" The boy named Anselmo informed me. He was seated next to my sleeping husband. The way he and his grandmother Adella glared at me informed me clearly whose side they were on.

"I had been... unfaithful?" My voice shook as the reality of why my beautiful Cassie didn't want to be close to me sank in.

"He told me that you were engaged to be married to the daughter of a senatorial candy slate."

"Candidate." His grandmother corrected him.

"That's impossible. I'm in love with Cas!"

"Maybe not as much as he loves you! He almost drowned trying to find you in the middle of the storm." The boy had tears that threatened to fall. Guillermo was softly chanting as he waved several branches of a guava tree over the unconscious form of my husband.

There was a soft knock as three older women, sisters named Madonna, Rihanna, and Arianna came in holding fruit baskets and freshly made rice cakes. They ignored me, and immediately spoke to Adella.

"How is Cas?" The oldest sister, Madonna asked.

"Still unconscious." Adella answered.

"I sincerely hope the person who caused Cas to almost die goes without sleep for an entire year." Rihanna glared at me.

"I didn't want any of this to happen to Cassie." I tried to defend myself.

"You left him here, alone, in your hut... in the middle of the storm! Of course he'd go and try to look for you... you're his husband. What did you expect?" Arianna scolded me.

I had no excuse for my actions, and so I remained quiet.

"From the moment you arrived in our small hidden sanctuary, Cas has done nothing but look after your well-being and safety. He has not left your side since day one. For you to run out on him, causing him to worry... that is something we simply cannot ignore. You have been an inconsiderate baboon Adonis. How can you tell us you love Cas if this is the result of your actions?" Adella pointed to an unconscious Cas as her eyes began to mist over.

"I am done here. I have invoked the spirits of the river to return Cassie's soul. I implored them to have pity on Adonis... the inconsiderate and reckless fool of a husband who is not ready to lose his beloved Cas yet." Guillermo informed us.

"Thank you Guille..." I was silenced as Guillermo shoved the leaves to my face unceremoniously.

"Change Cassie's bandage every afternoon, before the sun sets. Place these leaves I wiped with sacred oils on either side of his temple then cover it with a clean white cloth. I will check on him again tomorrow. Try not to kill him till then."

They all made their way to leave as I followed awkwardly to close the thin wooden door behind them.

"Sometimes we fall short of our obligations, but that does not mean we do not love our spouses. Cas may have done something for you to temporarily abandon him last night... but he has more than proved how much he loves and values you. Don't let one failure cause you to overlook the thousands of times Cas has proven his love for you Adonis. You lost your memory... not your feelings." Adella told me before she turned to follow her husband. Catching up to him I saw her hold his gnarled hand lovingly, while she shared a sweet smile with him.

I remembered how Cassie's hands felt cold in mine after I found him half drowned in the river that he tried to cross to find me. The river's current was too strong for him to wade through, causing him to slip, and lose his balance. I heard his weak voice as he called my name repeatedly before he was pulled under by the strong current.

I rushed, panicked, to where he was. By the time I got to him however, he had been under the water's caress for too long. I was able to revive him, a talent I seem to remember though could not explain how, but his body had been exhausted and so as a result, he weaved in and out of consciousness.

I closed the door gently, before walking back to my sleeping Cassie.

I was unfaithful.

That was the truth he could not tell me. In the midst of his hurt, he chose to protect me by telling me a lie... that we were not married.

It matters little that I chose him over the girl I was suppose to marry... in the end, there shouldn't even be anyone else other than my beautiful husband.

I love Cassie... and now that I know I've hurt him in the past I will do everything to make it up to him.

There is no confusion, only the truth... I love Cassie.

I don't need my memories back. With Cas by my side, I know I will be alright.