I Need To Remember

Chapter One

The only thing he felt was this awful pain centered on his skull. The more he became conscious, the more and more it hurt. Hoping to alleviate the pain, he groaned and raised a hand to press over his forehead, but it would not let up.

"Y-You're awake!" The soft voice momentarily soothed him before the sharp throbbing began again. He winced, but cracked open his eyes, wanting to hear that voice again. It was undoubtedly the loveliest thing he'd ever heard, but he could not focus in on the originator of it, as the light was hurting his eyes. He shut them before trying again.

But the woman must have blown the candle out, as it was darker now, and her face appeared before him. The fire in the hearth still gave off light behind her, which gave her long red locks an ethereal look. When she came closer and timidly held his hand, seeming to inspect him, he used the moments to focus in on her cute, rounded forehead, her large doe eyes and tiny nose. The eyes which blinked at him in worry seemed to resemble wavering pools of water in the rain.

He wanted to wipe away the tears that had gathered, but that would certainly be too forward. And he felt sort of...shy, being doted over by such a beautiful woman. She got him to sit up and drink some water, carefully securing the bandages on his head before helping him lay down again. Then she went to the door, muttering something about a doctor. When she had come back, seeming annoyed, and sat by his side again, he was staring at the ceiling, still in a sort of foggy haze even as he had awaken.

All of his movements were clumsy and lethargic, like a baby deer walking on new legs. Even his thoughts felt like they were moving in slow motion, filtered through honey as he gazed up a her pretty face, a languid smile slowly gracing his own as he looked and looked at her.

"Who are you?" The lady's eyes opened so wide he thought he might have to catch them from falling out of her sockets.

"W-what do you...mean?!" She gasped, going pale as and grasping his cheeks softly.

Blinking slowly at her, he hoped she was okay.

"Um. Where am I? Who are you? ...who am I?" It just occurred to him that he did not know his own name, but with the amount of pain he still felt, it seemed like trivial information anyway.

"Riftan, it's not funny." She chastised him and pulled her hands away, and he made a weak grab for them. But his hand felt heavy so he put it back down, tilting his head in question.

"Is that my name?" He waited for her to answer, but she just got even more pale. From the look in her eyes he could see she was gradually beginning to accept what he had said. Eventually she nodded, and the tears which had partially subsided welled up greatly now.

"Hey, don't cry," He even tried to get up, thinking maybe he should pat her shoulder to comfort her, but the blankets were tucked too tightly around him. "Ow." He mumbled. He didn't know why he said that, it didn't hurt being stuck, it was just annoying.

"I'm Maxi. You d-don't remember me?! I'm your wife!" Riftan's heart stopped. Well, if he thought about it, she was wearing a nightgown, and they were alone in a bedroom together, so it obviously made sense.

But still, he could hardly believe it. She was, well he didn't know her, but she was stunningly beautiful and seemed to care about him a lot. If Maxi was his wife, he must be a lucky bastard. Riftan brought his hands up to his face to hide his blush. Then he brought them down because the pressure on his head was making it feel worse.

Maxi...his wife?? Seemed to be extremely nervous now. She cradled his face in one hand before getting up and pulling a dress out of her wardrobe, quickly slipping it on as she spoke.

"I thought you w-would only have a concussion, b-but this is much worse. I have to get help." She sniffled a bit as her voice wavered, wiping her face with a sleeve.

Riftan finally managed to wrench the sheets off of himself. Surprised at his own strength, he looked at his hand before attempting to stand and go to her. But Maxi rushed over to him and forced the man back into bed. He nearly whined as she swaddled him back in the blankets with alarming speed, scolding him all the time. But he didn't want her to go now. She was the only person he knew at the moment, and his entire mind felt extremely confused, slow, and weirded out at the situation.

"You need to rest...while I get someone for you, okay? I'll be back v-very soon." He reluctantly nodded, and she looked at him for just a second before kissing his cheek.

Trying in vain to stop her from leaving once more, Riftan spoke up.

He was completely enamored with her already.

"It's the middle of the night, isn't it? You should rest too," Then he remembered that there was only one bed in the room, albeit it was a big bed, but the thought still made him blush and turn his head away. Which made Maxi blush and look away too. He quickly added on. "I know it's the first time we've met, but you did say, well I assume, we are married..."

Maxi snorted at that.

"I-It is not the first time we've met." She pinched his face teasingly and he pulled away, frowning.

"It feels that way to me. I'm confused." His wife pursed her lips, but refrained from frowning as it looked like she was trying to put on a brave face in front of him.

"I'm sorry, I will get help right away so you can remember. The doctor couldn't make it yet, b-but I have someone else. Please, don't w-worry." She tried to go once more, but he caught her hand. He was focusing more on the feel of it now than before, how warm, soft, and small it was. Her hand felt perfect in his.

"Can't you tell me about it? Instead of going?" When she turned back to him and kissed his hand, there was a look behind her eyes that he could not understand. It made Riftan want to know who he was, made his head ache terribly from trying.

All the exertion forced Riftan to lay his head back on the pillow, and Maxi was able to escape his constant pining at last. He lay in the tight blankets hoping she would come back soon, because his mind was completely blank where it should be full of something, some fact or memories about his life and past, but there was nothing at all.

He could read the cover of the book Maxi had left on the nightstand. He counted on his fingers easy, but did not know his last name. How what it that he knew what a last name was, but not his own? He felt like a crazed man. The only thing grounding him right now from possible panicking over the never ending incertitude was her.

Riftan prayed for Maxi's fast return as he tried not to focus on his aching head. It felt like she was the only one who could sooth him right now, and already he found himself missing her.