The Fake Wife

Awake

Alison

I searched inside the spacious room for Tommy. There was no sign of him.

"You should stay calm, Alison. Tommy is perfectly fine. Not even a scratch, thanks to you. Now, take deep breaths for me."

I tried to breathe as the doctor instructed me, and somehow, it worked. The room got quiet again. But what if the doctor is lying? Tommy is not even here. "When can I go home to my sons, doctor?"

He smiled. "We will work on that. Now, tell me, where were you before the accident?"

I closed my eyes. The vivid image of us happy at the diner came to my mind. "We were enjoying pancakes at a local diner. My son Tommy and my husband Jake were having a great time there. I felt so blessed with baby Jamie sleeping in my arms." I smiled to myself, recalling the scene.

"Then Jake said he needed to go to work and told Tommy that Granny was expecting them, but I can't remember if he meant my mother or his." I rubbed my forehead. It was hurting too much there.

"Do you remember your parents' names, Alison? Can you tell me something about your childhood?" The doctor pressed, and my head hurt even more when I tried to remember my parents.

"No. I can't."

"When is your birthday, Alison? Can you remember it?"

"No. I can't." I held my head, and my body felt restless. Why could I not answer the doctor's questions?

The machine went off again, and Doctor Smith sat on my bed. "Deep breaths, Alison. Tell me something you can recall."

I tried to stay calm, but it was difficult after each question asked by Doctor Smith. "I remember us four at the diner. Jamie was sleeping in my arms, and when Jake said they should leave, I put him inside his carrier. He smelled great. I remember it as if he was here now. How much I didn't want to part my way from him. Then I hugged Tommy, and they left me there."

When I attempted to search inside my head for more information, there was not much there. Jake and the children were the only things inside it.

I clenched my eyes. "I can't recall why I didn't go with them. Maybe I needed to run an errand. I'm not sure. The next thing I remember is that I was heading home and saw Tommy crossing the street by himself. I heard Jake screaming after him, and I ran to protect him from the van."

I stared at the doctor with tearful eyes, begging for help. "Oh, God!!! It was my fault, wasn't it? Jake wouldn't have been alone with the children if I didn't stay behind. Tommy would have stayed put waiting until someone helped him."

"No, Alison, nothing that happened was your fault. It was an accident. We don't have power over those things." Doctor Smith looked to his left, and I followed him.

The nurse returned and offered me a small cup of medication. I looked at the nurse, and she smiled. Was it for my pain? Because I did not want to take any sleeping medication. I longed to be with Jake and the children again.

The doctor detected my resistance and said. "Take it, Alison. It's only for the pain." After I had swallowed the medication, he asked. "Is there something else you can tell me? Do you have any other memories? Tell me anything you can remember."

"No!" That simple word frightened me. There was nothing left inside my head.

"You shouldn't stress for now, Alison. You hurt your head, and the recovery will be one step at a time. For now, we must run tests. It won't take long."

The nurses took me to another room for the exams. I did not know how long time had passed, but I knew it was a while. When I returned to the room, Nora was sitting there alone. Jake had not arrived yet, and I had no idea why he was taking so long.