A Love Lost

Sebastian

 It was the day after I left Ana in Almeria when I received a call from Antonio Morgan. It was completely unexpected. He called to tell me that Anastasia was in the hospital in critical condition. What had happened after I left? I knew she was bruised, but I couldn't understand how her falling could land her in the emergency room. He told me that he and Ana's mother would be visiting Hospital Ochoa the next morning.

"I'll be there." I informed him, before he hung up.

When I got to the hospital, I saw him and Mary waiting at the door.

"She's meeting us in the cafeteria." he said before the three of us walked towards the cafeteria.

I did some research before I came to the hospital. If Ana had a brain bleed, she could have amnesia or permanent memory loss. That meant she may not remember Gabriel or her relationship with him. It meant that, maybe, if I spent enough time with her, I could convince her that she was my girlfriend. I would have to lay it on thick and start from the first introduction.

When we were inside the cafeteria, Mary turned to me.

"We are going to get a table. Why don't you get her some small snacks? Pudding and fruit." I could do that.

I nodded and headed towards the food.

It didn't take long. As I walked towards the large space of tables, I saw her. Ana looked pale as a ghost. She didn't look too attached to Gabriel, who was sitting beside her. I noticed that there was a space on her left.

As I reached her table, I began.

"Hello, Ana." I greeted her warmly. "How are you doing?'

She shifted closer to Gabriel, looking up at him.

Shit. She remembered the attachment. I would have to work ten times as hard to get her to believe me and question what she remembered.

The piece of meat, pretentious, rich, asshole who she clung to answered. "She is doing well. She had three broken ribs and a brain bleed. They were able to repair the ribs and fix the bleed."

It's time to begin convincing her.

"Does my girlfriend have any side effects?" I asked.

Shock painted over all of their faces.

"Girlfriend?" Everyone asked, except for Ana.

"Yeah, it's me, babe. Sebastian. Your boyfriend. Remember? We went on a sailing trip to Menorca together." It was time to pierce a dagger into Gabriel's heart. "We spent every night together. You were amazing. The way you said my name over and over again. You told me you loved me. Remember the moon, the warm waters, the sand in our hair?" I lay it on thick.

"No. No. No way. I've never. I haven't.." her voice trailed off.

Gabriel, with rage in his eyes and his arms wrapped around Ana - I assumed so as not to inflict harm on me in front of her - explained her side effects.

"She has memory loss. She didn't forget everything, but she doesn't remember who people were for the most part. She doesn't know Mary is her mother. She doesn't know Antonio is her stepfather. However, for some reason, she remembers me.

Ana tilted her head up and reached her arms around his neck. She gave him the most passionate kiss I had ever seen.

"We are each taking turns watching over her. She could be discharged tomorrow. Mary and I are staying with her today." Antonio explained the current recovery situation.

"Then, I am taking her home. To my mother's old house. Which is now mine. There, I will be taking care of her. We will still have dinners with Antonio and Mary to keep building that connection, but I am not going to force her into anything." She felt safe with him.

Ana extricated her arms from around his neck and turned to sit properly in her chair, then her face fell.

"Babe. I want to go," she said quietly.

"I can walk her to her room. If you are not staying, you must have something to do. So, I can walk her to her room." I offered, selfishly.

"I am going to let her choose," he said to me before turning to Ana. "I have to go do something today. Would you be okay if Sebastian walks you back?"

It was stupid. If she didn't remember me, why would she choose to have me walk her back?

"Do you mind walking me? If Sebastian wants, he can stay after you leave. I guess I should hear how we know each other." She made sense. I had to take the win. She was okay with me staying.

Antonio came from around the table and pulled out her chair while Gabriel wrapped his arms around Ana and lifted her. Even though I was mad at Ana for hurting me, seeing her like this, fragile, dependent on others, and unable to remember her mother made the anger dissipate. After she was up and she was stabilized, Ana walked to her room while using Gabriel as a crutch for support.

At the door to her room, Gabriel passed her over to me.

"Make sure she eats," he ordered me. Then he turned to Ana who was leaning all her weight on me.

"Ana. I'll be back in a few hours. I have to go have lunch with my mother." he kissed her forehead.

"Be nice to her. Don't let her walk over you." her voice weak, yet stern.

He smiled at her. "Bye." He waved and walked away.

I turned to Ana. "Do you want to hear some stories?"

"If I get to lay down," she said, her voice soft and quiet.

I walked her into the room, lay her on the bed, and began telling her the stories of how we knew each other. Laying it on thick about our relationship. A part of me felt guilty for lying when she didn't remember, but a stronger part of me thought it was fair. I would fight for her.