The Luna's Second Chance

Chapter 42: Shattered Memories

**Isla's POV**

The sterile smell of the hospital hit Isla the moment she entered, the cold white lights casting an eerie glow on the corridors. Her heart pounded in her chest as she followed Damian, her thoughts consumed by the words Selena had spoken.

Kian was awake.

But he didn't remember her. And he was blind.

Isla's mind struggled to process it all as they approached the room where her brother lay. This should have been a moment of relief-a moment where the weight of the last few weeks lifted. But now, with the news of his condition, it felt like she was walking into something far more painful than she had anticipated.

Damian's hand was warm and steady on her back as they reached the door. "Are you sure you're ready for this?" he asked quietly, his eyes full of concern.

Isla swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded, though her heart was trembling. "I have to see him."

Taking a deep breath, Isla pushed the door open. Inside, the room was quiet except for the soft beeping of the heart monitor. Her brother, **Kian**, lay in the hospital bed, his face pale and gaunt, but his chest rising and falling steadily.

He was awake.

But as Isla stepped closer, she could see that his eyes-once bright with life and warmth-were now clouded, staring blankly at the ceiling. There was no recognition in his face, no sign that he knew she was even there.

Isla's heart shattered.

"Kian," she whispered, her voice trembling as she moved closer to his bedside. "It's me... Isla."

He didn't respond, didn't turn his head or even react to her voice. He simply sat there, his body tense, his face expressionless. It was as if he had been hollowed out, the person she had known stripped away.

Selena and Luca stood off to the side, their faces filled with sorrow. Isla glanced at them, her throat tight. "He doesn't know who I am, does he?"

Luca shook his head slowly. "No... the damage from the dark magic was too extensive. We were able to keep him alive, but his memories... they're gone, Isla. His mind is a blank slate."

Isla's chest tightened, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. "And his blindness?"

Selena stepped forward, her voice soft but steady. "The magic affected the optic nerves. He won't see again."

The words felt like a knife twisting in Isla's chest. She had fought so hard to bring him back, to save him from Malachi's control. But now, standing before him, she realized that the brother she had known was gone. The man in that hospital bed was a stranger.

"I need to be with him," Isla said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Selena nodded and motioned for Luca to follow her out of the room. "We'll give you some time."

As the door closed behind them, Isla turned back to Kian, her heart breaking with every second that passed. She knelt beside his bed, reaching for his hand. His fingers were cold and limp in hers, and the emptiness in his eyes made her want to scream.

"Kian," she whispered, her voice cracking. "Please... remember me."

But he didn't. His eyes remained fixed on some unseen point, his lips pressed into a thin line. He was there, physically, but the bond they had shared-the love, the memories-it was all gone.

Tears welled up in Isla's eyes, spilling over as she leaned her head against his arm. "I'm your sister. We've been through everything together. You were always there for me, Kian. And I'm here for you now. Please, just... remember."