𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 |𝟏𝟖+|

52

Miguel Raffetò POV

My chest felt like it had a gaping hole in it.

I felt hollow. Empty. Like I had done ever since she said those three words.

I don't know.

Etta doesn't know who I am. And I don't know who I am if my Etts doesn't know who I am. I feel half a man without her. Half a man who's lost his way.

I punched the code into Romeo's penthouse and dragged myself through the door.

I was halfway to the stairs, ignoring the questioning calls from the kitchen that I was in no mood to answer.

"Miguel Raffetò, would you stop and look at me right now!" Pollie raised her voice on the fifth time of me distantly ignoring her. I didn't even intend for it, I was just in a depressive blindness.

I turned slowly, holding my hands to the nape of my neck as I met Romeo's and Pollie's gaze.

"What's happened?" Romeo said, a hint of panic in his voice.

I wouldn't blame him for being concerned. This is the first time I've left the hospital in three weeks.

"Etta's awake." And I was so, so immensely grateful for that.

They were hesitant to demand more from me, but Pollie cut the lingering silence with a careful question. "That's amazing news...isn't it?"

"Fuck yes." I said instantly. But it took me three attempts before I could stomach to get the rest of my words out. "She just doesn't remember me."

They were lost for words. And as I thought they were gonna pry for answers I wasn't ready to give, they proved me wrong when they both walked forwards and pulled me into an embrace.

And it was then that I fully let todays harrowing revelation hit me.

Etta doesn't remember me.

She doesn't remember. She doesn't fucking remember me.

What if she never does?

~~~

I crashed out for the rest of the day, only waking up in the morning to have the recollection of yesterday come back to haunt me.

And despite the fact that I want to pretend those words never came out of her mouth, I can't help but still want to be there for her.

The guilt of laying in this bed right now is already eating me alive. I need to get to her...but would she even want to see me? Who am I kidding, if she thinks I'm some random stranger she's not gonna want me there when she's at her most vulnerable.

Still, I reached for my phone to text Meg, only to find she'd already messaged.

Meg: where r u? I'm sorry about E call me when u get this.

I sat up against the headboard and hit call.

"Miguel?"