You and Me, Always.

Treatment

"And these are from our trips to Miami." Aljaz opened yet another photo album, placed it onto Janette's lap and prayed for some sort of miracle that she would recognize someone.

Still nothing. The people in the photos were just people, and to her, past versions of herself that she could not recall. They meant nothing to her. Smiling and nodding as she turned the pages, Aljaz could see that she was simply putting on an act to make him feel happier. His plan hadn't worked. The belongings that he had brought with him were just objects, things with no sentimental value to this new Janette. It already upset him, for this is how Janette would always be from now on. Him, mourning the scraps of a relationship ruined by an accident, a relationship that, in the eyes of the love of his life, didn't ever happen. He didn't think he could live with it. Maybe it's time to let Janette go. What's the use in trying to force something that clearly won't happen. I'll leave her in peace to move on from this. She'll be better off without me. Aljaz's thoughts bombarded his mind. Leaving Janette had never been a possibility, what was he thinking? He had promised himself that he would stay by Janette's side throughout, no matter what happened. Forcing ideas of anything except staying with her out of his head, he sat down on the chair beside the bed once more.

Janette was asleep, she had been for a while now, and Aljaz gently slid the album away from her clutches. She didn't awaken, so he relaxed a bit - Janette wasn't getting enough sleep, so this was good.

The album was open to a picture of Janette and him standing, arm in arm, looking into each other's eyes all loved up. A bittersweet feeling came over him. That was the first time they had visited Miami together, to see Janette's family. It had been such a wonderful trip, but it saddened him every time her remembered that Janette didn't know anything about it.

Aljaz sat, flicking through the photos quietly. The doctor had crept in, and was standing by the door. "I have some good news." He cleared his throat and whispered. Aljaz's ears perked up. 'Good news', two words which had scarcely been used recently. He shut the album with a snap and listened intently. "There is a radiotherapy treatment which may give Janette her memory back. It's a risky one, but if we try it, she may remember you again." He finished, waiting on an answer from the now internally over-excited Aljaz. Appearing cool on the outside, he inquired "What are the side effects?" He knew there had to be at least some, treatment as large scale as this always had unwanted side effects. "Well, that's the thing you see." The doctor started. Aljaz braced himself for the worst. "If we go through with the radiotherapy, everything from the moment of the accident onwards will be erased from her memory. Including knowledge of what happened to your late friend Joanne." He stopped, looking over at Janette, then continued, "She won't know what happened to Joanne. Just that she died." Aljaz buried his head deep into his palms. Why did he have to make this choice? Joanne was one of her best friends. Now she would never recall what truly happened to her. It would be wrong to lie about something this large scale. But it was that or her never remembering him again. "I don't know, I really don't." Aljaz said, sighing. He seemed to be doing a lot more of that recently "Why don't we ask Janette. It is her we are talking about, you know." The doctor contemplated the idea, before nodding in agreement. "Does she know about Joanne yet?" Aljaz shook his head. "You will have to tell her. Then she can decide if the treatment happens or not." He then turned and left the room, shutting the door behind him. It was now, in a room stuck with a life-changing decision that Aljaz felt more lost than ever.

Twenty minutes later, Janette had woken up and spotted Aljaz pacing forward and backwards at the end of the bed. Mustering enough strength, she asked "What's wrong? Why are you doing that?" Aljaz jolted, almost as though he was snapping out of some sort of trance. "I have to tell you something." He replied, as he placed himself on the bed next to Janette, as he had done so many times before. He started explaining the whole situation, what had happened to Joanne, the possibility of treatment, everything. After hearing this mass of information, Janette was stunned. How could she make the choice? This man whom she barely knew but seemed to love her, or her best friend, with whim she had shared some of the best memories of her whole life. It was seemingly obvious - don't accept the treatment. Remember what happened to Jo, keep her memory alive; celebrate her life. Janette simply sat, head bowed, thinking it all over. But what about this man, Aljaz? He seemed to love her so much. It would he cruel to take it away from him, to close the door on that opportunity. Besides, Aljaz would have to live with the knowledge of all the memories they had, and not be able to share them with anyone else. It was a leap into the unknown, for who could say if her memory would ever truly be restored, but it was worth a shot. For Aljaz.

Aljaz sat, waiting on an answer. This next sentence would decide the course of the rest of his life. If she declined the treatment, he would be forced to move on; pretend that they had never been together. If she accepted the treatment, he would have to live with the guilt that she could not even remember how her best friend had died, but he would have his Janette back. She lifted her head up again, and he felt her reach out for his hand and intertwine her fingers with his. She gave a weak smile, before whispering, "I'll have the treatment."