Forgotten

chapter 16

Its around 9pm right now. I'm still here in the hospital waiting for a chance to meet Ash. But I already know I don't have a chance. Not yet. I have to wait a lot.

The trip was about to be paid for, then this happens. My cuddles was so excited for that trip, and this had to happen to her.

I'm brought out of my thoughts when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I look who it is. I'm surprised to see an unknown old man sitting right next to me.

"Umm.. hello?" I ask the man who is smiling at me.

"Is she your girlfriend?" He asks, pointing to Ashley's ward.

"Yes. Why do you ask?" I ask the man.

"It was thirty-three years back. I was married to a woman. Our married life was eight years. On the day of our anniversary, just like your girlfriend, she too suffered concussion. No reason found even now." The old man says looking at the floor.

"She forgot me. Completely, who I was, and why was I always around her, taking care of her and even paying for her. She died two years back because of cancer. She remembered me when she took her last breath." The old man continues.

I feel the hurt he feels.

"But why are you telling me this?" I ask him.

"Because looking at your face, I know, that you are fighting an inner battle. A battle where you don't know whether to keep hope, or to just let go. I have been through it. I sided with hope, and see? She remembered me. She died, but still justified my hope, my wish." The man comfortingly explains.

I get his point. I can't lose hope on someone I truly love, just because she forgot me. Its definitely not her fault that she forgot me.

"Thank you, sir- umm." I say, obviously not catching his name.

"Jeffery. Call me Jeff." He says.

"Have you had dinner?" I ask the man with concern.

"No money in my pocket!" He says after searching for it.

"No worries Sir Jeff, I can pay for you." I say.

"No, young man. You need it more than me. I have gone through the same,so I know you haven't had your lunch even. Go home. Eat." He says, actually reminding me that I haven't had lunch and even that its night and I should go home.

I see him leave the hospital. He waves at me and leaves me in the dimly-lit hallway.

I fish my car keys out and leave before my mum can bite my head off.

*****

"Bryan! You are home at last! Where were you my dear?" Mom asks me. I was silently tip-toeing just so that she won't hear, but she knows me too well to not know.

"Sorry mom." I say and plop down on the couch.

"Saying sorry won't fill your tummy." She says. "You didn't have breakfast, no lunch no snacks. What were you upto?" She continues.

"I know something is definitely wrong when you do this Bryan." She says.

I can never hold any information from my mom. I can't live without telling her it. A stray tear finds its way to my cheek. I am not aware of it until my mom says, "Bryan! Why are you crying sweetheart?"

I lose it and run and hug my mom tightly, sobbing bitterly. She holds my head on her shoulder, letting me calm down.

"Tell me hon, what happened?" She asks.

I tell her everything that happened today. Today was hell of a day.

When my mom hears what happened to Ashley, as expected, her eyes widen in horror and she starts crying. She knows how much I loved her and gave my life to her.

She falls down on the couch holding her head with her hands in pure frustration. Ashley was not only the life of her friends, even my mom. Ash was that kind of person who could make anyone she passes to love her.

"Dear, how is she now?" Mom asks silently.

"She is really fine and doing well. The doctor told me that she was doing well with her left arm and her right leg, but she had some headaches- result of the head injury." I tell mom.

My mom gives me one last tight hug and asks me to come and have my dinner. I don't know whether I could even swallow one morsel.