This Can't Be Real

Chapter 2

It isn't long after Joe has left my room, that the door reopens and my best friend is stepping into the room with a smile on her face. I return her given smile and watch her as she comes over and sits on the side of the bed.

"Hi," she starts, her voice soft and full of care. "How are you feeling?"

"I-I don't know. I want to say that I feel good btu I'm not sure how I should be feeling," I admit.

"That's understandable." I nod and wait for her to continue speaking. I know her well enough to know that she's never done speaking at only two words in a sentence. I don't think she's actually ever just said two words in the one sentence before. "Joe actually called me to say that you were wake."

My happiness disappears quickly at the sound of her mentioning Joe Hart's name so freely. "You aren't talking about Joe Hart are you?"

"Do you know of another man called Joe?" She ponders.

"Are you in on this as well? God, you do realise I just had him in here acting as if we were a couple don't you?" She stares wide-eyed at me like I'm the one who's playing a joke on her and not the opposite way around. "I mean, he's hot and all but there's no way in hell I have a chance with him, let alone be married with him, have a kid with him, and be expecting another. There's just no way that's possible."

"Okay, first of all, you are married to him and you do have a child with him. Zachary is a beautiful little boy and his father's spitting image. Secondly, I didn't know you were pregnant again, congratulations. Third and finally, are you on something? You aren't acting yourself."

She angles her body to me and takes my hands in hers. She rubs her thumbs over the back of them and I narrow my eyes at her. She's clearly in on this joke too. Oh, she's good.

"Was it you who started this joke? It's cruel, Jess. Just downright cruel," I say, trying to pull hands from hers but she holds them tightly.

"Leigh, are you sure you're feeling alright? Is the medication they're giving you too strong or did you bump your head again like during the crash?"

"Why does everyone keep asking me that? I'm perfectly fine," I draw out. This is getting ridiculous now.

Jess gives me a long look then lets my hands go before standing up. "Joe's outside talking to the doctors now."

"What? He's still here? You can't be serious!" I fall back against the pillows and groan loudly. "This can't happening."

"He's just trying to figure out what's happened to you. Something's not right and he's worried," she says, trying to calm me down to make me see sense.

I get where she's coming from, even I want to know what's happening. I know my best friend and I know she wouldn't lie to me. I should trust her but it's hard to that when you know the truth inside. I know I'm not really married to Joe Hart and sure as hell know that we don't have any kids together. That's just crazy talk.

"Leigh," Jess starts. I look over at her. "You know I would never lie to you, don't you? You know I'll always tell you the truth no matter what."

"I know," I nod.

We stay silent and it's not until the room door opens, that the silence falls away. I can tell it's Joe without even looking at him. There's just a presence about him that I can tell belongs to him and only him.

"Mrs. Hart," a male voice starts. It isn't Joe's voice and I can't help but turn my head and look at who spoke up. "Joseph has told me that you can't seem to remember certain things."

"Dr. Davis, she can't remember her family," Joe butts in straight away. "It's not just certain things."

"Joseph, please let me do my job. I am here to help your wife and with you butting in, it isn't helping anyone." Dr. Davis responds to Joe. I look at Joe briefly as he rolls his green eyes and folds him arms over his chest. He looks to be in a huff like a little kid who has just been told off for doing something wrong. It's kinda sweet. "So, Leigh, why don't you tell me what's going on."

"Well," I clear my throat. "I woke up here and I have no idea why or how I ended up here. He," I point to Joe who is now staring intensely at me, "comes into the room and starts saying how much he's been worried about me. It's like he's my husband but I've never met him before. I've seen him play football but I've never once met him apart from earlier. He said we've been together for five years and that we have a son together. He also said that I was pregnant again."

Dr. Davis just nods at my words and takes notes of all the keys aspects I'm telling him.

"I know there is no way in hell that I would have a shot with him. Not even in a million years! I think this is a joke and if it is, it's a damn good one. Jess has also told me the same things. She told me everything he's told me but I don't believe it. Any of it as a matter of fact." I finish with a shrug of the shoulders because I really don't know anything else to say. There's nothing else to say.

"I see," Dr. Davis nods, taking one final note. "Well, I have to admit that in all of my twenty years of being a doctor, this is one of those situations where this can rare."

"Rare like how?" I ask, suddenly feeling interested in what's happening to me.

"It isn't uncommon for people to have a case of amnesia after an accident like yours, and before you interrupt, I will explain everything to you. What Joseph and Jess have said to you is true. You are married and have been for the past two years. Your son is four-years-old and you are expecting a second baby. You were involved in a car accident two weeks ago. Nothing too serious but you did hit your head off the steering wheel when your airbags failed to react to the collision. Your breaks are the things that really caused the collision and thankfully, you weren't on the motorway when they failed."

"Thankfully," Joe repeats.

"If this is all this is, why can't I remember any of the good things that have happened over the past five years of my life? The last thing I do remember is going out with my friends for my birthday. That's it. Nothing about Joe and I even meeting or being in a relationship." I swallow away the lump that's formed in my throat and look directly at Joe because I know my next words are going to hurt him when I say them. "Nothing about the son I have."

"As I said, it isn't uncommon." Dr. Davis paraphrases.

"But five years? That's five years of my life gone," I mutter softly. "I may not get those memories back and if I do, who's to say that they'll all come back? What if only some of them come back? What if none of them come back? What-"

"There are things that can be done to help with the process. There is no need to get yourself so worked up about this, Leigh. It isn't good for you or your baby," Dr. Davis assures me. "You have the support of both your friends and family who will all be there to help you get through this. They will help you with things to try and remember. It's not the end of the word."

I feel a tear fall down my cheek and I quickly look down at my hands hoping no one saw it. Unlucky for me, it didn't go unnoticed and Joe moves to stand by my side. He sits down on the bed next to me, puts an arm over my shoulders, and hugs me to his body.

"It's gonna be okay," he whispers into my hair before placing a soft kiss on my head. "I promise you that everything's gonna be fine."

"What-" I start, pulling back so I can look up at him.

"It will be fine. I'll relive all of the days we've been together if it means it'll help you. That's my promise to you."

I draw my lips in and nod. I hope he's right.