Remember To Forget

10

Louisa

The last thing on anyone's wish list  was to be put out of employment by the affluent and influencial Mr Jonathan Ebere Chidi, popularly known as 'Mr Jon'.

Most called him 'Mr Jonathan', out of sheer fear and trembling respect.
People who were scared to step on sacred toes.

With all that being considered, Louisa Ibrahim walked briskly to her boss copious office.

She sang her rehearsal and brief notes in her head consistently as she gripped her file of amnestic syndrome research close to her bosom.

She thought of her recent patient, Mrs Laura Opeyemi Chidi and ultimately felt pity toward her.

People always say you don't miss what you can't remember but Laura's case was different. Apparently she could remember a life no one could understand. She couldn't remember being married but she knew who Katherine was to her.

Her case was unique and despite Louisa sympathy she was bit excited about the case as a scientist.

Finally reaching her elusive destination. She rapped her knuckles and landed them on the exquisite wooden door, rather carefully.

She waited for brief seconds. Then attempted to knock again.

"Come in." Jonathan's burly voice ushered her in.

Louisa  placed her fingers around the cold, silver door knob. She let out a hot anxious breath she has been wavering around with. She framed the knob downwards then pushed.

"Good evening sir. I'm sorry I'm late. I had an emergency at..."

"Just sit down, please."

She flustered uncontrollably and sat.

She felt like she was Daniel all of a sudden. The only difference was though she was trapped in the lion's den. She couldn't silence it.

No one was immune to how bold and handsome he was. She wasn't either.

Rather her antipathy for men did not make her squib like other females would. It made her quick-witted.

"Relax. I'm not going to tear your head off. What is your name?"

He rose and strolled to a very luxirious mini bar. He poured himself a glass of scotch but he offered her none.

Good. She never drinks, something told her he knew that.

Louisa suspected he knew her name but she answered anyway.

"You understand the situation with my wife, don't you?"

How could a man appear so uncanny and rigid about his wife's state? Most people would worry about that if they were placed on the same hot seat her buttocks itched on.

Never she.

She wasn't a full fledged mentalist and psychologist for nothing.

She knew he was tensed and fustrated.

He kept gazing straight out his mansion view but looking at nothing exactly. He hasn't taken a sip of his drink, he just placed the glass cup on his lips but couldn't bring himself to drink from it. He has not looked at her at all but she didn't think he cared about her amateur make up.

For a highly brilliant man he hasn't asked her the right question since she stepped in.

"Yes sir, I do. She has a rare and most likely impossible case of amnestic syndrome which appear to be temporary but might also prove to be permanent. Her health vitals has been a spectacular one, even..."

"Spare me the tales Miss Ibrahim. I'm not a child in a suit. I am a doctor as well . Answer my question. This time, the real answer."

His eyes stared into her orbs like he was searching for the devil in them before he glanced away.

She dropped hours of sleepless night on several researches and brainstorms.

Louisa then spoke the truth that needed no other clarification.

"If she doesn't go through an operation successfully in fifteen days and there are no positive changes in her case of amnestic syndrome...," She paused as she mashed her soaked palms together,"she looses all her memory, permanently sir."

"Yes Miss Ibrahim. I don't want that to happen. Infact if that happens..." His eyes revealed a murderous glint.

He never asked about the possibilities of a full recovery. The man was indeed wise enough to not pull the trigger knowing he didn't want to be shot.

After an hour of intense briefing, Louisa came to a final halt at her patient's ward.

The moment she stepped in. She became enveloped in the famous fragrance the hospital has come to accept. Like different perfumes of mother nature in a room.

She watched Laura's family hide their expression and true emotions as they showed off a smiling face which hid their sadness.

It was unreal and heartbreaking but what shattered her heart the most was the little girl who didn't understand that mommy didn't know her favorite color anymore but still rambled on how she changed it every month because of the rainbow and daddy's shoe collection.

It was at that moment Louisa knew what she had to do. Some of the family members weren't going to favor it.

But eggs and omelettes right.

She cleared her throat, rather too loudly.

She greeted everyone as she strolled to Laura's bed.

She watched the confusion set in.

"Hey there, how have you been?"

"Fine. Thank you. Umm... Sorry who are you?"

Laura feigned a hurtful expression while she threw her hand to her chest dramatically.

"Well, I'm your best friend. We have known each other like since nursery school. It's okay darling, I understand. I'm here for you always."

Louisa needed to do a fibber to gain an amount of trust from her patient. It wasn't advicable but Louisa knew there wasn't time to go by every book.

Louisa heard murmurs behind her, an angry voice in particular. None of them could speak up for fear of scaring Laura. She guessed as much, that was why she took another bold step to add a vibrant smile.

"You are a liar. You're not my mommy's best friend, it's Aunty Bola." Katherine voiced with a little spite.

Louisa totally forgot about the child.

Katherine's mother began to withdraw from Louisa as she had no words against the child's.

"No baby, mommy has two best friends. Your new aunty has not been around but she is now. So we will treat her nicely okay. I'm still your mom's favorite bestie, no worrys. Okay." A lady whom Louisa assumed to be 'Aunty Bola' gave her a cold stare that screamed "there better be a reasonable explanation" as she ended her plea to Katey.

Louisa dropped a nod of appreciation as Bola drifted little Katey away with the idea of abundant Cold Stone ice cream.

At some point every family member began to filter away.

Finally, she could get to work.

"If you are really my best friend, as you say you are, then what is my real name?"

Or not.