Forgotten Love

14. Searching for Home

I saw Ruth sitting on the bed, reading a book when I walked in.

I smiled at the sight.

She loved to read and tell me about it afterwards.

And I loved listening to her.

"Hey, pretty baby," I said softly, sitting down next to her. "You ready for our date tonight?"

I hadn't told her where we were going. It was her favorite place – even if she didn't remember it.

"But why can't she remember you guys either then?" I demanded.

"I don't know," He shrugged helplessly. "We were all kinda involved in it. But maybe she will remember us eventually. Maybe it just takes some time..."

"What if she..." My throat felt all constricted. "What if she'll never love me back?"

His sad eyes told me that he didn't know the answer either.

Ruth had been very quiet since yesterday. Even now she seemed very aloof as she put the book aside.

I was losing my mind over the possibility of her not reciprocating my feelings for her.

"You could always use the love potion you know?" Ethan had suggested sheepishly.

"Never," I shook my head.

I would never make her do something against her will and the fact that Ethan suggested such a thing irked me enough to shoot daggers at him with my eyes.

"It was stupid, sorry."

Her plump lips set in a hard line. "Cory? I want to be honest with you."

I nodded merely.

Too scared of her next words.

She started fiddling with her fingers.

Then she looked up, her eyes meeting mine.

"It's hard for me to trust anyone in this wild situation I'm currently in," She started, her voice just above a whisper.

The corners of my eyes crinkled, as I took in her words.

"I would love to be able to trust you, but I cannot do it so blindly," She explained further. "I trusted in your kindness, however I cannot be sure if I'm not actually in danger and if your actions and words are deceiving."

My heart dropped.

Little did I know that her next words would nearly tear it apart.

"I don't know if you are in fact the person you claim to be."

I almost cut her short. "How can I prove myself to you?"

Ruth's warm eyes darted to mine, her mouth curving into a sad smile.

"I don't know," And she said it so quietly that I could have sworn she only mouthed it.

"I would never and I mean never do anything to intentionally hurt you, Ruth," I explained to her, feeling so pathetic in that moment. "I swear on everything that I was truthful to you. It sounds crazy, it sounds fucking crazy, I know, but it's the reality of things. You were here, we fell in love, then you were taken from me and I... literally couldn't live without you, so I offed myself and now we're both back and I'm just tryna make you remember."

"But see I don't know if it's the truth," She shook her head gloomily. "What if I'm not safe here with you guys? Cory, I do want to believe you..."

"I showed you photos and told you so many stories, and I never did anything to make you feel uncomfortable, did I?" I was struggling to form a coherent sentence as my thoughts were racing.

Her eyes sparkled with uncertainty as they searched for something in mine, then she said, "Can you help me find my brother? I want to stay with him."