Gemstones

Aftermath

The nurse chats with me outside in the hallway. “This is normal. It could take him a day to regain his memory, sometimes months. Don’t be worried, it will come back eventually. For now, try to be careful with him. You can imagine how he feels waking up to strangers in his room” I nod as she goes on about his medication he needs to take if he has headaches, but I can feel my body settling into a deep dark sadness.

 

When I finally go back into the room, Alex smiles at me. I sit down on the chair next to the bed, and think of something to say. “So… What do you remember?” I ask, and Alex thinks for a moment.

 

“I remember that my parents are on vacation… That I have a project due at school in a couple weeks… just the little stuff” Topaz waltzes into the room, Hope and RQ right behind him. They follow him like puppies most of the time.

 

“How’s he doing?” Topaz asks, and Alex stares at Topaz for a moment.

 

“I remember him too” Topaz looks at me, a questioning look on his face. Well, at least he remembers someone. This could be a good thing.

 

The nurse talks to me again later, mentioning that he would be released tomorrow, and that he needs someone to take care of him at home. Topaz and I agree to do it, and go home with Rose and Hope afterward. That night, I couldn’t sleep, worrying about Alex 24/7. The next morning, Topaz goes to the hospital and picks up Alex, bringing him back to our house for the day.

 

I stand in the doorway as Alex and Topaz walk up the icy sidewalk. Alex gives me a small smile when he walks through the door, and Topaz gives me a look of concern.

 

“Wow your house is HUGE” Alex marvels and I look to Topaz.

 

“Apparently he couldn’t sleep last night so they gave him some pain medication. A lot of it. It still hasn’t worn off” He nods to Alex, who is skipping into the kitchen. Great. Not only do I have to deal with a boyfriend who doesn’t remember me, but one who is temporarily insane too. I follow Alex into the kitchen and find him sitting on the floor with his arms crossed, a pout on his face.

 

“What’s wrong?” I ask, and Alex looks up at me without saying anything. I look and see that the cookie jar is open, and it’s also empty. “Oh I see” I try not to laugh, as I open the pantry and pull out a box of fresh cookies. I open it up and pull one out, handing it to Alex. “You’re like a four year old” I say, shaking my head as Alex eats his cookie like a wild man. Topaz walks in, holding back a laugh as he looks at Alex. I roll my eyes and Alex jumps up, running out of the kitchen.

 

He sits on the couch and stares at the TV for a moment before snatching the remote from Rose. “Hey!” She shouts, as Alex changes the channel to Cartoon Network. He seems content as the TV plays Adventure Time, so I go into the kitchen and reload the cookie jar. Topaz is on his laptop, making a face.

 

“Something wrong?”

 

“It’s the 30th of January”

 

“So?”