Chapter 184: Unsettling vibes

“Due to the head injury,” the doctor continued, “he has lost specific memories, likely tied to a certain period or emotional connections. However, other memories remain intact.”

Mr. Westman frowned. “Will he recover?”

“It’s possible,” the doctor replied carefully. “Memories can return gradually, especially with familiar environments and people. But there’s no exact timeline.”

Lucas looked between them all, the tension, and pain in their faces only deepening his confusion.

“I’m… really sorry,” he said again, quieter this time.

But his apology only made it worse, because the truth was now undeniable.

Lucas remembered his world but not the part that included Benson's.

Seeing the worry in their faces, the doctor said, “Come on guys, you shouldn't keep a sad face. He just needs time and your support. For now, he needs lots of rest. So I will suggest that you go home and return tomorrow.”

Mrs Benson, went closer and said almost in tears, “Lucas dear, I'm Alex’s mother. Get well soon, okay.”

Jason stepped forward, “Hey buddy, this is our dad, this is Annie. She is like your second sister and I'm Jason, Alex’s brother. Just hang in there. It will clear up soon, okay.”

Lucas gave a faint smile in agreement as he studied their faces again.

Emily gave him another hug and they left.

A few minutes later Alex returned.

The hospital hallway buzzed with low activity as nurses moved briskly. The distant monitors beeped while the sterile scent of antiseptic hung in the air.

He met the doctor instructing the nurses on what to do. He reached the doctor and greeted him.

As Lucas heard his voice, he muttered to himself, “It’s him, it's that man earlier. He turned to the other side and faked sleep.

“Doctor, how is he doing?”

“He is better, but…

“Then I can see him? I need to…”

“He’s disoriented,” the doctor added gently, stopping him. “And there’s something you need to understand first.”

The words settled heavily between them.

Alex’s fingers curled into fists. “What do you mean?”

The doctor took a measured breath. “Lucas sustained a significant head injury. As a result, he’s experiencing a form of retrograde amnesia.”

Alex blinked. “Amnesia…?”

“Yes,” the doctor continued. “But in his case, it appears to be partial.    He hasn’t lost all his memories, only those from roughly seven months ago.”

The world seemed to tilt.

“Seven months?” Alex repeated faintly.

“That includes recent relationships, events, and experiences,” the doctor said carefully. “Memories from further back are intact.”

A hollow sound escaped Alex’s throat as the implication hit him fully.

“No… no, that’s not fair” He shook his head quickly. “That doesn’t make sense. I’m…I’m part of those months.”

The doctor’s silence confirmed it.

Alex staggered back a step, one hand coming up to his mouth as if to hold himself together.

“He… he really didn’t recognize me,” he whispered, more to himself than to the doctor. “He looked at me like I was nobody.”

His breathing grew uneven, panic seeping in.

“Doctor,” he said suddenly, stepping forward again, his voice breaking. “Please, there has to be something you can do. Some treatment, some medication…anything.”

The doctor met his gaze, steady but sympathetic. “I understand how difficult this is, but there’s no instant cure for this kind of memory loss.”

Alex shook his head immediately, refusing to accept it. “No. No, you don’t understand. He’s my fiancé. We…we’re getting married. He can’t just forget me like I never existed!”

His voice cracked, drawing a few glances from passing staff, but he didn’t care.

“You have to help him remember me,” Alex pleaded, desperation pouring out of him. “Please, doctor. I’m begging you.”

The doctor’s expression softened further, but his words remained grounded.

“Memory recovery doesn’t work like that,” he said. “The brain needs time to heal. In many cases, memories return gradually, sometimes triggered by familiar people, places, or emotions.”

“Sometimes?” Alex echoed, latching onto the uncertainty. “What do you mean sometimes? What if they don’t come back?”

The question hung in the air, heavy and terrifying.

The doctor didn’t rush to answer.   "There’ll be no guarantee,” he admitted quietly. “But given that this is partial and recent memory loss, there’s a strong chance of recovery.”

“Chance…” Alex whispered, his shoulders sagging as the word sank in.

A chance wasn’t enough.

Tears welled in his eyes, slipping down before he could stop them. He dragged a hand through his hair, pacing like he had done all night. But this time it felt different. It was more desperate and broken.

“I’ll do anything,” he said hoarsely. “If it takes time, I’ll wait. If he needs reminders, I’ll give him everything. I’ll tell him our story over and over again, I don’t care, just… just don’t let him forget me forever.”

“Oh my goodness, I had a story with that man?” Lucas whispered to himself.

His voice dropped, fragile. “I can’t lose him like this.”

The doctor placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Then don’t give up on him,” he said. “Be patient and be present. Sometimes, emotional connections leave deeper traces than we realize.”

Alex let out a shaky breath, nodding weakly even as a tear slipped down again. Patience was all he had left and hope, however fragile, was the only thing keeping him standing.

He turned, staring at Lucas on the bed.

That instant, his phone buzzed. He retreated slightly.

“Yes, Margaret,” Alex’s voice came, low and controlled, though the strain beneath it was unmistakable.

Lucas remained still, lashes resting against his cheeks, every sense alert.

“Sir, Emon Company insisted on having the meeting with you or they will cancel the contract. I’ve tried to explain that it was a matter of health but they refused.”

Lucas didn’t move, but something in his chest tightened faintly.

“It’s okay,” Alex replied after a brief silence. “So, they’re still there?”

“Yes sir, and they’re threatening to leave in the next thirty minutes.”

Alex exhaled and responded. “I will be there in thirty minutes.”

The call ended and silence returned. Somehow, it felt different. It was a bit heavier.

Lucas could feel it before it happened. His hesitation, followed by a slow, careful approach.

Then, his hand rested lightly against Lucas’s arm. It was warm and gentle.

Lucas’s fingers twitched almost imperceptibly beneath the sheets, but he forced himself to remain still.

“Baby…” Alex’s voice was barely above a whisper, fragile in a way that didn’t match the composed tone from the phone call. “Sleep well. I’ll be back soon.”

Lucas’s brows almost pulled together at the word.

Baby?

The familiarity in it felt strange and intimate. Too intimate for someone he didn’t remember.

Then he felt a soft touch of his lips against his cheek.

Lucas’s breath nearly faltered.

For a split second, something flickered in his mind. Something just out of reach. A feeling close enough to disturb him.

Then Alex’s footsteps retreated. The door clicked shut and silence followed.

Lucas’s eyes opened slowly.

He stared at the closed door, his expression no longer calm.

Confusion swirled in his gaze. It grew deeper and more complicated than before.

His fingers lifted slightly, brushing the spot on his cheek where Alex had kissed him.

“Who are you?” he murmured under his breath.

Because unlike the others, Alex didn’t just look like a stranger. He felt like someone Lucas should know. And that was far more unsettling.