CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY FOUR: I'M SORRY.

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY FOUR: I'M SORRY.

~MIRA’S POV~

“Excuse me?” I blurted out.

“Who are you?” my mother repeated.

Her eyes raked over me as confusion spread across her face. My heart beat so fast I was surprised it didn’t tear a hole in my chest.

“You don’t look like any of the nurses.” my mother cast Grey a worried glance and shook her head. “Neither does this young man. Do I know both of you? Sir? Ma?”

Once the words were out of my mother’s lips, I felt the air in my lungs escape. I didn’t remember moving but I found myself in Grey’s arms. We were in the corridor. He was saying something to me, his lips were moving but I didn’t hear one word he said. My throat seemed to be closing up. I placed a hand over my chest, willing myself to calm down.

But it didn’t work. It wasn’t working.

My mother didn’t remember me.The words swirled in my head, echoing over and over again till I gave in to the darkness. When I came to be, I was in a smaller room. I groaned as I moved to sit up. Grey was seated on a plastic chair by my bed. His head raised. He gave my hand a small squeeze and I massaged my throbbing temple.

“What happened?” I asked.

Grey's eyes narrowed. I drew my knees up to my chest, expecting the worst. “You had a panic attack.”

Nodding because it was the only thing I could do, my heart broke. One tear fell out, then another until I was crying buckets.

Grey tried to hold my arms.

“Don’t touch me,” I barked.

“Mira…” Grey was on his feet.

I didn’t want him close to me. Not right now. He could not understand.

“Baby, it’s okay. I spoke to the doctor and he said it’s retrograde amnesia.”

What did that even mean? I looked up to him with tear-coated lashes.

“I promise, it’s not permanent. Your mum has selective amnesia.”

“Okay.”

I was numb as I got off the bed. My legs wobbled when I stood. I couldn’t be in this hospital any longer. With that thought in mind, I made for the door but Grey blocked my path.

“Baby. Where do you think you’re going?”

“Let me pass, Grey.”

“I understand how you feel, baby.”

Taking a step back, my gaze scrolled over him. No, he didn’t. He wasn’t the one who hadn’t spoken to his mother in more than three years. He wasn’t the one who was adopted. I swallowed my reply but Grey wouldn’t get out of my way. My arms trembled in anger.

“Baby…”

“Don’t baby me,” I snapped.

Tears rolled down my cheeks. My eyes were swollen from crying too much but I didn’t know what else to do other than cry.

“You don’t understand how I feel, Grey.”
My voice lowered to a soft murmur. A wave of tiredness rolled over me. I needed to rest. “No one does. Has your mother ever looked at you and asked who you are?”

Grey opened up his arms. “Come here, baby.”

I rushed into his embrace and he swept me off my feet. We said nothing as he carried me to the car. My shoulders vibrated with each sob. Grey did nothing but stroke a side of my face till I calmed down. He was peering at me when I looked up.

“I’m sorry,” I said.Grey laughed but I didn’t think it was funny. I hid my face in his chest and murmured, “For raising my voice. For hitting you. I’ve not been a good wife to you.”

Grey’s arms returned around my waist.His jaw touched my head and he whispered, “You’re a perfect wife, baby. I may not understand how you feel but I understand what guided your actions. I’m not mad, I promise. I don’t mind being your punching bag if it will make you feel better. But don’t punch me so much”

I laughed. My laughter lacked intensity but I felt better than I had in days. “I love you, Grey.”

“I love you more, my baby. You’re my heaven on earth.”

We rubbed our noses together and the joy in my heart blossomed. Grey flicked on the radio and a song came on.

“Your mum will be fine, okay? She just needs a few more days.”

Desperate for any form of solace, I added, “Right? And she will be brand new in no time. She will be fine, Grey.”

“Yeah,” he replied but his voice lacked the conviction I wanted. I didn’t dwell on that. My mother was a fighter. She had to be fine.

Another kiss on my jaw, then Grey lowered me to the passenger seat. He didn’t let go of my hand when he started the car. Still holding my hand, he drove ud to an ice-cream parlour.

My smile was instant as the car found a good parking spot. I took a look at myself in the mirror and pinched my cheeks to bring colour to them. Grey was trying, I had to also try.

We got out of the car together and he took my hand again. In the ice-cream parlour, there was a glass case with different flavours of ice-cream. Only three scoops per cup was allowed but after grey had a few talks with the manager, I was allowed five scoops.

I was grinning and feeling much better by the time we found a booth to sit. Grey disappeared for a bit and I fug into my ice-cream. The cold snack froze my teeth and my teeth chattered. Grey returned to the booth holding a small-sized cake. He laughed when he noticed I had gotten a brain freeze.

Taking the spoon from me, he fed me and himself. We didn’t talk about mymother. We didn’t talk about the hospital. We didn’t talk about anything that could ruin the mood.

People came in and went out of the parlour. But I didn’t care about being spoon fed in such a public place. I was Grey’s baby and I would let him pamper me all he wanted. My heart swelled with the knowledge I could always count on him and I teared up again. On instinct, ibplaced a hand on his knee.

“Thanks, Grey.” He cocked his head. I cleared my throat and started again. “I know you’re just doing what a good husband should do but thank you.” She hugged me from the side to avoid eye contact. “I’m happy I have you in my life. And even if I never show it, I always love you.”

“I always love you too.” He flicked a stubborn strand out of my forehead.

The rest of the ice-cream melted but none of us paid attention to it.

“When your mum is fully recovered, she can come to visit. We can discuss about having our wedding if you like.”

I beamed. My husband was the best. I struck gold with him. “I would like that. No, I would love that. Thank you so much.”

“It’s an honour, Mira. She’s my mother-in-law.”

“You’re the best son-in-law ever,” I murmured. Scooping out of the melted ice-cream, I let his words soak my body. “I think we can go to Europe when she is okay. I need to see your mum even though she scares me.”

His eyes twinkled but he didn’t get offended like I had feared. “You have nothing to worry about from her. I promise, she’s nicer in person. You’ll love her.”

“If you say so, baby.”

“Yeah.”

We finished the ice-cream and Grey left me alone to eat the cake. He paid the bills and we went home together.

There, he drew me a warm bath and prepared spicy noodles for me. As we snuggled in bed later that night, I couldn’t resist hugging him tighter to reassure myself he was real. My husband was real and he was kind and he loved me with his heart.

The lights went off and I poked him. “Grey!”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

“I love you more, Mira.” His lips found mine in the dark for a brief kiss. “Whatever happens, I’m here, okay?”

“Okay.” I turned around so he could spoon me and my body sagged at the welcome contact. “Goodnight, Grey.”

“Goodnight, Mira.”