Chapter 19

I RAN towards Clarice when I saw her crying on the hallway while Alano was trying to pacify her. I just went home to take a quick shower before I went back to the hospital. My sister-in-law stays with Maggy during the day and I replace her when the night comes.

Yalena still had no idea about what happened to her sister. Clarice asked me not to inform Yalena yet because she was in the middle of investigating a very important case right now. She didn’t want the lawyer to be distracted since the case Yalena was handling involves politicians. I let her decide on it since she was the one who knew the twins better.

It’s been four days but Maggy was still unconscious. According to the doctor, he wouldn’t be able to completely tell the extent of the damage she suffered unless she wakes up that’s why her condition needs to be strictly monitored.

Her head was the one that was the most affected because it hit the stirring wheel. She also had bruises on different parts of her body. Until now, we still didn’t know who was behind the accident. The cops discovered that the brakes in Maggy’s car malfunctioned. We also watched the CCTV footage and saw another car that was after her. It would have bumped into hers and it would have created bigger damage if she didn’t turn her car towards the lamp post’s direction. Someone wanted to harm her. The car which the suspect used was found beside the bridge in a nearby province. But the driver was no longer there.

My jaw clenched at the thought. I’ve never felt this enraged my whole life. I will use all my connection until we catch the person who did this to the woman I love.

“S-something happened to Maggy,” Clarice finally replied. She was still sobbing so much.

“What is it?” I wanted to shake her shoulders just to get the answer out of her. When I couldn’t stand the situation any longer, I turned my back on her. I was about to open the door towards Maggy’s room when Clarice spoke.

“Maggy couldn’t r-remember me. She pushed me away. S-she was so scared of me.” She sniffled. “And I don’t know how to explain this to Yalena. This is my fault. She didn’t tell me she was leaving that day. It was because we had an argument. If only I didn’t say those painful things to her, she wouldn’t have left without informing me. Alano and I could have sent her safely to the airport. And this wouldn’t have happened.”

“It’s not your fault, Clarry. This happened to us before. Didn’t you notice yet? Whenever you, guys, try to leave, something big happens. Maybe this is God’s way of telling you to stop running away again,” Alano said.

I could hear them talking, but my mind failed to process the rest of the things they said. I just stood there, dazed. I only got back on my senses when I heard Maggy screamed. I quickly head inside her room and witnessed her freaking out. There was a doctor and two nurses who were trying to placate her but she kept throwing a fit. Fear was all over Maggy’s eyes.

I stopped the doctor when he was about to use a syringe on her. It might contain something that would cause her to fall asleep again. It was the easier way to calm her nerves. But I can’t take that. Maggy just woke up. I waited so long for her to open her eyes again. I prayed for it. And now, they were making her sleep again?

“I will take care of this, Doc,” I said even if I didn’t have the slightest idea of what to do.

“The patient seemed to be suffering from severe retrograde amnesia, Mr. McClennan. It was a complete loss of memory of events that occurred before the trauma,” the Doctor briefly explained. “It can be temporary or permanent. I can’t really tell. And she needs to calm down now. She’s still weak and it will be harmful for her if—”

“I will handle this, Doc. Thanks for everything. If you don’t mind, please leave us for a while,” I cut him off when Maggy screamed again. “Kindly take the nurses with you.”

When they finally left, I turned towards Maggy.

“Hi,” I softly said. She didn’t respond, but I could see her becoming alert again. And I understand her worries. I didn’t have to go through that same experience in order to know that this was so difficult for her. To wake up one morning without knowing anything about yourself was more than a nightmare. “Look at me, please. I won’t hurt you. You can trust me.”

It took her several minutes before she slowly began to sit properly on the bed. Her eyes were no longer as distressed as earlier. But she still had her guard on. And that was reasonable. I gently smiled when I caught her staring at me. She looked so lost. I’ve never seen her like this. Even when she was struggling and in so much pain before, she still tried her best not to show it unlike today. Fear was all over her beautiful eyes.

I don’t know how to handle this situation but there was a little part of me that was… happy. People can call me cruel and selfish for this, but this way, Maggy wouldn’t have to remember all the things that used to torment her. Now that she could no longer remember Benedict, she could start all over again. I can be with her and she didn’t have to get hurt by my presence. There were no longer any painful memories that would come between us.

Maybe Alano was right. Maybe this was God’s way of making us understand something.

“W-who are you?” She asked in a shaky voice.

“I’m Austin, Austin McClennan. And we’re… friends.”

“R-really?”

I swallowed hard. “Yes.” We’re the kind of friends who had kissed each other many times before and who had made love to each other just four days ago. “Can I come closer?”

I was relieved when Maggy nodded. I stepped towards her bed and sat beside her. Once more, she stared at me. Seconds later and tears just started running down her cheeks. And it was cutting me deep.

I wanted to take her in my arms and kiss her until all her fears disappear. But I had to hold back. Otherwise, she would feel alarmed and terrified again.

“I…” Her voice cracked. “I don’t know what to do.”

I gazed at her with all the love in my heart. There was a bandage on her forehead, her hair was messy, and her face was filled with tears. But she was still, no doubt, the loveliest woman I’ve ever seen.

“I’m scared, Austin. W-where do I… go from h-here?”

I took a deep breath. If only we’d catch the person who did this to her, I swear, I’d punch the hell out of him over and over, just to somehow compensate Maggy for the hardship she was going through. For the first time in my life, I wanted to hit someone so badly.

“I want to hold and embrace you,” I said instead. “But I’m afraid I might cause you any discomfort. I think it’d be better if you’re the one who’d come to me.” I tried to smile as I opened my arms. “If you feel like you can trust me, I urge you to come here. I’m not the greatest man you’ve met, Maggy. I’m far from that.” In fact, I’m the son of the person who killed both of your parents. My chest tightened. “But I can assure you that I will take care of you. I will never let you go through this alone.”

She sobbed and slowly, she moved, and came to me. When she embraced me, I closed my eyes and put my arms around her as tenderly as possible so she wouldn’t feel scared again. When I heard her weep, I realized how wrong I was for thinking that I was strong enough. I wasn’t.

I thought there was nothing I couldn’t handle but then she came into my life. Maggy’s presence made me weak. And hearing her cry made me feel even weaker.