The Unveiling of Memory

The Unveiling of Memory

A blinding incapacitating pain tore through my head. I let out a raw uncontrollable scream that reverberated throughout the quiet mansion. The world was a dizzying kaleidoscope of shadow and light and then everything turned black in an instant.

However the shadows werent devoid. The emptiness engulfed me completely before expelling me into a different era and location. Instead of going away the pain in my head intensified and turned into a trigger releasing a long-buried deep-seated emotion.

My long-lost jumbled memories suddenly returned with a violent debilitating roar. I entered my past and found that it was suddenly just as real and vivid as the present. It was the anniversary of our marriage.

Anticipation was in the air in our lovely house which I had put my entire being into. For weeks I had been organizing a private celebration and a special dinner for us. A deep happiness that was nearly impossible to contain had been fluttering in my heart.

I intended to inform him. I had planned on telling Liam I was expecting. Our baby.

The idea brought to mind a future full of tiny shoes and laughter as well as an almost intolerable tenderness. I could picture his shock his delight and his face. It would make the ideal anniversary present.

I could hear his familiar footsteps in the hallway as the front door opened. My heart pounded. I yelled Liam? in a cheerful eagerly anticipated voice.

His eyes were shadowed and his face was gloomy as he entered the living room. He was not smiling. He ignored the bottle of his favorite wine the flickering candles and the meticulously arranged table.

Withering excitement gave way to icy fear. He said “we need to talk Ava” in a cold flat voice. My stomach knotted.

My voice was hardly more than a whisper as I asked “Whats wrong?”

I recognized his frustrated gesture all too well: running a hand through his hair. “Ava Ive had enough. Ive simply had enough of this marriage.”

The words were like a physical blow to my body. I gasped for air. “What are you saying?”

“You” he spat his voice rising with a hint of bitterness. “You only focus on your work! Your career your aspirations your never-ending projects! Thats all you care about! This marriage me its just an afterthought isnt it?”

Although I did have important work it was never more significant than him or us. I had always made an effort to strike a balance to give him all of my time love and attention.

Hot stinging tears filled my eyes. He snorted with a lack of humor “Thats not fair Liam! Thats not true! I love you! Ive always put us first!”

“No you havent.Your work is your obsession. Im sick of letting your ambition take precedence over mine.” He turned away and headed for the corridor. “Ava I cant do this any longer.”

Everything fell apart for me. My heart was broken. The baby. How could he say this? How could he disregard everything we had worked so hard to create and everything I was going to tell him? I felt compelled to explain to beg to make him understand.

But a sudden overwhelming wave of pain and disbelief choked the words as they caught in my throat. I staggered into our bedroom the haven of our shared existence and fell onto the bed crying uncontrollably. Hot and bitter the tears poured down soaking the pillows.

My chest hurt so badly that it seemed like my heart was being torn out of my body. It seemed like forever before the bedroom door finally creaked open. I glanced up tears clouding my vision.

With a somber expression and unwavering cold eyes Liam stood motionless in the doorway. There was no sign of remorse or softening. He was holding a pile of papers.

“I think its time we made this official Ava” he said in an emotionless tone. He plopped the papers down gently as he made his way to the bedside table. “These are the divorce papers.My attorney arranged them.”

Divorce papers Breathing became difficult for me.This went beyond a simple disagreement or brief quarrel. In fact he was doing it.

“No!” I yelled in a desperate unvarnished voice. I got out of bed and stumbled over to him attempting to take his arm.

With my voice breaking and tears running down my cheeks I pleaded with Liam “Please dont do this! We can talk! We can fix this! Dont throw away our marriage! Dont throw away us!”

I begged him by reminding him of our shared love our dreams and our vows. My last desperate request was to tell him about the baby but I was unable to find the right words. Sobs tightened my throat. But he had already decided. His face remained a hard icy mask.

His eyes were vacant when he gazed at me as though he were staring at a complete stranger. “Its over Ava he said in a decisive tone. There is nothing to correct. Im done”

Then in the middle of my despair came the words that really broke me and kindled a chilly rage. “And Id like you to go. This is my house.”

The house I had poured my love and energy into the house I had helped create a home.He told me to get out of my own home. Its blatant cruelty and sheer audacity were a new blow. Suddenly the humiliation and pain turned into a fierce resentful rage.

Fueled by a sudden desperate surge of defiance I spat the word fine! raw. My body shook with a mix of anger and heartache as I turned away from him. Fine! If thats what you want! If thats how little I mean to you! I said.

With jerky clumsy movements I went to the closet and took out a suitcase. As I started packing my mind racing with a million different ideas I tossed clothes into the bag carelessly. Deep sadness anger betrayal and a crippling sense of unfairness.

Tears still trickled down my cheeks as I packed but they were now tears of rage and bitter resignation. As a protective gesture my hand automatically went to my stomach. My darling one.

Our baby. His father would never be known to him. A broken family and a broken home would be his birthplace due to Liams callousness. I felt a great deal of sympathy for this small helpless life that was developing inside of me and had already experienced such severe suffering.

My broken life was physically represented by the weight of the suitcase as I zipped it up. I retrieved my keys my purse and the necessities. I kept my eyes off Liam who remained motionless and silent by the door.

I remained silent. My anger served as a fierce shield as I walked past him with my head held high and my heart leaking. Once my haven the house now stands as a reminder of my destruction and I left it.

Long melancholy shadows were spread out over the driveway as the sun began to set. I was so focused on my thoughts the excruciating pain and my bitter determination to get away that I was not focusing on anything else. All I wanted was to escape.

My suitcase was heavy when I arrived at the end of the driveway. Tears had clouded my vision as I was ready to step onto the sidewalk when I looked up. A vehicle.

The headlights of a sleek dark car were piercing the twilight as it approached. It was coming too quickly. In my throat my heart jumped.

I let out a scream. A desperate unadulterated sound of sheer terror. Startled the driver swerved sharply to get away from me.

A loud shriek that ripped through the still evening was the sound of tires screeching. My legs felt numb and my body was unresponsive as I attempted to leap back and move out of the way. My foot caught on an uneven patch of pavement causing me to stumble.

I stumbled. I saw a dazzling flash of white light as my head struck the floor with a sickening thud. A burning debilitating pain burst behind my eyes.

The world was spinning wildly around me and I felt lightheaded and confused. Then a man hurried over to me. Through the swirling darkness I could just make out his face but I could hear his urgent worried voice.

“Hold on” The man said “Are you okay? Im so sorry! Ill take you to the hospital!”

Alexander was that man. And that was all I could recall.

After being completely engulfed by the darkness I woke up in the hospital with a terrifying emptiness in my past and a blank slate in my memory. So far. As I came out from my memories my body trembled violently and I was out of breath.

My head continued to ache a dull ache that kept me rooted in the here and now. The fog had dissipated. There was no longer any void. Now I remembered everything. Al

l the painful details, each treachery, every painful moment.

My memories had returned!