he hurt? Is he sick? What, Matt?”
“Okay, sorry, I just don’t want to shock you,” he mutters, and my heart jackknives in my chest.
“What?” I practically wail. “Tell me.”
“He had an accident. He hit his head and is confused. He, uh… he thinks that you, uh…”
Oh God, I’m hyperventilating. “He thinks that I what?”
And confused? What does that even mean?
“He thinks,” Matt says, “that you guys are still together. He keeps asking for you. Will you come?”
He keeps asking for you.
He thinks you are still together.
How has my life been twisted up again like this?
And why does it hurt that he’s asking for me?
Maybe because I know this isn’t real. Because as soon as he’s better, when his confusion clears, he’ll know we haven’t been together in a while, he’ll recall he’s seeing another woman, and he’ll be gone from my life once more.
Only, going back to normal won’t be that easy for me. I’ve only just begun to put the pieces of my life back together, finally able to focus on my work and not spend both days and nights thinking of him. Missing him.
But he needs my help. How can I say no?
I’ve never been able to say no to him. Even if this breaks me completely.
How long will his confusion take to clear? I google concussions as I wait at the airport for my flight to be called.
Confusion. Amnesia. Retrograde, antegrade. Can last between a few hours to a few days.
I chew on my lip, staring at the words.
A few days, tops. If he hasn’t remembered everything already and I’ll make a damn fool of myself by walking into his room to see how I can help – only to find he doesn’t want me anywhere near him.
Gah.
I cuddle my camera case like a pet, trying to draw comfort from it. On a second thought, I pull out my small pocket camera, the one I use for quick ideas, and snap a few photos of the people around me, the familiar task calming me down.
You’ve got this, I tell myself. So your ex-boyfriend hit his head and forgot you are not together. He is asking for you.
Your second ex cheating boyfriend.
Anyway.
You will just go, see if you can help, and come back here where you are rebuilding your life. Nothing to it. Everyone does it.
Phew!
I check the pics I just took and delete most, keeping two for my Ideas! folder. And of course, as I pass older pics I find some of Kaden. I couldn’t stop snapping pictures of him.
Hanging my head, tears pooling in the corners of my eyes, I pass them, one by one.
Kaden lying naked on the bed – our bed.
Kaden grinning at me from across the breakfast table.