A Five-Minute Life

She nodded. “I don’t know what else to say. I’m so torn apart by guilt and yet so relieved.”

“You took care of her for two years,” I said. “You can step back. Live your life. That’s what she wants for all of us.”

She slowly got to her feet. “I’ll tell them to let you visit as much as you want. I’ll rescind my power of attorney and give it to you.” She lifted her head. “I’m trusting you with her life.”

“Thank you,” I said, easing a low breath. “I’ll guard it with mine.”

A scream rippled down the hall then. “Jimmy! Where is Jimmy? God, someone tell me where he is. Jimmy!”

Thea had woken up. Alone.

“Go,” Delia cried. “She needs you.”

I was already out of my chair, racing toward her room, my chest caving in at the ragged pain in Thea’s voice.

“Get away from me!” Thea screamed. “Fuck off. I don’t want it. Where is Jimmy?”

A clattering crash as I entered. Thea knocked a tray to the ground, wrestling against a nurse with a syringe in her hand. All the while Rita tried to calm Thea’s flailing arms.

“She doesn’t want to be drugged,” I barked at the nurse, then bent to take Thea in my arms. “Hey. Hey, I’m here. It’s all right.”

She looked up at me, full of suspicion.

“It’s me,” I said. “I’m here now.”

Recognition dawned in her eyes and then she collapsed into sobs and clutched me. “It’s happening. I can’t hold on to anything. It’s slipping away.”

“I know,” I said. “I know, baby.”

“Come here,” she pleaded.

As I climbed onto the narrow bed, the two nurses left the room, shutting the door softly behind.

Thea sobbed into my chest. My tears dampened her hair. I held her so tight, trying to keep her with me. She was in my arms and slipping away at the same time. And she knew it. She was sliding down a steep, unforgiving slope into the blackness of amnesia; desperately scrabbling for purchase, her fingers clutching my shirt.

“Thea,” I whispered. “Listen to me. Are you listening?”

“Yes,” she said in a faint voice. Sleep was taking her and when she woke up, the amnesia would too.

“I promise,” I said, my voice cracking. “I promise.”

She pulled away and her smile broke my goddamn heart. “You do?” Then her smile crumpled to confusion. “I wrote… something. Did I? I can’t remember…?”

“It’s okay, baby. You don’t have to.”

Her face relaxed into a smile of relief. She kissed me and I savored the taste of her tears and her soft lips before she laid her head down again. “I love you. Jimmy with the kind eyes.”

I held her close, struggled to keep my sobs from shuddering through me.

“I love you, Thea,” I said. “Sleep now. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? And every day after. I promise.”

I blinked awake and th

e hospital room materialized around me. Thea lay in my arms. Morning light slanted over the bed.

Slowly she stirred and woke. Studied me for a second. Then her face lit up with recognition, heartbreakingly beautiful. “Jimmy.”

“Hi, baby,” I said, holding back the tears.