Remember9

It was two weeks before her due date. She had been awake three weeks exactly and she was still in the hospital. With her date so close, doctors had recommended her to continue her stay until after the baby arrived so they could monitor right away once she went into labor. Twice a day she did physical therapy, once in the morning, with a trainer named Sarah and again in the evening with Charlie. Sarah always seemed excited by her progress, she could walk without help balancing now but her legs still felt very weak after so long stationary in bed. Sarah helped her to strengthen her back and legs but it felt slow going. She wanted very much to see her home in person not just in photos. In the evening Charlie took her arm and they walked in circles around the maternity ward, where they had moved her the week before.

"The sunset is beautiful tonight" she said as they sat on their favorite bench that faced a massive window. 

"Your beautiful, the sunset is so-so," Charlie said with a big smile.

She blushed, very pleased, she felt like a teenager in love. Infatuated and overwhelmed by the love she felt for this man beside her. She knew now they had been together twelve years, and married for five but it felt new and exciting to her. She was happy and much of the time she could on things other than her lack of memories.

He put his arm around her and she put her head on his shoulder, sighing.

"Getting tired?" He asked, always concerned she'd over do it.

"No not all. I'm simply sighing in contentment. It is so nice sitting here with you. I love spending time with you." She said a little shy despite knowing he was her husband.

"I love it too, and soon we can go home, with a new addition even!" He caressed her stomach, smiling and speaking to Baby."You almost ready to come meet your mommy and daddy, little love? We can't wait!"

She placed her hands over his and then felt a kick in response, "Feels like a yes to me," she laughed.

They walked back to her room and he helped her roll into bed. 

Since moving to the maternity ward, Charlie had taken to sleeping at home. Though there was a cot in her room, he found the cats to be missing them both. So though she'd rather he stayed, she knew that if she had her memories she'd be the one urging him to spend more time with them. 

"Goodnight, sweetheart." He said kissing her forehead.

"Goodnight...I love you." She said for the first time since the accident.

He wrapped her in a hug and she held on tightly, "I love you! Oh baby, I love you so much! You can't imagine how happy I am your okay, thank you for coming back to me. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"I am glad too, I only wish for my memories but I hope that we can get back what we had before even still."

"Better, we will. I love you," he said fervently.

She smiled, "I love you, Charlie."

After Charlie left, she found herself wide awake. She reached for a photo album from the pile she kept on the side table.

This one was white with a satin cover. Their wedding album was her favorite of all Charlie had brought her. In the inside cover was a note she had written: 'Dearest Charlie, for this, our three year wedding anniversary and our ten year anniversary of being together, I wish for our continued happiness, that we always take comfort in being together, best friends side by side through all the bad and the good. I love you and appreciate all that you do. Thank you for always loving me as I love you, with all my heart for all our years to come.'

She must have read this a hundred times in the last few weeks, hoping she could be that girl she used to be.

She woke abruptly, the album still in her lap and the light on. Confused for a few moments but realized she'd fell asleep. She saw the clock said 2am, weird since she'd been sleeping through the night. A flash of something crossed her mind, like a word on the tip of the tongue that you just can't recall. She focused on her breathing, waiting. Another flash a bit longer showed her in a wedding dress. charlie was there holding her close, both smiling. Then it was gone. She wondered where that had come from, it looked like a darker back room. Not a photo she'd seen since those were bright, full of sunshine. Could that be a memory?