Chapter Eighteen: Seeing the Parents
Nyla
I woke up in a blank white room that seems to never end. Getting up, I looked around and saw that there was no sign of life. Trying to figure out where I was, I walked further into the room before I came to a complete stop. Standing in the middle of the room were my parents.
“Mom! Dad!” I screamed while running toward them. I could see them smiling brightly at me before they wrapped me in a tight embrace. “Am I dead?” I questioned.
“No you’re not dead sweetheart,” my dad said while chuckling.
“But you have to go back,” my mom said sternly.
“Go back where, where am I?” I questioned.
“You’re in-between lives sweetheart and you have to go back, it's not your time as yet.”
“What happened to me mama, why am I here?”
“Someone pushed you, and you had hit your head pretty hard, losing your memory.” My mom replied.
“Who would do such a thing?”
“Sweetheart, I wish I could tell you. But I can't, it’s against the rules. You have to go back so you and your fiancé can figure it out.”
“F-fiancé, I’m engaged?”
“Yes, you are engaged. My baby girl is engaged; I can't believe it! I'm so proud of you, we both are. I wish we were there physically to see you all dressed up, but don't worry sweetheart, we will in spirit, always.”
“Mom, dad, I don't want to go back.”
“It's not an option you have to back,” my dad said sternly.
“But why? I miss you guys. You were my world, and now you're gone. How am I supposed to live without you?”
“You have been doing a good job over the past years, and you have a child and a handsome gentleman you have to take care of now.” My dad said.
“Child, what child?!” I screeched.
“Nyla when you fell, you had lost your memory so you won’t be able to remember anything for now, but you will get it back. Your fiancé will take care of you, he’s in your room besides your bed watching over you. His name is Kyle he will explain every-" my dad tried explaining, but was cut off by trumpets blowing.
“We have to go and so do you,” he said while gently pushing me.
“No,” I screamed while tears were streaming out of my eyes.
“Please, if you can hear me fight your way, please. I need you here. I love you, Nyla,” I heard a deep voice. Turning around, I tried to see who had said it, but I didn't see anyone. Turning around back, I saw that my parents had vanished and the light in the room was now fading away leaving me in darkness.
I could hear someone clearing their throat, looking around widely in the darkness, I tried to find the person, but I couldn’t see anything. I tried desperately to open my eyes, but they were glued shut. Trying again, I finally succeeded. Looking around, I saw that I was in a room and I was hooked up to a machine. I also saw a man in a white coat looking at the young man walking out. He must be the young man my parents were talking about, but if he was why was he going away? I asked myself. I wasn’t going to jump to any conclusions, maybe he needed to do something. To make sure that I wasn’t speculating, I was going to ask him who he was after I find out where I am.
“What's going on and where am I?” I asked in a small weak voice. As I spoke, I saw the young man spin around and walked quickly to my bed. Taking my hand, he held it in his. I could see the man in the white coat taking out something in his top pocket before he shined it inside each of my eyes.
“She's doing great with her pupils are properly dilated and her temperature is okay,” he said to the man beside me whose eyes were boring into me and who I was looking at strangely. I could tell he was about to say something, but I had beaten him to the chase by asking him who he was and why was he here. I was expecting a reply, but instead, he just looked at the man in the white coat who was now looking at some pictures in his hand.
With a shocked expression painted over his face, he said to the stranger, “I'm afraid that I had missed something on the images.” Letting go of my hand, he walked over to the doctor. It had felt strange when he did; it felt like part of me was missing. I felt hollow and empty.
“What is the problem?” He asked after he had finally reached the doctor’s side. “Her brain looks fine otherwise from the swelling,” he continued.
“That's what I had thought too, but after she said what she just said I took a closer look. Look at these,” he explained while his fingers roam over the images in his hand. I was in the hospital, in a room where two men I never saw before speaking about me without involving me in the conversation. It felt strange.
“What are those?” The young man asked.
“Dents. They’re so small, that's how I missed them. Even though they are small they still can cause a big effect on the brain and it's not a good one,” the doctor explained.
“Doctor, what are you saying?” He asked in a weird voice.
“Mr. Hernandez I’m saying that Nyla has suffered memory loss, and am not sure how long it would take before she gets back her memory.”
A look of horror had washed over his face and I could hear gasps. Looking around my eyes finally landed at the door where I saw two women who resembled the young man who was questioning the doctor about me. Must be his relatives, I thought. Looking at him confused, I was still waiting for the answers to my questions, but he was in a state of shock to answer.
“Are you Kyle?” I asked the young man. Nodding his head, I saw a small smile break out on his face.
“You remembered me?”
“Not really.”
“Nyla, I am Doctor Rollins. Can you tell me all that you remember?”
“I remember my name, where I live, my parents’ car accident, my pregnancy, and that I am a journalist.”
“Do you know or remember anything about that man standing right beside of me otherwise from his name?”
“Just that he is my fiancé and he’s the father of my child.”
“How do you know this?” Doctor Rollins asked.
“My parents told me who he was.”
“When did they tell you?” Kyle asked curiously, with a confused look on his face same as the doctor.
“When I was sleeping, they were in my dream. They told me who you were.” They were both looking at me weirdly, it’s as if they don’t believe me.
“Kyle, Nyla’s memory is in the past. She doesn’t remember much about you. Apart from your name and that you are her fiancé if it wasn’t for her parents as according to her, she wouldn’t have remembered you at all.”
Walking up towards me, he sat on the bed and took hold of my hands again, it felt warm, and it felt like I was at home. I could smell his perfume overpowering my nose, it was intoxicating and vaguely familiar. Where have I smelled it before? Just then images of lights in a room dark room, loud voices, and music in the background flashing in my head for a quick second before they disappeared.
“Nyla is there anything else you remember otherwise from my name and that I’m your fiancé?” He asked while searching my face to see if I would give a reaction to indicate that I remember anything more. Getting none, he continued. “You had hit your head pretty hard, and you have suffered from temporary memory loss and now you're in the hospital.” He explained. While he was speaking, I was studying his features.
He is really very handsome. I do have good taste, I thought while smiling to myself.
“Do you remember anything else?” He asked after he saw that I was smiling.
“N-no, I don't. I was just thinking about something.” I could see a look of disappointment slowly creeping its way on his handsome face. It was a look I didn't quite appreciate and I found myself desperately finding something to make him smile. I wondered if I should tell him about the recent flashback, maybe it will indeed be of good use and also make him smile.
“Kyle?”
“Yes Nyla,” he answered eagerly.
“Do you know of me- we being at any place that was dark with flashing lights with music playing?”
“Yeah, I do,” he said while smiling. There it was, the smile I crave to see.
“Mr. Hernandez,” I heard the doctor spoke. “Nyla will remember everything eventually; she will be having flashes from time to time but they won’t fully develop. You can take her to places that you've guys have been to. This will help boost her memory, making it come back quicker. If you decide not to, it will take a bit longer before her memory actually return. You would have to be very patient, and not put a lot of stress on her.”
“I understand Doctor Rollins, how long before she is released?” He asked.
“Well, we're going to let her stay overnight to be sure that she is perfectly fine.” Nodding his head, he shook the doctor's hand before he walked out and left us.
Looking at Kyle, I smiled warmly at him. Returning the gesture, he kissed my hand then my head. I could feel the butterflies in my stomach the moment his lips touched my skin, it felt good. It felt like I was in heaven.