2

"How are you feeling now?" She looked up at the man towering over her. His soft brown eyes looked down at her with concern lacing them, lips curled up in a small welcoming smile. Her eyes lowered down to his body, he was wearing a dark blazer over his white shirt and faded blue jeans, a brown leather belt and black formal shoes.

"I'm....okay," Amara muttered cringing at the way her voice sounded weak, feeling scratchiness in her throat. It had been a few hours since she regained consciousness, but every time she stressed her mind to think, a jolting pain rippled through the nerves that made her head pound.

"Do you feel any pain?" Adrian asked, looking genuinely concerned as she shook her head. Except for the physical pain in her knees, legs arms and ribs, she could not feel anything. Strange how even her emotions were perfectly hidden. She did not know what to do. Was she supposed to freak out? Cry? Call for someone? What happened? Who was she? A thousand questions bombarded her.

"Just... occasional aches." The doctor standing on the other side muttered, noting the observation on the patient sheet. There were several concussions in her head, a few broken ribs, a broken leg, a fractured right arm and several wounds on her body. Adrian hadn't read her all reports but he knew the important details.

She stole glances at him. His eyes were a-dazzle with wonder over a friendly smile.

"Do you want something? Water perhaps?" Adrian mumbled looking down at her. She blinked her eyes at him and muttered.

"I'd like that." She watched curiously as he grabbed the glass of water before giving it to her. There were several drips attached to her body and an ECG was attached to the pinky of her left hand.

"Here," Grabbing the glass from his hand she sipped on the water. Everything was so peculiar and unknown. There were lucid fragments of memories and certain recollections of events but then after that, it was all blank. Though she was able to reconstruct certain images in her head that was all. It was like a puzzle piece, where everything was scattered and she was finding it hard to place the pieces in their specific spot.

Her train of thought was interrupted by Adrian’s soft voice.

"If you don't mind, can I ask you something?" Adrian softly asked, his eyes betraying the mask of emotions he wore. Now that he was standing at his full height, Amara found him a few inches taller than her. She was busy observing his soft features when he muttered.

"Do you remember who you are?" She stilled. It was hard. She lowered her head and closed her eyes as her fists balled. She tried to think, forcing her mind to remember anything of sorts, but there were roadblocks, and a door guarding her memories away from herself.

Slowly she opened her eyes with a heaved sigh and looked at the handsome man in front of her who claimed to be her husband.

"Amara, that's what you all have been calling me." She mumbled. When his expression did not change, she flickered her tongue out and licked her dry lips. "Is it not my name?"

Adrian noticed her struggle and smiled to assure her growing anxiousness.

"It is. Do you know what year this is?" Year? Wasn't this 2012? 2013? What day was today? Wasn't it supposed to be Friday? Or was it Sunday? Her thoughts were all over the place, the more she tried to stress her mind, the more she was getting confused.

"..." Adrian watched her with a concerned gaze.

"Do you know who your parents are? Any contact information?" Parents...

"..."

Adrian got his answers. He watched as her hands trembled in her lap as she tried hard to remember. He sensed her panic and placed his hand on her shoulder as she flinched and yelped.

"What's the last memory you have? Any glimpse?" He made her look at him, his other hand moving to her other shoulder as he squeezed them. Meeting his eyes, she felt sweat dripping down her back. She instinctively closed her eyes, taking her mind back to any moment she could remember. A flash of events ran wildly through her head but she couldn't form the full image, just blurt fragments. Trees, cars, blue eyes...and then her eyes opened as she looked at him with terrifying expressions.

"I...I don't remember much." Adrian felt pity for her.

"Should I be concerned?" She asked swallowing the negative thoughts as she looked at him with teary eyes. Her brown eyes filled with unshed tears to the brim and Adrian couldn't help but look away. Her tears bothered him for some reason.

"No, it's nothing serious. Just a harmless amnesia." He pulled away from her and turned around. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he contemplated if he should tell her about your accident.

"Will I get my memories back?"

The desperation in her voice pulled a chord in his heart and he said.

"Yes,"

"When?"

"Soon..." or probably never.

*****

"Like the previous doctor said, her amnesia is retrograde. I can not say much, but it's not easy to get her memories back. Not only her recent memories, but she doesn't even remember her name. This is not something which should be taken lightly." The doctor pointed to her reports.

"What do you suggest?" Adrian muttered, his voice low and raspy. His hair falling on his forehead were longer than their usual length that highlighted his sharp cheekbones and dark black eyes. His eyes fixated upon the dark-haired man.

"Time..." the elector fixed his glasses and gave Adrian a light smile. "Time is a great medicine. Give her time and see what happens. I looked into her reports and I am afraid that her life before this was any good. Maybe, this is a good sign."

Any good? Adrian clenched his jaw. Only if he was careful with her.

"When can I take her home?" Adrian asked, his blood boiling with unknown emotions. Never had he witnessed such cruelty on an innocent soul like hers.

"Whenever you want. There is a care centre in your home as well." The doctor shrugged, noticing how Adrian nodded and fished out his phone.

Home. It was the last place he wanted to take her. He had some other plans.

****

"Does it hurt?"

"It's...bearable."

"You can tell me if you feel uncomfortable anywhere." Adrian softly muttered.

She could not recognise him at all. He wasn't a bit familiar, though he was always there since she woke up, yet she couldn't bring herself to remember him. If he was her husband, she should’ve had some glimpses of him.

His looks were a breath of fresh air, a blend of both attractiveness and roughness. The depth of his dark eyes held a fiery flame that warmed her every time they locked onto hers, igniting a quiet flames within her. With every glance, he eluded an aura of charisma.

"How long are we married for?" Amara asked as he helped her in the car. The doctor had suggested keeping her in the hospital for a few more days but Adrian was hasty. He did not want her to stay in that hospital any longer. "I mean, you said you are my husband." Adrian froze at the familiar ache before clearing his throat.

"One year."

"Oh…then our anniversary must be around the corner." Adrian stiffened at her chuckle, the smile on his face faltering as a dark look flashed through his eyes before he curled his lips again.

Anniversary.

Bringing her memories back meant bringing all the pain he made her suffer back into her life again and Adrian felt protectiveness wrapping around him at the thought of hurting her again.

"Yes, it is. It’s due in seventeen days." This time Adrian promised himself to be better for her.

"Oh…" Amara fidgeted with her hands slowly looking up at him. “It feels so…strange you know.”

The choking regret returned before closing the door from her side. Circling the car he opened the door to the other side and climbed in. She watched him curiously, noticing how gracefully he moved, his features otherworldly giving him surreal looks.

Adrian noticed her gaze on him and turned to her only to frown. Her seat belt was not tied.

"Come here," he said and her eyes widened. Before she could process, he was leaning down to her side pulling the seat belt and securing it around her slender waist. He was so close and she could smell the sweet smell of tangerines coming off him mixed with a fruity aroma that calmed her senses. His fingers brushed on her sides unknowingly and her breath hitched.

Adrian pulled away. This was the first time he was this close to her. And it did something to him.

Gulping hard, she looked towards the window and muttered shyly.

"...thank you..." she said with a crimson tint covering her cheeks. Adrian noticed and chuckled lightly.

The overall ride was relaxing and filled with silence. Amara restrained herself from asking any more questions. Though everything was bizarre, she felt habitable in Adrian’s presence. He was a nice man as far as she had seen. The way he made sure she was comfortable in any situation. Though he had not given her any hint if he was lying or not, she could see genuineness in his eyes.

Adrian fished out his phone and started typing and she decided to look outside. The hospital was in the city and her curious eyes landed on buildings outside. She had never seen such beauty and magnificence till now. The city view hypnotised her towards it, it seemed somewhat familiar and refreshing to look at.

The city was just like a heart—a rhythm and a beat.

The car accelerated to the destination, moving past the building and trees and finally moving into the outskirts of the city. As beautiful as the modernised area was, the plain grounds were as captivating. There were huge mountains in the greens of the valleys.

She frowned.

Something familiar struck her mind and she pressurised it, thinking deeply. Several flashes of images ran in front of her closed eyes like a reel playing, but the only evident things she could make out were blue sky, rocks, and trees, then a sharp pain reverberated through her head and the images converted into face, blurred face. She could not recognise it. Just lips moving, she could not hear but then like a siren calling a sailer to the shore, a very unfamiliar voice rang in her head.

"Amara!"

She gasped as her eyes shot open. Hands shaking her shoulders as she looked around with fearful eyes.

What was happening? Where was I? What's going on-

"Amara, look at me." Warm hands pulled her to an equally warm body, arms wrapping around her, hands rubbing down her back soothingly and yet she couldn't breathe. "Shh...calm down. Everything's alright. Come here." What was that voice? Who did it belong to? The images...did they belong to her past?

A blurry face flashed in front of her eyes and then like a never existing picture, it disappeared.

Adrian looked worriedly at her, his eyes narrowed and fists clenched. He managed to shift her in a way that his chest was pressed against her side and his arms wrapped around her torso as he pulled her into a hug. The driver looked at them with concern through the mirror but refused to say anything. His master wouldn't like that.

Her brain was overloaded, there were finite things she could process yet a vast part of her head was locked away from herself. It was painful. Fear of the unknown engulfed her, as she trembled in Adrian’s arms. He gritted his teeth, rubbing her back with his hands. His head screams murder. His blood boiling with rage. He failed her, both as a husband and a human once. But now, she’s never let anything hurt her let alone touch her.

She was his to protect.