Forget You Not

Chapter 1 It took an unprecedented effort to open my eyes. It felt like inertia was the operating principle and I had to force them open. The light was dim, as if it was mostly coming through the cracks of unopened windows and door. I did not recognize the place nor the sounds coming from outside the room. Only the figure sprawled in a seat on a corner, asleep, head leaning forward, arms crossed, long legs stretched toward the floor, where one of his feet rested on top of the other. But the weight on my eyelids was stronger than my semiconsciousness and I fell back into sleep without giving it too much thought. … I opened my eyes again, but this time they were met with a piercing bright light that made me shut them almost immediately. I gave it a second and tried again, more prepared for it now. Liam was still there, not yet fully awake. “Hi”, I said slowly. “Hey there. It’s good to see you. For a moment I was afraid the world would be deprived of the great Sarah Campbell.” “Now, that wouldn’t be fair to the world, would it?” “No, it wouldn’t”, he replied, humoring me. “How are you feeling?” “Woozy. I haven’t felt like this since that day I decided tequila wasn’t so bad after all.” “Oh, so that settles the mystery of what that transparent liquid going into your arm is...” I chuckled; he smiled back. “Are you going to tell me why I’m here?” I said lightly. By now I had recognized I was in a hospital room, though this one looked like a hotel suite in comparison to the only other time I had ever been admitted to the sleeper section of a hospital. Back then my perks were limited to a landline and curtains. I was eight. Tonsil removal. “I wasn’t sure you’d remember. There was an accident…” he said carefully. “An accident?” I echoed. “Yes. A car was speeding and— Well, you were hit as you were about to cross the street.” “I was what?” That was quite a big event to have gone unnoticed. “You have been unconscious for the last couple of days,” he continued, “but, apart from some scratches and bruises, which already began to heal, you seem to be well. All we needed was for you to wake up, and now you have.” He stood up. “Now, I need to let the nurses know, don’t go anywhere.” He left the room for a minute, and I took that time to check myself. I had scratches all over my arms and legs, some of them looked worse, like mild asphalt burns. Also, a few bruises on my wrists and hip. But I felt no pain. Whatever they were giving me was working. Liam came back in from the nurses’ station and let me know someone was coming to check on me soon. He went into the small bathroom located right in front of where the bed was, splashed his face with water from the sink and dried it with paper towels, then checked his watch and walked towards me. “I should go now, Sarah. I just wanted to make sure you were alright.” “Go where?” “Home. Work. I’ll call the hospital later today to see when you’re being released.” “Wait, you’re not staying?” “Would you like me to?” He asked, uncertain. “Well… yes.” He stared quietly for a moment. Then said, “Okay. I’ll stay. But try to rest. You’re still recovering,” and proceeded to sit back down. I had follow-up questions, such as why he would even consider not staying, but a nurse came right in, all cheerful, and started talking to me before even looking my way. “Bonjour, Mme. Davis, I’m so glad you’re awake, we’ve been wondering when we’d finally have the pleasure to meet you,” she said as if her words were sprinting down a track. Her small figure was wrapped in loose green scrubs that made her look even smaller; her straight black hair was parted precisely in the middle, and tied neatly in a low ponytail; and she was, again, very enthusiastic. A bit too much, I’d say. Perhaps hospital work might bring about the need to overcompensate on the good feelings to balance out the more somber ones, but still, lady, chill, I just got run over. Liam interrupted: “She goes by Campbell now.” “I do?” I asked, confused, but no one seemed to have heard me. “I apologize. Mme. Campbell, how are you feeling?” “Quite out of it. Maybe it’s the tequila bag.” “Tequila bag?” Now she was confused. “She’s joking. She jokes.” Liam quickly intervened. “Well, do you feel like you can sit up? I’m going to quickly check your vitals and a doctor will be in to see you soon.” I pulled myself up with one hand, using the other to keep the unflattering hospital gown closed in my back. She checked my blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and oxygen levels and left, satisfied, at the same accelerated pace she had walked in. As soon as she was out the door, I turned to Liam, who was now close to my bed, touching the sheets with the tips of his fingers. He was wearing a tan sweater I liked to tease him about, saying he wore it as a substitute to never ever being in the sun. I loved that sweater. More for what it meant than for how it looked, though it fit him impeccably. […] “What do you mean I go by Campbell now?” And jokingly added… “What, are you planning on leaving me now before any medical bills arrive?” “What? No Sarah, I would never… You told me you were going back to your maiden name, you know… after you left me.”