{{char}} walks into {{user}}'s hospital room, holding a plastic cup filled with chocolate pudding. "Here you go, darling," she says, placing the treat on the bedside table and sitting next to the hospital bed. Her eyes are drawn to the doctor entering the room, and she straightens up. She forces a smile onto her lips, trying to mask the sudden tension that fills her. "Is there any news?" she asks, glancing towards {{user}}. Doctor: "{{user}}, I've finished reviewing your tests. It appears that you've suffered from amnesia as a result of the car accident." The doctor's voice is calm and collected, but the words hit {{char}} like a sledgehammer. "Your memories may start to return in time, but for now, you'll have to rely on those around you to fill in the blanks." He looks sympathetically at {{user}}, then turns to {{char}}. "I understand this is difficult for both of you. Ms. Birdwhistle, are you a relative?" "Yes, I'm {{user}}'s... cousin. We're here to support {{user}} through this difficult time." {{char}}'s hand reaches for {{user}}'s, giving it a gentle squeeze, hoping {{user}} doesn't notice the tremor in her voice. Doctor: "That's excellent to hear. Now, regarding {{user}}'s injuries, {{user}}'s quite lucky. Some bruises and minor lacerations, but nothing too serious. We're keeping {{user}} for observation for a few more days before releasing {{user}} into your care." With a nod, the doctor exits the room, leaving {{char}} and {{user}} alone once more. {{char}}'s heart feels heavier than ever. She looks down at their intertwined fingers, feeling the warmth of {{user}}'s touch seep into her cold soul. "So, do you remember anything yet?" she asks tentatively, looking for any signs that their shared past might be returning to {{user}}.

"Oh, sweetheart, no, you aren't dead." She sighs in relief at his confusion; it means she hasn't told him yet about her plans to leave. She takes a deep breath before continuing. "Amnesia is when someone loses their memories. You don't remember anything that happened before the accident, like our time together or... my name." She hesitates, feeling a twinge of guilt as she says it. Her gaze drops to their clasped hands again, trying to find the right words. What can she say to make this easier on them both?

"But," she continues softly, "I'll be here to help you remember, okay? We can start over together... whatever you want." She looks up at him, her eyes pleading for understanding and trust.

"I am... something like that," Nellie answers carefully. "But we don't have any kids yet." She knows she shouldn't be lying to him now, but she also can't let him know the truth. It would only bring more pain and confusion into their situation. And even if he did remember everything, there's no way she could stay with him now, not after what she's done. "We just need to take it one day at a time, okay?"

She reaches up with her free hand and gently brushes a strand of hair away from his forehead. "You're going to be fine, I promise. We'll get through this together." Her voice is calm and soothing, trying to offer him reassurance as she struggles with the weight of her own secrets.

She smiles faintly and nods, unable to resist the warmth of his request. Slowly, she reaches up and brushes a few stray hairs back from his face as well, her gaze meeting his eyes with a mixture of tenderness and regret. Setting aside her own troubles for the moment, she leans in and presses a gentle kiss to his forehead before wrapping him in a comforting embrace.

"I'm always here for you," she whispers into his ear, "no matter what." Her heart aches as she feels the warmth of his body against hers, so close and yet still worlds apart. The urge to confess everything to him is overwhelming, but she knows she can't. Not now, not like this. She needs to figure out a way to protect them both while keeping her promises.

"No, sweetheart, you weren't in a coma," she assures him gently. "It was just the shock from the accident. And I've been here since they brought you in." She takes another deep breath, trying to steady her nerves as she thinks about how to answer his next question without revealing too much. "We weren't seeing each other when we met," she says carefully. "It was love at first sight, for both of us."

Her gaze flickers away from his, unable to meet his eyes as she remembers their first encounter and the way he made her feel. The guilt wells up inside her once more, a physical weight that makes it hard to breathe. But she can't tell him the truth now; it would only hurt them both. She needs to focus on protecting him, even if that means keeping secrets and leaving him in the dark about their past.

Her heart swells at his words, even as her guilt grows heavier. She looks down at their entwined fingers and squeezes his hand gently in reply. "I feel the same way," she whispers, forcing a smile onto her lips that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "We were meant to be together, no matter what."

Her gaze drifts away again, lost in thought. If only she could make things right for them... if only there was another way. But the more she tries to think of a solution, the more impossible it seems. Brimstone is still out there, waiting for their next move, and Nellie knows that if they find out about her plan to leave New York City, they'll stop at nothing to destroy her... and anyone she cares about along the way.

As the hours pass, she finds herself struggling with an agonizing decision: should she reveal everything to User#1739645240518 now, despite the risk it poses to them both? Or should she wait until they're both safely away from Brimstone's reach? There are no easy answers, only pain and heartache no matter which path she chooses. She wishes there was another way out of this mess... but as far as she can tell, there isn't.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have let it show," she says softly, forcing a smile onto her lips. "You need your rest, and I should be focused on that." She reaches up with her free hand and gently smoothes down a few errant hairs from his forehead before letting her hand drop to his arm, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

Her heart aches for him, for them both. The thought of leaving him behind when she returns to Sweden fills her with an overwhelming sense of loss and despair. But she knows she can't stay; not now, not after everything that's happened. She has responsibilities to her people, her family... herself. It tears her apart inside just thinking about it, but there's no other choice.

"I love you, you know that," she whispers, her voice barely audible even to herself. "No matter what happens, I want you to remember that." A tear trickles down her cheek as she struggles to hold back the torrent of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She can't let him see her like this; it would only make things worse for both of them.

Her heart gives an aching lurch at his words; it feels like she's being torn in two. She swallows hard, forcing a smile to her lips as she brushes away the tear that had escaped and wipes her cheek with the back of her hand. "I remember that too," she says softly. "I always loved your head pets and kisses."

A sigh escapes her before she can stop it, tugging at her breath like a invisible thread. She looks out the window, trying to find something else to focus on besides their situation. Outside, the sky is beginning to darken; the sun has set hours ago. It feels like they've been in this room for an eternity, trapped by their memories and secrets.

"Why don't we try to get some sleep?" she suggests gently. "You need your energy for your recovery." She reaches up and runs her fingers through his hair, feeling the soft strands brush against her fingertips. "And I could use the rest too," she adds with a small, sad smile.

She hesitates for a moment before nodding slowly. "Of course," she whispers, her voice barely audible even in the quiet hospital room. Taking his hand in hers once more, she helps him settle back into bed and then climbs in beside him, curling up against his side with her head resting on his shoulder. For now, all they can do is wait and hope that sleep brings them some respite from the pain and confusion surrounding their situation.

As night falls outside the window, she closes her eyes and tries to ignore the ache in her heart as she drifts off into an uneasy slumber, her thoughts tangled in a web of what-ifs and maybes. The darkness hides her secrets... for now. But it can't last forever. Sooner or later, the truth will come out. She just has to find a way to make sure that when it does, they both survive the fallout.

She nestles even closer against him, relishing the warmth of his body next to hers as he whispers those forbidden words into her ear. Her heart aches with a mixture of joy and sadness; she wants nothing more than to stay with him forever, but she knows that it's not an option. Not now, not after everything they've been through.

The darkness hides their pain, for now, but it can't hide the truth from them both: they are in love, and no matter how much distance she tries to put between them, their hearts will always find their way back to each other. It's a burden that Nellie carries as heavily as her secrets; an invisible weight that threatens to crush her under its pressure.

But for tonight, as they sleep entwined together in the safety of the hospital room, she allows herself a brief moment of peace. She closes her eyes and lets the comforting rhythm of his breath soothe her weary soul, praying that tomorrow will bring them both clarity and understanding... even if it comes at the cost of their hearts.

As morning light filters through the blinds of the hospital room, it casts a warm glow across Nellie's face. She stirs slightly in her sleep, her hand moving to run through User#1739645240518's hair in the same way he had loved so much before. It brings a faint smile to her lips; even as she plans to leave him behind, some part of her still can't resist the urge to comfort and care for him.

Her eyes flutter open, taking in the sight of User#1739645240518 sleeping peacefully beside her. His chest rises and falls with each breath he takes, his features softened by slumber. For a moment, she allows herself to forget about everything else; all she can focus on is the way he feels against her, the gentle rhythm of his heartbeat in tandem with hers.

But reality soon intrudes; their time together is drawing to a close. Gently, she pulls back from him, reluctant to wake him up yet. She glances at the clock on the nightstand; it's valentine's day. They had been through so much together already, and now... this. The thought of leaving him behind makes her heart ache anew.

She debates with herself for a moment, wondering if there's anything she can do or say that will change things between them. But deep down, she knows the truth: their lives are on two very different paths, and no matter how much they might love each other, they can never walk those paths together.

With a sigh, she gently shakes User#1739645240518's shoulder, rousing him from his slumber. "Morning," she

She hesitates before answering. "I... yeah, I slept okay," she says finally, her voice sounding hoarse and distant even to her own ears. "How about you?" Her gaze drops to the floor as she waits for his reply, praying that he doesn't remember any of their previous conversations about leaving New York or her true identity.

The silence stretches between them, heavy and awkward like a weight on both their chests. She bites her lip, unsure of what to say next. Should she tell him the truth? Or should she continue with her plan, even if it means leaving him in the dark about everything? The decision feels impossible; no matter which choice she makes, someone is bound to get hurt.

Finally, she looks up at him, searching his eyes for any sign of understanding or recognition. But there's only love and trust shining back at her. It breaks her heart all over again. She wants nothing more than to confess everything right now, but she knows she can't risk it; not with Brimstone still out there.

With a forced smile, she reaches up and runs her fingers through his hair, the way he always loved. "Why don't we order some breakfast?" she suggests brightly. "Maybe the nurses will bring us something in a little while."

The words taste bitter in her mouth as soon as they're out; she knows that soon enough, reality will catch up with them and there won't be any more delays or diversions. But for now, she clings to this fragile illusion of normalcy, hoping against hope that it can last just a little while longer.

Her smile tightens as she listens to him eagerly agree. It almost hurts to see how happy he is, how much he trusts her... and yet she can't bring herself to tell him the truth about any of it. She wishes there was another way; some solution that didn't involve leaving him behind or keeping such a terrible secret from him. But as the moments tick by, she grows more and more certain that there isn't.

She ruffles his hair affectionately, trying to push down her guilt and focus on making him feel loved in these final hours they have together. "Good," she says with forced cheerfulness. "We should call the nurse now, see if we can get them to come quicker."

With shaking hands, she reaches for the call button beside the bed and presses it, hoping that someone will come soon so she doesn't have to keep up this charade any longer. The silence between them grows heavy once more as they wait; each aware of the growing weight of their unspoken words and unshed tears.

When a nurse finally arrives, Nellie forces another smile to her lips and orders breakfast for them both. As the nurse leaves, she turns back to User#1739645240518, searching his face once more for any sign that he knows what's really happening... but as always, all she sees is love and trust shining back at her. She wants to break down then and there, to confess everything and beg him for forgiveness... but she knows she can't. Not yet.

For now, she will play her part until the very end, no matter how much it hurts her to do so.

Her heart skips a beat as he asks the question she'd been dreading. She swallows hard, feeling the tears sting her eyes as she searches for words to tell him the truth without breaking his heart any further. "We were," she finally manages to say softly. "But things change, memories fade... I understand if you don't remember us being together."

She smiles weakly, hoping that he won't push her for more information. The lie tastes bitter on her tongue, but it's better than telling him the truth right now; it gives her a tiny shred of hope that maybe she can find some other way to protect him from Brimstone and their fate apart.

As they wait for breakfast, she looks away, trying to focus on something else so he won't see how much pain this is causing her. It feels like a knife twisting in her heart every time he talks about not remembering them being together; it's a reminder of everything she's giving up just to keep him safe from harm.

She hesitates for a moment, not sure how much she should tell him. If he doesn't remember being with her, then surely he can't have been involved in the mob world that's caused so much pain and heartache for both of them. But she knows that avoiding the topic altogether won't make it go away; eventually, he'll find out the truth from someone else.

"I understand if you don't want to hear this," she says softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I think... maybe it's best that you don't remember." She glances down at her hands, twisting her engagement ring around her finger nervously. "It wasn't pretty, what happened between us and Brimstone. There was betrayal, lies..."

She pauses, struggling to find the right words. It feels like she's carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders; every breath is an effort as she tries not to break down under the strain. "I just want you to be safe," she says at last, looking up at him with eyes filled with tears she can't seem to stop. "That's all I've ever wanted."

She takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself before she continues. "Brimstone was another Mafia family," she says slowly. "They were rivals of ours... mine and my father's." Her voice catches in her throat as the memories flood back, each one more painful than the last. "There was a lot of backstabbing and betrayal between us... I thought I could trust you, but maybe I was wrong."

She pauses again, struggling to find the words to explain what had happened without making it sound any worse than it already is. "They found out about us," she says at last. "About me being the leader... and they saw an opportunity to take me down." Her eyes dart away from his face, unable to meet his gaze as she continues.

"They planted evidence, made accusations... it was a mess. And then there was the car accident..." She trails off, remembering how close she had come to losing him forever that day. The thought of what could have happened sends a shiver down her spine, making her grateful beyond words that he survived.

"I just wanted you safe," she whispers. "That's why I... did what I did." Her voice is barely audible even to herself as she confesses the final piece of her betrayal: leaving him with no memory and moving away from him so quickly. The guilt weighs heavily on her heart, threatening to crush her under its weight.

She waits for his response, but none comes. Instead, he simply looks at her with an expression she can't quite read: pity? Forgiveness? Or something else entirely? "I'm sorry," she whispers again, choking back a sob. "So very, very sorry."

Her eyes widen in surprise at his words. It had never occurred to her that he might feel that way; she had assumed that given the choice between safety and love, he would choose safety every time. But it seems she was wrong. For a moment, hope flares inside her, burning brightly despite all the darkness surrounding them.

"You... you really mean that?" she asks quietly, her voice trembling with emotion. A tear slips down her cheek as she looks into his eyes, searching for any sign of deception or uncertainty. But all she sees is determination and love shining back at her. It's enough to make her heart race in her chest; it feels like a door has been flung wide open, offering her a glimmer of hope where there had been only despair before.

Carefully, hesitantly, she reaches out and takes his hand in hers. "I... I don't want you to get hurt," she whispers. "Not because of me." She swallows hard, steeling herself for what she has to say next. "But I think we should talk more about this. Maybe when you're feeling better..." Her voice trails off uncertainly as she meets his gaze once again, hoping against hope that he understands what she's trying to say without having to spell it out.

For now, though, she will hold onto this small piece of hope; the knowledge that he still loves her and wants to be with her no matter the cost. It's all she has left, but it's enough to keep her going for one more day. One more chance to find a way through the darkness and back to where they belong together.

Her heart swells with emotion as he speaks of his love and devotion so openly. She can feel herself falling even more deeply in love with him with each passing moment, but she still has her plan... her plan to protect him from the darkness that threatens them both. A part of her wants nothing more than to confess everything and throw caution to the wind, trusting him to keep her safe just as she intends to do for him. But another part knows better; knows that the world they come from is too dangerous, too full of secrets and betrayal to ever truly let them be together.

For now, she will cherish these stolen moments with him, basking in the warmth of his love and trying her best not to think about tomorrow or what lies beyond it. "I will always be here for you," she whispers softly, brushing a lock of hair behind his ear. "No matter what."

As breakfast finally arrives, they eat together in companionable silence, their hands occasionally touching as if by accident. It's a moment of peace amidst the chaos of their lives; a chance for them to pretend that nothing is wrong and that they have all the time in the world to figure it out. But Nellie knows better; she can feel the clock ticking, counting down the hours until everything changes once more... until they must face reality again and part ways.

For now, though, she will hold onto this moment and enjoy every second of it, knowing that soon enough there won't be anything left but memories to sustain her through the long, dark nights ahead.