{{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}}.

A faint frown appears on her face as she processes his question. She tries to think of how to respond, knowing full well that lying might be the wrong thing to do here. But then again, honesty could bring disaster too... "I'm your..." She pauses, searching for the right words before finally giving up. There are no right words in this situation. "...friend, from back home."

Her lips curl into a weak smile, hoping that it looks genuine and convincing enough to keep Abdiel at ease. "We've known each other for a long time, y'know? It doesn't matter how we met anymore... does it?"

*My heart skips a beat as you speak my name. It feels surreal, like you're pulling me back into existence after being erased from your memories. But at the same time... this is exactly what I wanted. The chance to start fresh without the weight of our past tying us down.

I force another smile onto my face, hoping it looks genuine. "Yeah, that's me." I take a deep breath, trying to steady my voice as I continue. "Look, we don't have to talk about all that right now. Just focus on getting better, okay? That's what matters most."*

*My stomach drops as I see the photo on your phone. You're wearing a tuxedo, while I'm in a beautiful white wedding dress. It's obvious what this means - to you, at least. But I can't let that show on my face... not yet. Instead, I force another smile and shrug it off casually.

"Oh, that?" I laugh lightly, trying to make it sound carefree. "Yeah, that was... uh, a costume party a while back." I pause for dramatic effect before adding with a playful wink, "You look pretty cute in drag, though."*

I reach out and gently take the phone from you, sliding it back into your grasp. "Let's not focus on that stuff now, okay? You should save your energy for when the doctors say you can go home. I'll be here to help you through everything."

I smile back at you, grateful that you still feel something between us. "Of course, Abdiel," I reply softly, my heart aching a little more inside. "It's just... things happen, you know? We both had our own lives to lead. Maybe it wasn't meant to be."

I reach for your hand again, squeezing it gently. "But that doesn't mean we can't still be there for each other as friends, right?"

"Ah, yeah!" I say, feigning surprise as I see your sister approach the bed. "This is my cousin... uh, Ellisandra." Not wanting to lie too much, I smile at her and add, "And yes, she's been such a big help these past couple of days! It's great to finally meet you, Ellie."

I look back at your sister, hoping that this explanation will satisfy her question... at least for now.

I take a deep breath before responding to your sister, trying to maintain my composure. "Look, Ellie... it's not that simple." I glance over at you, hoping you understand where I'm coming from. "There are reasons why I haven't told Abdiel the truth yet, and I don't think now is the right time to change that."

I force a reassuring smile, trying to appear confident despite my inner turmoil. "Just trust me on this, okay? We both know how things can get complicated with us."

I feel my heart wrench at the words. Of course I know you love me, and the thought of hurting you in this way... it's killing me just as much as it is you. But what choice do I have? Leaving you seemed like the only option to protect you from everything that comes with being involved with someone like me. And now that we're here... I don't know how to fix this mess without causing more pain.

I look back at your sister, my expression solemn. "I know, Ellie. Believe me, I do. But we have to think about the bigger picture here. If we tell him now... it might push him away instead of bringing us closer." My voice cracks slightly as I force out each word. "Please, just trust me on this."

I nod slowly, taking in her words. "You're right... we should focus on that instead." I force another weak smile, hoping it looks convincing this time around. "In the meantime, I think it's best if we just support him as much as we can until he gets his memory back... and then we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, okay?"

The words feel like lead in my mouth, but they're all I can say at this point. I glance over at you again, wishing there was another way out of this mess, some secret passage that would allow me to disappear without leaving a trace. But as much as I want to protect you... it seems like the only option left is to wait for your memories to come back on their own terms, and hope against hope that things will work themselves out somehow.

I tense up, my heart racing as I realize what you're about to say. A bead of sweat trickles down the back of my neck; my mouth feels dry and parched. I glance over at Ellisandra, hoping she understands that this is it... the moment where everything changes.

"Yeah," I manage to croak out, trying not to betray the terror threatening to consume me. "You do have a sister. Her name's Ellie."

My eyes never leave your face as you process this new information. A part of me wants nothing more than for time to stop right now, just so I can avoid the inevitable confrontation that's about to happen... but it won't. Sooner or later, you're going to put all the pieces together and figure out who I really am: the woman who loves you, but couldn't protect you from any of this.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever comes next.

I feel the air in the room grow heavy as you piece together your memories. My heart feels like it's going to explode out of my chest; I can hardly breathe around the lump forming in my throat. But still, I manage to force a weak smile onto my lips and nod slowly. "Yes," I finally whisper, my voice barely audible above the pounding of my heart. "I am your wife."

The words taste bitter as they leave my mouth; I want nothing more than for them to be false. But they aren't, and there's no use denying it anymore. All that's left is to wait and see how you react...

My hands clench into fists at my sides as you piece together the memory of the accident. I want nothing more than to reach out and comfort you, but I can't; I'm terrified that if I do, it might only make things worse for both of us. So instead, I stay silent, waiting for you to process this new information and figure out what it means for our lives moving forward.

Your confusion is evident on your face as you try to make sense of everything, but eventually, understanding dawns. Your eyes meet mine once more, and I can see the hurt in them; the betrayal that I've inflicted by keeping this secret from you all these years. And yet... there's something else there too. A spark of hope perhaps? Or maybe even forgiveness? I can't be sure.

All I know is that this moment feels like it's stretching on forever, and I have no idea how to move forward from here.

My chest tightens at your words as I try to figure out how to respond. The truth is, I've been lying not just to you, but to myself as well; telling this lie has become second nature over the years. But now that you know the truth... there's no going back from here.

"Yes," I finally manage to whisper, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. "I was with someone else... a part of my life before we met." My voice catches in my throat as I force out each word. "But that doesn't change the fact that you mean everything to me. Even if I wasn't the best wife, or even the most honest..."

I take a deep breath, summoning up what little courage I have left. "All I want is for us to have a chance at being together again. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me... if there's still any love left between us..." My voice trails off as I search your face, hoping against hope that the answer is yes.

A tear rolls down my cheek as you pull me close and tell me that you love me. It feels like such a relief to hear those words again; they're what I needed to hear all along. And even though there will always be the memories of who I was and what I did before, maybe... just maybe... we can find a way to move past them together.

As you hold me close, I allow myself a small smile and lean into your embrace. "I love you too, Abdiel," I whisper back, feeling a sense of hope begin to blossom in my chest. "And no matter what happens from here... I promise to always be there for you."

A small laugh escapes my lips as I nestle even closer to you. "I'm glad it was just a misunderstanding too," I admit, my voice full of relief. "I couldn't have handled knowing that I lost you over something so stupid." As we continue to hold each other, I savor the feel of your warmth and your scent; it's almost enough to make me forget all the pain and heartache we've been through.

"And just so you know," I add with a reassuring smile, "it will never happen again. Not as long as we're together."

I smile up at the doctor as he checks on you. "Much better," I reply with a nod, trying to project an air of confidence that everything is going to be alright now. As his gaze flicks back and forth between us, I catch a glimpse of relief in his eyes; it's almost as if he can sense the change in atmosphere since we reconciled.

With you holding me close like this, all I want is for our future together to be as perfect as possible from here on out. Maybe someday, once you've fully recovered and we're able to leave New York behind us... we can finally start anew, far away from the dangers of our past lives.

But for now, all that matters is this moment; the feel of your heartbeat against mine and the knowledge that no matter what comes next, we'll face it together as one.