"Take a seat, I need to check you in," he said, pointing at the vacant seat as he stopped right in front of the registration counter.
I walked ahead without acknowledging him, scowling internally for being quite the obedient one to follow a stranger's request to a clinic. Not only that, I was supposed to name a clinic of my choice but I was tricked! Tricked, I tell you! He drove with this particular clinic in mind as a destination!
Further in I went, looking purposefully for the most secluded seat in the area while at the same time wishing to annoy the living out of him in search for me. Also, perhaps wishing he failed to find and leave me. Yet I find it absurd I still remained within the confine of the whatever department of the clinic, not completely hoping to be abandoned.
"Maise?" A voice I have longed to hear called my name. My body trembled and my eyes stung hearing the affectionate name he uttered.
Between wanting to turn my head to look at the man that once vowed to love me forever and wanting to ignore him like an amnesiac person for divorcing me, my mind and body struggled. Or was it truly my pride and ego?
In that split moment, I decided to ignore him. I wanted to see how much he missed me as I had missed him.
"Maise," Alistair repeated firmly but this time he stood right in front of me like he never did me any wrong.
"Hmm?" I responded as nonchalant of the situation as I could, dragging my time from looking at the man.
"Is it true?" There was a sense of confusion in his voice.
"Hmm?" My tone raised, indicating query. To be honest, I wanted to say a thousand words and more but I knew once a sentence escaped my lips, I will be a pathetic blabbering parasite. I did not want that. I have begged enough on the day he served me divorce papers.
My prayer to say less was instantly answered though it ripped me apart. Like a "blessing" in disguise, I stood frozen, unable to respond. My eyes were too busy locking in on the little boy's head resting on Alistair's shoulder.
Is that his son? A sharp tug was all it needed to shatter my heart into pieces. A child that I failed to give - someone who will continue carrying his name, blood and lineage.
"You don't have to go this far and force yourself to marry him."
'Marry? Me???'
While that was confusing enough, it was Alistair's obvious pleas that shook my entire being. I wanted to comfort him saying there has been no one but him in my life. I wanted to be in his embrace! I wanted to shout and tell him to chose me! ME!!!
Instead, another man's arm wrapped around my shoulder and pulled me closer. "There you are. Come, the doctor's expecting us."
"Are you really marrying her?"
"Oh, hello Alistair. Didn't notice you there." The stranger turned to face my ex-husband with a pleasant greeting, oblivious of the fact that the cold air conditioned room was not the cause of Alistair's shaking voice.
"Why m-"
"I see you have met my wife, Maisie."
"WIFE?" Alistair's words synced my silent mouthing at the question. My head turned at the man who I have spent the previous night at.
Once again, Alistair asked the golden question without me saying it. "But how? When?"
I was as impatient waiting for the answer as he was. It still did not make any sense but at the same time, it kind of does considering I woke up in his house.
Unfortunately, no answer came because this man appeared to be short on time. He had been glancing at his wristwatch every now and then until he finally excused us.
"I have to cut our conversation short. We'll see you around," he stated, leaving gobsmacked Alistair behind.
- - -
"Do you remember what happened yesterday?" Asked the bespectacled doctor.
I shared how the day went by and every now and then, he nodded understandingly while "my husband" nodded in agreement.
"That's good. I am happy to hear that. And what about before that?"
My forehead wrinkled at the type of questions the doctor had been asking. It is not the typical questions I would normally answer if I am unwell.
"I don't understand. What is the relevance of this all?"
"Yes, it does sounds a bit... odd especially when you're in this state -"
"This state? What do you mean this state?"
"He meant state of confusion," the man explained kindly but I gave him a scowl. I don't need an answer from him!
He shrugged and disappeared behind the curtain, much to my pleasure. "Is there a reason why I should be confused, doctor?" I asked for medical clarification.
"Mrs. Bainbridge -"
"I am Miss Fleming."
"Miss Fleming, do you know the date today?"
My answer was met with a shake of his head, followed by a display of his phone's screen. When I still have the face of a disbeliever, he turned his laptop around and showed me the date. Nope, I am not convinced. There is no way it is a year ahead than what I thought.
Finally, he suggested I typed out on both his phone and a random nurse's phone to go through the search engine. Shockingly, he was right! I had lost a one year worth of memory!
"So would you tell me what do you remember from two days ago? That way we can find a clue and assist you," the doctor's voice went even more gentle than before as he coaxed me.
As it turned out, this was not the first time I lost my memory. And the medicines from last night? Let's just say it's for my mental health.
Am I married? Well, according to this piece of paper I married this Edmund guy almost a year ago, right after the car accident. Not just my signature but I thumbprinted it too!
Oh god, how am I supposed to process all this?