by Tia Siren
I picked up her chart, giving it a read. Indeed, there was nothing I could do. She was stable and had been treated to the best of the staff's ability. But still, there had to be something. I couldn't just leave her like that. I couldn't just sit by her bed and hope for the best. That wasn't me.
I pulled up a seat, taking her hand as I sat down by her side. The tears were coming thick and fast now. I was glad for how busy the hospital was in that moment as no one came to bother us. We were alone, and as such, I was able to tell her exactly how I felt.
"Hey Kate," I said. "Bet you didn't expect to see me here." I forced a smile, trying my best to stay positive. "But you came for me, so I figured it was the least I could do. I wanted you to know, I need you to know, that what I said before, it wasn't enough. I should have told you how much I cared for you. How much I loved you. I should have told you that I couldn't go on living without you. Even with the new job and the new location, it just wouldn't be the same. I should have pushed through Liana and demanded to see you. I should have shown you how much I cared. I should have, I don’t know. There was so much I should have done but didn't."
She didn't reply. She was unconscious, of course. But even still, I was sure that she heard it. It may have been my imagination, but her lip seemed to twitch as I spoke to her. It was as if she were trying to smile but couldn't.
It was odd, but I was suddenly reminded of that moment four months earlier when she first came into the hospital under similar circumstances. She had been in a car accident then, too, and was also unconscious. It was when I saw her then that I realized that I still loved her. And seeing her now, nothing had changed.
Because I was thinking of that moment, I did the only thing I could think of. There was no medical explanation behind it, and there was no reason to believe that it might work. I was driven by instinct and desire. I remembered what happened last time and how it had worked then. I couldn't sit around and do nothing. In that moment, anything was better than nothing.
I decided to kiss her. I knew she heard what I said. Somehow, I just knew. I knew that if she were awake, she would want to kiss me, too. So, without further hesitation, I stood up from my chair, leaned over the bed, and kissed Kate on the lips.
Her eyelids fluttered open. My heart stopped in my chest at the sight of it. “Kate?” I asked. “Kate, can you hear me?”
Her eyes turned to me, and she blinked a few times in confusion. “Who is Kate?” she asked weakly. “Who are you?”
All of the joy I’d been feeling drained from me. This couldn’t be happening again. Not after everything we’d just been through. I didn’t want to start over from scratch again. I would if I had to, but it seemed like the cruelest twist of fate to put her through this again.
I knew one thing. If her memories were gone, I wasn’t going to be a manipulative asshole like last time. This time, I would do things the right way and be honest with her. Even if it meant she hated me and never wanted to see me again.
“Kate,” I said again. “Your name is Kate Monroe. And I’m Liam.”
She shook her head and winced, in obvious pain from even that slight movement. “Do I know you? Are you my doctor?”
“Yes, you know me,” I said, fighting back the tears. “I love you. And you love me, or at least you did. It’s a long story, but I loved you and broke your heart. Then I loved you again and I broke your heart again. I’m not proud of it, but it’s the truth. And you deserve the truth. Always. No matter what.”
Kate smiled at me and actually laughed. “Relax, Liam. I’m fucking with you. I remember everything. But thank you for being honest this time.”
CHAPTER 38
KATE
I had felt his lips on mine. Even in my twilight state, even with all the painkillers coursing through my veins, I felt them. They were soft and gentle. They were caring and compassionate. It was a kiss from someone who truly cared for and wanted me. It was a kiss from someone who loved me.
The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was the ceiling. What was odd though was that I recognized it. It brought back flashes of the last time I stared up at a similar ceiling, only that time, I had no idea what I was looking at. This time, however, I was only too aware of where I was. I was in the hospital.
The moment I realized this, that kiss came flooding back into my memory. I heard him call my name, and I looked to my right where, sure enough, Liam sat watching me. His smile was soft and as he looked at me, his eyes red from tears. It was as if he knew that I was about to wake up, like he knew that his kiss had the power to bring me back.
As sweet as it was to see him next to me, I had to mess with him. The opportunity was too good to pass up. But more than that, I wanted to see him smile and laugh again. I didn’t want to be causing him so much pain, just because I’d been driving like a maniac.
So I pretended I had amnesia again. And oh man, did he fall for it.
As soon as I told him I was just kidding with him, his jaw dropped open and he looked at me in shock for what felt like forever. Then, just like I’d hoped, he threw his head back and laughed. It was part humor and part relief, but it was a real laugh. The dark cloud hanging over him had vanished. Hearing that laugh made me feel better than all the morphine that must be running through my system.
"Sorry," I said sheepishly. “I couldn’t help myself.”
He gripped my hand in his and squeezed tightly. "Don’t be sorry," he said. “I’m just glad you’re okay, and that beautiful brain of yours is still intact.”
For a moment, the two of us just stared at one another. We didn’t talk. There was no real need. We just took the moment in, reveling in it for what it was. I had gone to him, and now he had come to me. It was beautiful in its simplicity, and any doubts that I may have had about him and his trustworthiness were vanquished. I couldn't think of anyone that I trusted more.
"So," he finally said after some time. "Remind me to never get in a car with you. Whether you're driving or not, I can't help but feel like you’ve got bad luck."
I laughed hard at that, even though it hurt to do so. Even though my sides ached and my lungs burned, I couldn't stop laughing. I couldn't stop. Really, it wasn't just the joke that I was laughing at. It was the happiness that I was feeling, pouring from me. I was so damn happy that I wanted to jump on the bed and dance. I wanted to throw myself at Liam and never let go. But I couldn't do any of that. Not yet. So instead I laughed.
"Okay, I guess I deserve that for pretending I had amnesia again," I finally said. "It's just lucky that where we're moving to has no cars. That should keep us safe.”
"We?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at me.
"You didn't think I was going to let you go on your own, did you?"
He squeezed my hand again. "From now on, I can't imagine doing anything without you. In fact, I don't think I would ever want to."
"I'm going to hold you to that," I said with a smirk.
"Deal," he said.
He leaned forward and kissed me. It wasn't a passionate, open-mouthed kiss, but a simple peck on the lips. And even though it was so simple, it spoke volumes about how he felt. I could tell in that kiss that he was truly sorry for how he had acted and for what had happened. And I could also tell that he was willing to make it up to me.
And I was willing to make it up to him too. We did, after all, have the rest of our lives to do it.
--
"It's so much easier to pack up the second time," Liana said as she taped up the last of my boxes. "Seriously, that took less than an hour."
"It would have taken even less time, too, if you hadn't cracked open that bottle of wine," I joked as I took a sip of my half full wine glass.
"Hey. I don't see you complaining. Plus, I felt like we’d earned it. It's been a long few days."
"Weeks," I reminded her. "It's been a long few weeks."
Although it had only been a few days since I had gotten out of the hospital, the weeks that I was referring to were the ones spent thinking abo
ut Liam while we were broken up, when we got back together, and when we broke up again. It truly was a saga in itself, and I was just glad that it was over.
"True that," Liana said, raising her glass in cheers. "I'm just glad that you are actually leaving. Finally. I was sad once, now I'm just relieved."
"Gee, thanks," I said with a chuckle.
The accident had happened a little over a week prior. After spending five days in the hospital, I was finally allowed to leave. And now, three days after that, I was getting ready to head to the airport and start my new life.
I didn't know what I was more excited about either, the fact that I was moving to a tropical paradise to live, or the fact that I was doing it with Liam. I hadn't seen the love of my life in nearly a week, and I was missing him terribly. He had to fly out only a few days after my accident and had been calling me every day since. But even that wasn't enough. I had to see him.
"I can't believe this is really happening, though," Liana said with a sigh as she plopped herself down on my floor. There was no furniture left in my apartment. Not to mention no power or hot water. I was leaving in less than an hour, and the place had to look as if it had never been lived in. "You're actually doing it. You're actually moving to another country."
"I know. It's going to be a little odd, I admit."
"Are you scared?" she asked.
"Not even a little bit," I said truthfully. "I have Liam. Why would I ever be scared?"
And that was the truth. If I was moving on my own, then maybe things would be different. But I wasn't. I had Liam by my side, and with him, I could do anything. We had fought, we had gotten back together, we had fought again, and gotten back together again. We had gone through more drama than most couples do in a lifetime. All we had left now was to live the rest of our lives in happiness.
After Liana and I had packed everything up, we waited for the pickup truck to come and collect my boxes. Once that was done, it was time for me to go. I hugged Liana with all my might, making her promise that she would come and visit me as soon as she was able. And then I left.
I got a taxi to the airport. The whole way there, I couldn't stop shaking. I was nervous, I was excited, I was everything. But most of all, I was just happy that I was on my way to see Liam. We were going to spend the rest of our lives together, and I couldn't wait to get started.
EPILOGUE
LIAM
It was a Monday morning, or so I had heard. I was on Instagram earlier that day, and Clint had posted a typical “I hate Mondays” post. When I read his post I had to stop and think for a second, was it really a Monday? After much deliberation, I decided that it was. Not that it mattered. I didn't live that way anymore. Monday, Saturday, Sunday? They were all the same to me, and they were all heaven.
"She told me she was safe," Jamie assured me as I pulled the thermometer from his mouth. "She seemed really trustworthy. And she had the most beautiful face, too. Her eyes, and her nose and her mouth."
"I know what features constitute a face," I said, shaking my head as I read his temperature.
"What I meant was that she didn't seem like the type to, you know? Have an STD. I don't know, maybe I need to be more careful?"
"What have I been telling you for the last three months?" I said, patting Jamie on the back.
"That tourist's can't be trusted?"
"Exactly. They seem nice enough. They're on vacation, after all. But they leave and when they do, you end up in here with swollen glands and dizzy spells. Trust me, cover up next time. You'll thank me for it."
"Okay, okay," Jamie said, holding his hands up in defense. "Next time, I promise."
I chuckled, shaking my head as I did. It was the third time that Jamie had been into my office in the last month alone. And I had lost count of the number of times he had been in since I opened the place three months prior. Something told me that despite his sincerity, I was going to be seeing him again real soon.
Jamie was a little younger than me. In his mid-twenties, he was a stereotypical Australian surfer, living what most deemed to be the dream. I had gotten used to seeing him so many times that the two of us had started to become good friends. Not to mention the number of times that I saw him outside of the practice.
The town that we lived in was rather smaller, and bumping into regulars was common. They stood out from the tourists like sore thumbs, and after a time, we came to recognize one another.
"Well?" he asked, looking a little nervous. "Do you think I need to give blood this time? Or pee in a cup?"
"I’ll tell you, Jamie, someone up there likes you." He sighed with relief as I threw the disposable thermometer in the trash. "If I had to guess, I would say that you're just a little washed out. How many nights this week have you been out?"
"Ah." He counted his fingers up as he looked up to the ceiling. "Every one of them."
"And how many of those nights did you either go home with someone or stay up to see the sunrise?"
"Every one of them. But come on, Doc, have you seen the sunrise here? It's beautiful. You can't argue with that."
"No, you're right. I can't." I chuckled again, slapping him on the back. "I'm a bit busy to be seeing it every night, though. So, I'll just take your word that today's was as majestic as ever. And please, do me a favor and get to bed early at least one night this week. You'll thank me for it."
"Deal," Jamie said as he jumped off the counter and began to do his shirt up. He had taken it off automatically, assuming that he would be giving blood. I had taken blood samples from him several times in the past, so I couldn't hold it against him for being prepared. "Hey, how's Kate doing? I haven't seen her around for a while."
"Yeah, she's good. She's working on a new novel, so she's been locked up in the house the last few days. The writer's life."
"Ah, I see," he said. "I don't know how she does it to be honest. I can't stay in my house more than a few hours at a time."
"I was wondering why you were so tanned. I guess that explains it."
Jamie was a diving instructor. He had blonde hair and very tanned skin. He spent the majority of his time either in the water or in other girls’ beds.
"Such is life. Well, Doc, something tells me that I'll be seeing you in a few days." He slapped me on the back as he turned to exit my little practice.
"Hey, Jamie. I was wondering if I could get your opinion on something first? And if you could keep a secret?"
"Yes, and yes," he said, turning back to face me. "What is it?"
"Here," I hurried across to my desk, rummaging through it until I found what I was looking for. In the top drawer, pushed to the back so as to avoid prying eyes, was a small wooden box about an inch in diameter. Picking it up from its hiding place, I turned back to show it to Jamie, opening the small box as I did.
"Ah, I'm flattered Doc. I really am. But I just don't think I know you well enough."
Inside the small box was an engagement ring, which accounted for Jamie's reaction. I had bought the ring a little over two weeks ago, with the intent on waiting for the perfect time to ask Kate to marry me. But as the days passed and I continued to hunt for a moment that I considered to be perfect enough, I came to realize something.
Every moment with Kate these days was perfect. Not only did we live in paradise, but just the act of asking the woman I loved to marry me would make the moment perfect, no matter where or when or how I did it.
I was going to ask Kate to marry me. I was certain she would say yes. I had been thinking of it for over a month. I had the ring for two weeks. I was going to ask her that night. I couldn’t wait any longer.
"Very funny," I said, snapping the box closed. "But you're not really my type either, just so you know."
"Please," Jamie said, flashing me a very charming smile. "I'm everyone's type. But seriously. When are you doing it? I assume it's for Kate right and you're asking her to marry you? I'm not really familiar with the whole thing so forgive me for having to ask."
"Tonight. I'm
going to ask her tonight. I just wanted to get a second opinion on the ring, that's all."
"Really? I didn't think my opinion would matter to you."
"It doesn't," I said truthfully. "But at this stage of the game, I can't stop second guessing myself. Even your opinion will mean something."
"As nice as that is to hear, Doc, I have to say that the ring was beautiful and that Kate is a very lucky lady. Now come here for the real thing." Without warning, Jamie pulled me in for a big hug. "I'm so proud of you," he whispered in my ear.
"Get off," I laughed, pushing him back. "I'll see you next week, I'm sure."
"Let's hope so. Otherwise, I'm not living life properly. Later, Doc, and good luck." He turned around, threw his hand in the air in an attempted wave, and strolled from my office in his always cool manner.
As I watched Jamie go, I couldn't help but agree with what he had said. Yes, the ring was beautiful, and yes, Kate was a lucky lady. The two of us were lucky. We had each other, and this ring was going to be a testament to that. But first I had to ask her.
--
I shut my office doors at four that day, as I did every day. It really was a thing of beauty. My office was a tiny little thing, only big enough to hold three patients at once, and none for longer than a few hours. It was typical of most doctors' offices in these kinds of remote locations. My typical clientele were hungover party goers and tourists who accidentally drank the water, even though they knew they weren't meant to. Although it wasn't exactly brain testing stuff, I still loved every minute of it.
Closing my office doors, I stepped foot onto the dirt road out the front of my practice, hopped on my bicycle, and began the very short and easy ride back to my home.
It was Phi Phi Island that Kate and I had moved to, a small island off the coast of Phuket, Thailand. The population was around 2500 people, the roads were all dirt, there were no cars or motorbikes, the main industry was tourism, and I had never been happier.