06:  Remember us

In the quiet room, bathed in the soft glow of muted light, Khana's subtle twitch betrayed her awareness. However, she skillfully maintained the facade of deep sleep, concealing the internal conflict beneath her closed eyelids as Richard continued, oblivious to the storm brewing within her.

At that moment, as Richard spoke about Father Henry's genuine concern and dedication, Khana decided to shatter the illusion. With a subtle flutter of her eyelids, she slowly opened her eyes, taking in the sight of Richard's surprised expression.

Everyone would not expect the lady to say, "Who are you?"

The room was bathed in a soft, muted light, casting a subtle glow over Richard's intent expression. The room came into focus when Khana's gaze locked with Richard's, their eyes engaging in a silent exchange charged with unspoken tension.

For a fleeting moment, their eyes locked in a silent exchange, the unspoken tension hanging heavy in the air. Richard, grappling with the gravity of the situation, stammered, his words caught in his throat.

Richard stammered, his words catching in his throat as he struggled to comprehend the gravity of the situation. 

"Who are you?" she uttered once again, her voice carrying a hint of confusion. The question hung in the air, a sharp departure from the expected warmth of recognition.

Richard, taken aback by the unexpected query, fumbled for words. The room seemed to hold its breath, the weight of disbelief palpable. The fracture in their connection widened, and Richard found himself grappling with a reality that seemed to slip further from his grasp.

"Honey, don't tell me this is one of the pranks you used to do?" Richard uttered, trying to hide his troubled heart. He was wishing the bride was only feigning memory loss.

"Honey?" Khana asked, then took a glimpse of the groom's tuxedo, and the gowns worn by the wedding visitors. "Did we get married?" she added.

"Not yet, Honey. We're about to wed, but there was an accident." The groom caressed the back of the bride's hand.

"What accident?" The bride responded. Her eyes searched for answers.

The groom finds it hard to open his mouth to respond. There was hesitation surging inside him. He thought telling her that she ran away during the event would make the lady think that she didn't want the wedding in the first place, so he opted for a different narrative. "You were in a car accident before the wedding ceremony began." 

"I see..." The bride replied in a soft voice. Her eyes were looking at the wall while letting a weak smile escape from her lips.

"Don't look so sad, Honey. We can have our wedding when you've fully recovered. Even if your memory doesn't return, we'll still get married." Richard stood and bent down to place a comforting kiss on Khana's forehead.

The bride's mother, Karylle, joined the scene, concern etched on her face. "Baby, how are you feeling?" she asked, taking a seat on the edge of the bed as Richard stepped back to give them space. Karylle shed a tear as she added, "It's me, your mom."

"I'm feeling okay, Mom. I know this may be rude, but can you all please leave? I need some time alone to rest," Khana requested, meeting her mother's gaze before turning to the groom, their two best friends, and future in-laws.

With collective sighs, the visitors nodded and exited, leaving Khana alone on her bed. Seated at the edge, she stared out of the window, where the sky glowed with hues of gold.

"What do I do now?" she whispered to herself. Lost and afraid to make a move that might complicate things further, Khana grappled with the uncertainty of her situation. The room echoed with her silent contemplation, a space filled with questions and the delicate dance of emotions.

In the solitude of her thoughts, Khana found herself immersed in a sea of uncertainties, drowning in the depths of her own contemplations. The room echoed with the silence of her internal struggle, a quiet tempest that raged within the confines of her mind. As she sat on the edge of the bed, staring out the window, the golden hues of the sky seemed distant and disconnected from the turmoil within her.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, interrupting the symphony of her thoughts. Khana's initial reaction was a sharp glance, a silent warning to whoever dared to intrude on her solitude. The plea for privacy lingered in her eyes, urging the uninvited guest to retreat.

However, when she turned to look over her shoulder, her breath caught in her throat. A man in clergy attire, named Henry, stood before her eyes. His countenance bore the weight of devastation, yet there was a haunting handsomeness to him that could not be ignored. The room, once frozen in the stillness of her contemplation, now seemed to pulse with an unexpected energy.

Khana's ability to react deserted her, words evaporating from her tongue as she met the gaze of the clergyman. Time hung suspended between them, a moment pregnant with unspoken emotions. Her brain ceased to function, leaving her and Henry trapped in a tableau of silence.

In that frozen moment, the air crackled with tension, as if the universe itself paused to witness the intersection of two fates. Khana's vulnerability and Henry's anguish created a magnetic pull, drawing them into a shared space where words became obsolete.

As the weight of the unspoken settled between them, Khana felt a strange connection, a thread tying her to this enigmatic clergyman. The room, once a sanctuary for her solitary musings, now bore witness to a collision of destinies, leaving Khana suspended in a sea of unanswered questions and unspoken truths.

Her lips were moving, but no word would come out. She was just staring at him as he walked closer to the bed where Khana was seated.

"Are you feeling better, Khana?" Henry asked.

Khana gulped, and her gaze shifted from the priest to the door and back to the man who visited her ward.

Without a warning, the priest embraced the lady...