Chapter Four - Tanya

I’m sitting in my hospital bed, eating dinner, when my room door opens. In walks the handsome Dr. Clark. A thrill runs through my body every time I lay eyes on him, or at least that’s what I think. This is the second time I have seen him. I haven’t seen him for a week now.

Dr. Clark walks his fine self over to the right side of my bed. I look up at him as I push my tray of food away.

“How are you, Tanya?” Dr. Clark asks me as he pulls a chair next to me.

I pause for a second and mull over what Dr. Clark said. The fact that he called me Tanya makes me pause. I stop and run the name through my mind repeatedly. Then I turn to the doctor and look at him. “I’m fine, doctor. I’m learning some things about myself. Like the fact that I hate peas.”

“Most people do.”

“I guess, but what I haven’t learned is my name, and you just called me Tanya. Is that my name?”

Dr. Clark’s eyes enlarge as if in shock. “We don’t know. You had nothing with your name on it when you came in.”

“How is that possible?”

“We’re not sure.

“Then why are you calling me Tanya?”

“I don’t know. One of the nurses that were working on you said you looked like a Tanya, so that’s what we started calling you. Do you like the name?”

“I’m not sure. I wish I could remember my real name.”

“Give it time.”

“You seem so sure of that.”

“I am, but until then, we need to discuss what you should do until your memory returns.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, we have cleared you for the most part. We can’t find anything wrong with you.”

“But I can’t remember anything about myself.”

“As we told you before, that’s because you have Retrograde Amnesia. With this condition, your memories can resurface at any time.”

“Or never.”

“It does you no good to think that way.”

“Sometimes I can’t help it.”

“I understand.”

“I bet you do, doc. Anyway, you were talking about what I need to do now.”

“That’s right.” Dr. Clark states as he clears his throat. “You are going to need some help when you are released, and I’m willing to give you that help.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You are going to need someplace to stay while you figure out what to do next.”

“I can’t do that, doc.”

“Why not?”

“Isn’t that against the rules?”

“Let’s just say I have a way around the rules.”

“Do you do this for all your patients?”

“You’re the first.” Dr. Clark answers me while looking through my chart.

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why are you helping me so much?”

“Because you need it.”

“I’m sure that the hospital has some kind of social worker who can help me once I’m released.”

“That’s true, we do have social workers that can help you, but I think I can help you better than they can.”

“And why is that?”

“Because they’ll stick you in a home and leave you there while you try to figure out who you are, but I will give you a safe place to recover your life while helping you to remember the old one.”

I have no idea why I trust him or his words, but I do. “Okay, doc, you have a deal.”

“Great. As I can see from your chart, everything is good, so I will be here when they are ready to release you.”

Bryce

I walk out of Tanya’s room and run right into Dr. Ward.

“I couldn’t help but hear your conversation with the patient.”

“And?”

“I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“I will follow some of the things you and Richmond said, but you guys have to follow some of the things I say as well.