Chapter Two: Starting All Over Again

Dana felt a sudden sense of familiarity when she finally entered the house. She is finally home after staying in the hospital for over a year. 

"Welcome home, Dana." she heard her husband's  voice. 

"It feels so good to be finally back home with you." Dana's slightly tearful response. 

Dana forced herself to stand but her legs were still shaking and limp. Garrett quickly picked him up again, and sat him down on a nearby sofa. 

"Don't force yourself to walk just yet, Dana. We need to follow the doctor's advice to regularly and religiously do rehabilitation, so you can walk again like before." Garrett kindly informed him. 

"You're right. I shouldn't have been in a hurry. I was just too excited to see and be back home again. I feel like I want to tour the whole household, so I guess I will just have to wait until I'm fully recovered." Dana nodded in agreement. 

"I can be your legs and tour you around the house for the meantime." Garrett's suggestion. 

Dana lovingly stares at her husband. She's so lucky to have a loving, kind, and gentle husband just like Garrett. 

"I don't know what I did right in my past life to have a perfect husband like you, love. Thank you very much for loving and taking care of me after all this time. I love you so much." she poured out all her heart towards her husband. 

"I love you. More than you'll ever know." Garrett responded. 

Dana leaned towards her husband, as she got closer to him to give him a loving and passionate kiss. He pressed his lips to Garrett's. 

Dana opened her mouth and deeply kissed her husband, expecting him to kiss her deeper. But there seems to be something different about her husband's kiss. It wasn't that passionate as it used to be, and it was like an obligatory kiss. 

Until he felt his wife release from his embrace. 

"You just got out of the hospital, love, so that's why let's take it slow for the meantime. By the way, aren't you hungry? You need to eat first so that you can take your medications. Then you can rest. We had a very long day today." Garrett spoke again. 

Dana secretly thought as she looked at her husband. She's wondering why her husband can't look at her straight in the eye... Aside from that, why is her husband acting so strange after that kiss? 

Dana snaps out of her reverie when she hears a familiar voice behind her. He smiled widely when she saw Nanny Lydia, the head helper in their house. She has been with their family for a long time, and she's already a member of their family... 

She considers Nana Lydia her second mother, since her parents are already living abroad with her older sister, who's already a citizen in the United States. 

"Dana, my dear! Welcome back! I'm glad you're back home!" Manang Lydia greeted her while getting teary-eyed.

Dana  tightly hugged the old woman. She missed her so much and she's very happy to see her again after a very long time. 

"How are you, Nana?" asked Dana. 

"Well, I'm still the same old Nana Lydia. The whole household are so happy and we're complete again because you're finally back." Nana Lydia us now getting more emotional.

They are still in the middle of their chat when they suddenly heard a rumbling noise from Dana's stomach. 

She sheepishly smiled at her husband and Nana Lydia. 

"I'm hungry." Dana announced, while smiling  from ear to ear. 

"Oh, don't worry. The table is ready for you. I've cooked all your favorite foods. Come and eat when you're ready." Nana Lydia stated, while looking excited. 

"I missed your cooking, Nana Lydia. Looks like I'll be eating a lot today." Dana happily said.

Garrett then helped her get back on her wheelchair, and the three of them are now making their way to the dining room... 

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Later that evening. 

Dana just came out of a warm shower. Nana Lydia helped her take a shower because her husband Garrett because he still needs to work at the mango farm. 

After she got dressed and dried her hair, Manang Lydia combed her hair. 

"I am so happy that you're alive and well, Dana. I thank God that you are with us again." the old woman said with a smile, while she's gently combing Dana's hair. 

"I am very grateful to God because my husband and I survived, Nana. And I'm just so glad my husband never left my side while I was under a comatose state. I'm very lucky that I'm married to Garrett." Dana relayed, in a sincere tone. 

Nana Lydia suddenly stopped combing her hair, and she averted her eyes from him. 

Dana curiously frowned in return, as it was obvious that she's been acting really strange. 

"Are you okay, Nana? Is there something wrong?" she decided to ask her. 

The old woman gave her a small smile, then she resumed brushing her hair. 

"Oh, nothing. You're absolutely right. Garrett has been with you and he almost left your side while you were in the hospital." Nana Lydia spoke. 

Meanwhile, Dana is trying to shake off her thoughts about Nana Lydia's peculiar behavior. Maybe it's the side effects of all the medications she's taking, that's why she's overthinking right now. 

"That's why I will try to make up for my husband. I will do everything and anything I can to make him happy." she decided. 

The old woman was about to say something but she decided not to when they heard someone knocking at the door. 

"I think Garrett's finally home!" Dana exclaimed, while looking excited. Her heart is beating so fast, and she feels like a high school girl, eagerly waiting for her first love to come her way... 

"I'll open the door and leave you two." Nana Lydia stated. 

Nana is now making her way out from the couple's room, and before she can close the door, Dana spoke again.