#THREE

Madison's POV 

I had no idea who Madison was or who I was. But the nurses called me that all the time so I got used to answering as Madison. The nurses were quite nice and patient with me, even when I cried because the pain was too much to handle.

Physical therapy was awful. Apparently I had been in a coma for over three months which was why I couldn't move my muscles well, and also why I couldn't remember a thing.

I didn't believe that, I could tell they were hiding things from me but I let it slide as I focused on getting better first. As long as I could use my muscles once again, I would find out who this Madison was.

“Hi sweetheart.” I heard a now familiar voice mutter as he walked into my ward and my face lit up. “The  nurses told me you did so well during today’s exercises.”

Even though I barely remembered a thing, he showed up every day for the past two weeks, helping with my recovery. His face was the only familiar one I knew since I woke up, and I could get used to seeing his handsome face for a long time.

I even wondered if he was married…

“It wasn't as painful as the rest of the days.” I confessed and he smiled, taking a seat beside me as he took my hand as he usually did. “Yes, I can feel your hand in mine, doctor.” I added before he could ask and he chuckled.

“Well, you got one part wrong, darling.” He pointed out and I let out a soft “ahh” of realization. “Wanna correct yourself?”

“Fine, Dexter. I just think calling you by your name is a bit disrespectful.”

“Not when it’s coming from you.” He replied and my face felt hot just by his words. “Can you move your fingers and toes from me?”

I did just as he said and he smiled at me, a proud look on his face as he nodded in response. “Doct— I mean, Dexter, has anyone come to look for me yet? I need to know where I'm from.”

“No one yet.” He replied and my face fell. “Focus on getting better first and then we can focus on that.”

I tried so hard not to think about the fact that I had no one. Especially when I tried to walk around and saw different patients with their families. Did I really have no one?

How could no one have searched for me for over three months?

This was the third week and I could finally walk around on my own with the wall as my support. As I returned to my ward, a bored sigh leaving my lips, I suddenly saw someone standing in front of my ward, a look of longing in his eyes as he stared at the window.

Who was that? Why did he feel so familiar?

“Excuse me—”

Before I could even complete my sentence, he was gone in less than a second like he had been a figment of my imagination. But he was too familiar and at that moment, all I could think of was one word that echoed in my head.

“Husband,” I whispered with wide eyes but the space in front of me was already empty. 

I ended up thinking the whole day about that mysterious man I had seen and how he felt so freaking familiar. Along with thinking about him came a great feeling of emptiness that didn't just fill my heart but my entire being.

I felt like I had forgotten very important things. And Dexter wouldn't tell me how I ended up in the hospital. He wanted me to forget about the past.

“You’ve been thinking a lot, I see.” Dexter’s voice drew me out of my thoughts and I let out a sigh. “See? You have sighed about ten times in ten seconds. What’s going on?”

“I thought I saw someone outside my ward earlier today but he was gone almost as soon as I showed up. I didn't even get to see his face well but it seemed like he was looking for me." I confessed and his brows raised in amusement. “And I remembered the word ‘husband’, like I had one. Could it be him?”

“No.” He suddenly replied almost immediately and my brows furrowed. “I mean, if he was your husband then why would he hide from you? Maybe he was in the wrong room.” he added and I realized he was making sense, making me sigh once again.

“What a shame.” I whispered and he took my hand, his gaze gentle as he caressed it with his thumb.

“If no one comes to claim you, then that’s good for me, isn't it?”

“Good for you…?” I asked in a small voice, and he only grinned at me before ruffling my hair gently. 

“Hungry?”

*********************

Today made it a month since I woke up from my coma and couldn’t remember who I was. Except for the fact that I was called Madison, I knew nothing else. And no one came to look for me.

Even though I had been seeing that familiar man a little too often now that I knew he existed. I knew he came every day but never came in. By the time I would try to check who it was, he was already gone.

It made me sad, yet a part of me was thrilled to know that someone probably still cared enough to show up for me even though he wouldn't stop hiding.

“How do we feel today, sunshine?” Dexter asked as he checked my vitals and I forced a smile at him. “I have good news for you. One that you might fancy.”

My face brightened up almost immediately, and he grinned when I sat up.

“What is it?”

“You have a visitor. He came here for you.” He replied and my heart started to pound harshly in my chest. “He said he’s your husband.”

Husband…? Could it be the one who had been showing up frequently since I could remember?

The door slid open and a figure stepped in, making me gulp harshly in anticipation.

When his face came into view, my smile disappeared at once as I stared at him. He wasn't the one who used to show up every day. But he was just as familiar… except… Why do I feel bitterness just by staring at him?

“Madison?” he whispered, his gaze wary like he was testing the waters and when I frowned, his face suddenly brightened. “Oh my goodness, babe, you’re finally awake.” He muttered in what seemed to be feigned happiness as he took my hands. “God, you look leaner. But I'm here now, to take care of you—”

“Where were you for the last three to four months?” I asked before I could stop myself. “If you were truly my husband, why were you not by my side? Why don't I recognize you?”

“You don't recognize me truly? I thought the doctor was joking… How?” He asked with wide eyes, ignoring my other questions and I sighed inwardly. “You don't remember that you’re my wife?”

There was no way I could be married to a man like this. Absolutely not.

Staring at him suddenly made my head start to pound as I got up, holding my head tightly. I heard voices calling my name but I could barely focus on them as everything was hurting and too loud.

“Madison, are you okay?”

“Madison, can you hear me?”

Stop! Who even is Madison?

“Madison.” 

“Madison?” 

“Madison!”

Enough… it hurts…

I think I stumbled into a solid figure before the voices came to a halt and I froze.

“Maddie?”  

Maddie… I knew Maddie… I could remember laughter with that name echoing in my head.

My head was spinning as I stared up at the one who had called me by that name. When I met his gaze, it felt like my breath had been knocked out of my lungs. It was him… the one who had been outside my door for days now.

Before I could say a word, it suddenly felt like I had been hit with a wave of different images and emotions as I sucked in a sharp breath, my body wobbling from the pressure. A sharp ringing echoed in my ears as my head pounded hard and I wanted to grab the wall.

But I ended up grabbing the figure in front of me as I cried out from the immense pain that filled my head at that moment, threatening to make my head explode. I heard my name once again before everything spun wildly and darkness enveloped me.