Chapter 3: Awkward Beginnings

Elena’s POV

The hospital room was unusually quiet today. The usual hum of machines, the distant chatter of nurses, even the faint scent of antiseptic-all seemed to fade into the background, leaving a strange stillness that settled over us like a fragile bubble. Damian sat propped up against the pillows, his dark eyes wide and searching, as if trying to make sense of a world that no longer felt like his own.

I sat on the edge of the chair, careful not to crowd him. The last few days had been a whirlwind-family members circling like vultures, legal threats looming, and a constant undercurrent of tension that made it hard to breathe. But now, in this quiet moment, it was just the two of us. Or almost.

“Are you… Elena?” His voice was soft, uncertain, like he was testing the name on his tongue for the first time.

I nodded, forcing a small smile. “Yes. I’m here with you.”

He blinked slowly, his gaze flickering over me as if trying to place a half-remembered memory. “You seem familiar. But I don’t… I don’t remember much.”

“That’s okay,” I said gently, my voice steady even though my heart was pounding. “We’ll take it one step at a time.”

There was a long pause, thick with unspoken thoughts. Damian shifted in the bed, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, a faint flush coloring his cheeks.

“This is weird,” he admitted, voice low. “I don’t even know who I am right now.”

I hesitated for a moment, then reached out, placing my hand softly over his. “You’re still you. We just need to find the pieces.”

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips, a flicker of the old Damian shining through. “Handsome and charming, huh? Guess some things don’t change.”

I laughed quietly, the sound breaking the tension just a little. “You’re insufferable.”

The door opened then, and a nurse stepped in-a woman I’d seen a few times but who was new to Damian. “Good afternoon, Mr. Blackwood. I’m Sarah. I’ll be helping with your care today.

Damian gave her a wary glance but nodded. 

I stood, introducing myself. “I’m Elena, nice to meet you.”

Sarah smiled politely. "Same here, If you need anything, just let me know.”

After she left, Damian sighed, his eyes clouded with frustration. “It’s hard, you know? Not knowing who to trust. I feel like I’m starting from scratch.”

I squeezed his hand. “We’ll figure it out. Together.”

**

The afternoon stretched on with small, awkward conversations that felt like stepping stones on uncertain ground. Damian tried to remember simple things-favorite foods, old jokes, bits of his past-but often came up empty or got details wrong. I corrected him gently, trying to keep the mood light even as my heart ache

Damian’s gaze lingered on me a moment longer than before, and I caught my breath, unsure what to say next.

“So,” he began, voice hesitant, “what else am I supposed to remember about you? About us?”

I smiled gently, searching for the right words. “That we’ve been through a lot together. That I’m your wife. And that I’m here to help you find your way back.”

He blinked, as if tasting the word ‘wife’ for the first time. “Wife. That sounds… serious.”

“It is,” I said softly. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

He gave me a slow, crooked smile, the familiar arrogance flickering in his eyes. 

I rolled my eyes, but the warmth in my chest grew. “You’re insufferable.”

He chuckled, the sound light but genuine. “I’m glad some things haven’t changed.”

For a long moment, silence settled between us again. Then Damian’s brow furrowed slightly. “I want to remember… but it’s like trying to catch smoke. The more I reach, the more it slips away.”

I reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. “We’ll take it slow. One memory at a time.”

He nodded, eyes softening. “Tell me something. Something you think I should know.”

I thought for a moment, then smiled. “You love black coffee, no sugar. You’re terrible at cooking but insist on trying anyway. And you have a ridiculous obsession with old jazz records.”

He laughed, the sound breaking through the heaviness. “I do have impeccable taste.”

Mia appeared in the doorway, holding a small box of snacks. “Impeccable and insufferable,” she teased, stepping inside. “I brought reinforcements.”

Damian raised an eyebrow. “And you are?”

“Mia,” she said with a grin. “Elena’s assistant and the only person who can keep her sane.”

He smirked. “Sounds like a dangerous job.”

Mia laughed. “It’s a full-time commitment.”

We settled into an easy rhythm, Mia’s lighthearted chatter filling the spaces where words failed us. Damian’s natural charm surfaced in teasing remarks, but beneath it was a man still trying to find his footing.

As the evening deepened, Damian caught my eye again. “I don’t remember much,” he said quietly, “but I’m starting to remember you.”

My heart fluttered, but I kept my voice steady. “That’s all I need.”

Mia nudged him playfully. “Careful, Mr. Blackwood. You’re making your wife blush.”

He grinned, handsomely arrogant as ever. “Maybe I like making her blush.”

I rolled my eyes with my cheeks still red but the warmth between us was undeniable.

For now, that was enough.

**

The hospital room grew quieter as the evening deepened, the soft hum of machines and distant footsteps fading into a comforting background. Damian leaned back against the pillows, his eyes thoughtful as he toyed with the corner of a blanket.

“I keep thinking there’s a switch somewhere,” he said, voice low. “One moment I’m here, and the next… I’m lost.”

I reached out, resting my hand over his. “There isn’t a switch. It’s more like a puzzle. We just have to find the pieces.”

He smiled faintly, but the frustration lingered in his eyes. “I hate feeling like a stranger in my own life.”

“You’re not a stranger,” I said firmly. “You’re still the man I married. And I’m not giving up on you.”

He squeezed my hand gently, a silent thank you.

Mia popped her head in again, breaking the moment with her usual bright energy. “Alright, lovebirds, time for a break. You two have been at this serious stuff for hours.”

Damian raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Since when did you become the fun police?”

“Since I realized you’re both way too intense for one room,” Mia replied, grinning. “Come on, Elena, let’s get you some fresh air. Damian, try not to charm the nurses while we’re gone.”

He laughed, a genuine sound that made my chest ache with hope.

As Mia and I stepped into the hallway, I glanced back at Damian lying there, vulnerable yet stubbornly himself. The path ahead was uncertain, filled with challenges I couldn’t predict. But in this moment, with him starting to remember me, I felt something I hadn’t dared to feel in days-hope.

When we returned, Damian was sitting up straighter, a mischievous glint in his eye.

“You know,” he said, voice teasing, “if this whole memory thing doesn’t work out, I could always become a professional troublemaker.”

I smiled, shaking my head. “Handsomely arrogant as always.”

He grinned. “And don’t you forget it.”

The night settled around us, wrapping the room in quiet comfort, we're just two people beginning to find our way back to each other, one awkward step at a time.