Chapter 4: Nightmare

Elena’s POV

The night was thick with silence, broken only by the soft beep of the heart monitor beside Damian’s bed. I lay awake, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest, the faint light from the hallway casting shadows across his face. For a moment, he looked peaceful-almost like the man I remembered before the accident.

Then his brow furrowed, and his body tensed. His breathing quickened, shallow and uneven. I sat up, heart tightening as I saw the telltale signs of a nightmare.

Damian’s eyes snapped open, wide and wild, searching the room as if trying to escape something unseen. His hand clenched the sheets, knuckles white.

“Damian?” I whispered, reaching out to touch his arm gently.

He flinched but didn’t pull away. “It was… a dream,” he said, voice hoarse and trembling. “The crash… shouting… someone calling my name. But it didn’t make sense.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, wishing I could take away the fear that lingered in his eyes. “Do you want to talk about it?”

He shook his head, blinking rapidly as if trying to shake off the shadows. “Not yet. It’s too much, my head hurts”

I nodded, deciding not to press. Instead, I settled beside him, brushing a damp strand of hair from his forehead. My fingers lingered, tracing the line of his jaw, hoping my touch could anchor him to the present.

He closed his eyes again, the tension slowly ebbing from his body. I stayed there, silent and steady, until his breathing evened out and the room fell quiet once more.

Morning light filtered softly through the blinds, casting a pale glow over the sterile hospital room. Damian lay still, eyes closed but restless beneath the surface. I moved quietly, tidying the bedside table and arranging the flowers Mia had brought yesterday. Small acts of normalcy, I hoped, might help him find his footing.

When he finally stirred, he opened his eyes slowly, gaze unfocused for a moment before settling on me.

“Good morning,” I said softly, offering a tentative smile.

He returned it weakly. “Morning.”

I sat down beside him, careful not to crowd the space. “How are you feeling?”

He shrugged, a flicker of frustration crossing his face. “Like I’m trapped in a fog. Trying to remember but hitting a wall.”

I reached for his hand. “We’ll get through it. One step at a time.”

He squeezed my hand gently, a small anchor in the swirling uncertainty.

Trying to lift the mood, I said, “Remember that trip to Venice? The canals, the gondolas?”

His eyes flickered with recognition. “Venice… the gelato?”

I laughed softly. “You insisted on trying every flavor you could find.”

He smiled, the spark of his old self shining through. “I do have impeccable taste.”

“Handsomely arrogant,” I teased.

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

But the moment was fleeting. His expression darkened again, and he looked away.

“I want to remember more,” he admitted quietly. “But it’s like my mind is a locked room, and I lost the key.”

I squeezed his hand reassuringly. “We’ll find it together.”

Before I could say more, the door opened, and Dr. Reynolds entered, clipboard in hand and a warm smile.

“Good morning, Damian. Elena,” she greeted us. “I’ve reviewed your progress, and I’m pleased to say you’re physically ready to be discharged soon.”

Relief and anxiety mingled in Damian’s eyes. “Discharged? Soon?”

“Yes,” the doctor confirmed. “We’ll arrange for outpatient therapy and support at home, but you’ll need to take it slow.”

I reached for Damian’s hand, offering silent reassurance.

He nodded, voice low. “It’s… a lot to take in.”

Dr. Reynolds gave a knowing look. “It’s normal to feel overwhelmed. Recovery isn’t linear. You’ll have good days and bad days.”

After she left, Damian sighed deeply, the weight of the news settling heavily.

“I’m scared,” he confessed, voice barely above a whisper. “What if I lose myself completely when I leave this place?”

I brushed my fingers over his cheek. “You’re not alone. We’ll face it all together.”

He looked at me then, vulnerability shining through his usual confident exterior. “Thank you. For not giving up on me.”

I smiled softly, heart full. “Never.”

**

The afternoon sun filtered through the blinds, casting warm stripes across the hospital floor. The quiet hum of the air conditioner and distant footsteps in the corridor were the only sounds accompanying us. Damian sat near the window, his gaze distant as if trying to piece together fragments of his dream.

I watched him, feeling the fragile weight of his vulnerability. The confident, arrogant man I knew was still there beneath the fog of memory loss, but this new side-uncertain, scared-was so pitiful and unfamiliar.

The door creaked open, and Mia breezed in, carrying a small bag and a bright smile that seemed to fill the room with light.

“Hey, you two! I come bearing gifts,” she announced, setting the bag on the table.

Damian glanced up, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Gifts? You trying to bribe me?”

Mia laughed. “Only if you promise to behave.”

I smiled, grateful for the shift in energy. Mia’s presence was a balm to the heaviness that sometimes settled between us.

She pulled out a box of pastries and a stack of magazines. “Thought you might need some entertainment and sustenance.”

Damian reached for a pastry, eyes twinkling. “Hospital food, meet your match.”

We settled into a comfortable rhythm: Mia chatting about office antics, Damian teasing her back, and me soaking in the rare moments of lightness.

But beneath the laughter, I sensed Damian’s mind still wrestled with shadows. Later, as Mia stepped out to take a call, Damian’s expression softened.

“Elena,” he began hesitantly, “about that dream…”

I reached out, placing a hand over his. “You don’t have to talk about it if you’re not ready.”

He shook his head slowly, eyes searching mine. “I want to. It’s just… hard. Like there’s a part of me trapped in darkness.”

I squeezed his hand gently. “We’ll find the light together.”

He gave a small, grateful smile, but the tension lingered.

As evening fell, the room grew quiet again. Damian rested his head on my shoulder, a fragile peace settling between us.

“I don’t know what the future holds,” he whispered, “but I’m starting to remember you. And that’s enough for now.”

I smiled, heart swelling with hope. “That’s all I need.”

We're going home tomorrow..