Chapter One

Even before Elisa opened her eyes, she could tell she was in a hospital. The air smelled like disinfectant and faint sounds drifted in, the squeak of shoes on the floor, the rustle of curtains, and a soft voice speaking nearby. Slowly, she let her eyes open halfway. The bright light made her eyes sting, so she shut them again. After a moment, she tried once more, squinting until her gaze landed on a nurse standing at the foot of the bed, flipping through a chart.

"W-what happened?" Elisa asked, trying to sit up a little.

"Why am I here? What’s going on?"

The nurse quickly placed the folder at the end of the bed and came closer, gently pressing a hand on Elisa’s shoulder to ease her back.

"Miss Mancini, please try to stay calm. You're in the hospital. You were in a car accident two weeks ago and have been in a coma."

Elisa’s heart gave a jolt. She frowned, but the movement made her head throb sharply. She touched her forehead and felt a thick bandage wrapped there. Hospital? Accident? Coma?

The words didn’t feel real. But one thing stood out even more.

"What did you just call me?" she asked, blinking up at the nurse.

The nurse glanced nervously toward the hallway.

"Uhm… I think it’s best if the doctor explains," she said before quickly walking out.

An accident? What accident? She looked down at herself under the hospital sheets. Her whole body ached, but nothing seemed broken—no casts, no braces. The worst pain came from her head, and she felt sick to her stomach, maybe from the meds in the IV dripping into her hand. She turned her face away, trying not to gag.

"Ah, you're finally awake." A man stepped. He wore a white coat and had a kind smile.

"That’s very good news. We were starting to get a little worried."

Elisa squinted at the name tag.

"Dr… Morgan? What am I doing here? I don’t understand."

The doctor gave her a calm, reassuring smile.

"You had a head injury, Elisa. It looks like you’ve lost some of your memory."

Her hand went to her head again as her brows pulled together.

"I… I have amnesia?"

He nodded.

"Yes, it seems like it. Can you tell me what day it is?"

Elisa paused, thinking hard. But she couldn't come up with anything. she shook her head.

"It’s Monday," he replied gently. "May twenty third."

"Can you try and remember your birth year?" The doctor urged.

Elisa ransacked her head but it came up vacant. it felt like whenever she tries to bring up a memory, something pushes it down.

"Why can't I remember anything?" she whispered.

"It seems like your amnesia wiped your memory clean. It is rare but it happens." He told her calmly.

She stared at him, shocked.

"That can’t be right. I’ve lost my entire life? That’s crazy."

Dr. Morgan laid a hand over hers on the bed.

"I know this is confusing and scary. But don’t panic. Memory loss like this can happen after trauma. You’ve been unconscious for some time, so everything may feel strange at first. Just take it slow. One step at a time, okay?"

She just nodded. It wasn't like she knew anything to say. But something entered her mind again.

"The nurse called me Miss Man.....Man...." She stammered trying to remember the foreign name.

"Mancini." The doctor supplied.

" Yes, that one. That's not my name."

" Do you remember your name?" The doctor asked with an eyebrow raised.

"No, but I just know that it isn't my name."

"You are definitely Mrs. Elisa Mancini," he added firmly.

"That’s the name on your license, and your parents confirmed it when they came in."

"I have parents?" Elisa asked softly, puzzled. It shouldn’t have surprised her… everyone had parents. But for some reason, it felt like new information.

"Of course you do," the doctor said gently.

"Are they here?"

"Not right now. They’ve been very busy, but they’ve checked on you often. They made me promise to let them know the moment you woke up."

"Oh," she said, a bit downcast.

"There’s nothing to worry about, Miss Mancini. I’m sure they care a lot about you. They have just been busy with the wedding preparations." the nurse said, trying to sound comforting. But then her eyes went wide, realizing she had said something she wasn’t supposed to. The doctor shot her a sharp look, and she quickly apologized, muttered something, and left the room.

"Wedding?" Elisa echoed, confused.

"Whose wedding?"