CHAPTER FIVE: AWAKENING

FIVE YEARS LATER...

The morning breeze gently shook the peony curtains, the sun entering and resting on Heaven's flawless face. Her subtle tan was now pale from years of being indoors.

She looked visibly healthy. Her long brunette hair framed her pretty face. Her eyelashes fluttered softly. She was finally waking up.

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Heaven's POV

I slowly opened my eyes to a peach blossom ceiling. I stared at it for a minute, it was such a pretty color.

I tried to move my body but gave up after the fourth try. I felt like a boulder– I couldn't move.

Where…am I?

I continued to examine the room I was lying in. It was beautiful: gorgeous layers and shades of pink and white.

Prisoners aren't kept in nice jail cells.

Does that mean I'm not being held against my will?

Before I could rack my brain for answers, the door to the room opened and a middle-aged woman stepped in, a basket on her hip.

She didn't look at me when she entered. In fact, it was like she couldn't see me at all.

She placed the basket on a white couch, and I could tell at a glance that it was laundry.

She continued to sway her hips as she hummed to a song I couldn't recognize. Did I know this woman? She seems so relaxed, like she's familiar with the room.

Does she know me? My brain couldn't handle all the questions I couldn't answer. So, I tried to think of what I could answer but I came up blank.

My name is? I don't know. My age? I have no idea. Why…Why don't I know anything?

Maybe the woman would know who I was, I figured. I tried to call her but nothing came out of my mouth. My throat ached a bit as well. So, I couldn't talk either? Great.

Thankfully, I didn't have to try again because the woman turned around again. And this time, she saw me. She looked at me and screamed. Whether in fear or joy, I wasn't sure, I didn't have time to find out as she dashed out of the room immediately.

I didn't have to wait long. I heard several footsteps coming my way and I could feel as fear prickled my chest. What if I was really a criminal, or if I was kidnapped. I'd just alerted the people that could have been responsible.

Still, my attempts to move were futile and I was getting drowsier by the second. I need… to sleep.

The door barged open. It wasn't the woman who returned but a gorgeous dark haired man. Did he keep me here?

He looked at me with a strange expression. He looked scared yet so… happy. I didn't understand what was going on.

“Heaven? Can you see me?” he asked. His eyes were trained on my every expression. Was that my name? Heaven?

Knowing I couldn't speak, I tried my best and managed to slowly lift my head up and down in reply.

The relief that bloomed on his face made my heart pound slowly. Who was this man?

“Mariam,” the man called as he slowly took a seat beside my bed.

“Yes, sir?” the woman from earlier came in.

“Call for Dr Denver immediately, I don't think she's able to speak and moving seems to be difficult for her. Have someone bring a glass of water at room temperature.” The man passed instructions without a glance at the woman. His eyes were fixed on me the whole time.

“Yes, sir,” Mariam left the room.

He kept staring at me. It seemed like he saw straight into me.

“Heaven?” he called. He was looking at me.

He probably guessed my confusion from my blank expression.

“You don't remember,” he said, more to himself than me. He cleared his throat.

“Your name is Heaven Wiles, My name is Damien, your husband.”

Husband? I'm married? How come I remember nothing? Not my childhood, not my family. My head feels so empty.

“You went into a coma from a fatal bullet wound, Heaven,” he continued. “You've been unconscious for…five years.”

Five years? I've been sleeping in this room for the past five years. How old did that make me? How do I even look? My heart began to ache unexplainably.

Five years of doing nothing but existing. Did my husband consider me a burden? Did I have a family to come visit? Or friends?

Before the pain got unbearable, Damien reached for my hand. He held my hand tightly and whispered. “Don't worry, Heaven. You being awake is all that matters. I'll take care of you.” He looked so earnest.

Were we in love with each other? How were we like? He leaned closer and caressed my cheek lovingly. His eyes held mine in captivity. Such a handsome man. How did I manage to get such a man to be with me?

We were so engrossed in staring at each other that I got a bit startled when someone barged in.

A little toddler ran in excitement. My heart suddenly began to pound furiously. Surely, that couldn't be…

Damien sighed and picked up the child. “What have I told you about barging into rooms, Eden? You have to knock. How do you even manage to turn the knob?”

“But father…,” the little boy whined.

Mariam suddenly appeared at the door, seemingly out of breath. “I'm sorry sir, the young master is just too quick,’’ she apologized as she inhaled as much air as she could.

“I just wanted to see you, fath…,” the boy's words trailed off as he caught sight of me. His eyes seemed to tremble and I could see tears slowly fill his impossibly blue orbs.

He was a gorgeous child. Dark messy auburn hair and a perfect face with the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen.

“Mama?” he whispered, seemingly in a daze. I could feel tears flood my eyes. I was a mother?

“Heaven, I didn't want to rush things but I'd like you to meet Eden, your son,” Damien said softly.

My eyes stung. As Eden's little hand reached for me, I resisted the urge to cry. I couldn't even remember my son. Eden's eyes glowed with so much joy, it was blinding.