Lost His Mind
Flashing cameras greet me when I finally arrive at the hospital where Danner is in intensive care. The press is fully present, Danner's car accident made the headlines of various magazines. And of course, I'm expected.
Security rushes to meet me and guides me safely between the many curious people, journalists, and others who have gathered in the parking lot. When I'm inside, I let out a relieving sigh. “Miss Windrug, this way,” a man in a full white jacket signs me. I walk along a few corridors until I am brought into a room with all kinds of equipment. And then I see Danner lying and my heart skips a beat.
I can't believe my eyes, his head is all bandaged, a tube has been poked through his throat. A number of wires are glued to his chest. His eyes are closed, he seems to be asleep. “Are you the doctor?” I ask in a trembling voice to the man who escorted me inside. He seems too young to even be out of high school. Nevertheless, he nods in agreement. “Doctor, what's wrong with him? Is he getting better?”, I ask urgently.
“He has every chance to fully recover. But it's going to take time. Both legs are broken, he will have to learn to walk again. And his ribs also had to take a heavy blow,” he explains to me. “Because of the internal bruises, we keep him in an artificial coma for a few days. Less painful and faster healing”, he clarifies. I shake my head approvingly.
“I don't need to tell you that he should get the best treatment available. Money is not an issue here, as long as he heals to his old self”, I emphasize. I walk close and bend to Danner's face. He's on the ventilator, his eyes still closed. “Danner,” I whisper a bit shaky. I think of our last meeting where he said he never wanted to see me again. I don't know if that's still standing if I'm the right person at his bedside. As the doctor indicated, he will remain unconscious for at least three days.
I hold his hand tight and stare at him. I see the man who has stood by my side for years as I climbed the difficult stages in the business world. He was my great support. Unfortunately, my feelings for him ran no deeper than for a loyal, indispensable friend. I now wonder if I've taken advantage of Danner's deep affection for me. If I hadn't met Dordrich, perhaps my love for him would have grown deeper over the years.
I sit in an easy chair next to his bed while a nurse comes in to take some measurements. When she left and we have some privacy, I'll start talking to Danner. I remind him of the day we met at a business dinner and how we were inseparable since that day. The moments when we laughed together at the smallest things, mistakes of others and slips of the tongue. Our first intimate contact, our clashes when I also turned out to have an eye for other men and finally our engagement.
And then our breakup yesterday!
"I'm sorry, Danner," I whisper to him. “But I can't control my heart. I just love him, there's no going back. I hope you can forgive me.”
I slide closer to him and rest my head on his shoulder, still looking up at his face.
I'll be by Danner's side all these three days of his unconsciousness. The hospital rents some super small apartments where someone can only freshen up by a sink and rest briefly in a small bed. But I don't care. I eat in Danner's room and sleep next to him, although it is not very comfortable.
And just as scheduled, on the third day I feel Danner's hand brushes over my face while I'm still asleep. When I slowly open my eyes, I stare straight into Danner's sky blue ones. I offer him a soft smile.
"Finally you're awake," I whisper. My heart beats violently. I don't know how he’ll take my presence here. At the moment his eyes are expressionless. I bring my face to his and give him a dry kiss. “I'm so glad you're awake. Now you can start to heal.” He is still silent, staring at me.
I'm getting worried now. Danner is a very outspoken person, silence is not really his style. I pull myself up to the panel with so many buttons and push the red one for the doctor. First, the nurse rushes in and when she sees Danner awake, she quickly left to call the doctor.
While we wait, Danner continues to stare at me.
Strange actually. I give him another kiss on the mouth. At that same moment, the doctor comes in and I get off the bed. Numerous investigations follow, blood samples are taken and sent to the lab. Danner remains silent all the time but fortunately cooperates with the doctor.
When the nurse hands over the medical results to the doctor half an hour later, he reads and frowns and then looks up from the papers in his hands.
“Sir, can you tell me your name?” he asks. “Danner,” the patient answers.
“And do you know how you ended up here?”, the doctor asks him again. Danner shakes his head. The doctor looks at him from under his reading glasses. “And do you know who that beautiful lady next to you is?”. Danner looks at me apologetically now.
“She does feel good, so warm and soft. When I woke up, she was lying so well into me, I wanted to go back to sleep with her in my arms. But then I thought that she might be gone when I wake up again. So I didn’t want to close my eyes."
“You don't know who she is at all?”, the doctor asks again. Danner shakes his head.
“What if I tell you she's your betrothed? You are the most famous couple in New York.” This drew Danner's attention right away. “Seriously?”, he asks with wide eyes. “What a lucky bastard I am! Such a beautiful fiancé. And she feels so good. But why don't I remember her?” he asks thoughtfully.
“Because you've lost your memory, sir. You need more time to get them back, so I advise you to take total bed rest. Then your injuries can heal better.”
I let it sink in what the doctor just said. ‘Danner has amnesia?’. Impossible!
What a mess!..
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