Chapter 26: Strangers

Ana
The world was a blur of distorted images and sounds. I opened my eyes slowly, and the first thing I saw were flowers. There were bouquets of flowers of all colors around my bed. I could smell the sweet, pungent scent filling the room. Next to the flowers, there were notes and cards, some with names I didn't recognize.
I picked up one of the cards and read:
"Get well soon, Ana. The family needs you. - Marcos"
Marcos? Who was Marcos? Everything was so confusing. I tried to remember, but my mind was empty, like an unwritten book. I dropped the card and lay back down, feeling a sharp pain in my side.
The door opened and I saw Dante enter, the man who had been by my bedside when I woke up. He approached slowly, his face serious, but trying to appear calm.
"Hi, Ana," he said softly, trying not to upset me. "How are you feeling today?"
I looked at him suspiciously, not knowing how to react.
"Confused," I replied honestly. "I don't remember anything. Not you, not these flowers, not this... Marcos."
Dante sighed and sat down in the chair next to my bed.
"I know this is hard. But I'm here to help you remember. Little by little, things will come back to you."
"Who are you?" I wanted to understand who this person was who claimed to know me so well.
"I'm Dante," he replied, with a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes. "We've been through a lot together. I'm someone you can trust."
I nodded, though I was still full of doubts. I tried to smile back, but the confusion and pain in my head were overwhelming, even breathing seemed like a difficult task.
"I have some good news," he continued. "The doctors say you can be discharged today. They want you to recover at home, in a familiar environment."
"Home?" I asked, feeling a mix of fear and hope. "Where is my home?"
"Don't worry. I'll take you there. Everything will be fine, as I've already told you, there's nothing to worry about."
I felt relieved, though still full of unanswered questions. I nodded slowly, trying to accept what he was telling me, I wanted to think that he is a trustworthy person.
"Thank you," I murmured. "This is... a lot to process."
"I know," Dante said, standing up. "But I'll be with you every step of the way."
There was something about his presence that gave me a sense of security, even though my mind was still a whirlwind of confusion and unanswered questions.
"Dante, there's something I need to tell you."
He came over and sat down next to me, his eyes filled with concern and something else I couldn't identify.
"Tell me, Ana."
"Even though I don't remember you... I want to trust you," I said, feeling a lump in my throat. "All of this is so confusing and I don't know who I can really trust. But... I hope that little by little my memories will come back."
Dante nodded, his eyes shining with a mix of relief and sadness.
"I understand, Ana. I'll do everything in my power to help you remember, to be by your side."
I looked into his eyes, trying to find any sign of deception, but I only saw sincerity and deep concern.
"I just hope you're trustworthy, Dante," I murmured. "I need someone I can trust, someone to help me navigate all of this."
Dante took my hand gently, his touch warm and comforting. It suddenly felt like a familiar sensation. I couldn't remember what role Dante played in my life, but I was sure of one thing: this feeling I was having was the only real thing in my life, a kind of special connection with him, and I definitely wanted to find out more about what we had, even if it took us some time.
"You can trust me, Ana," he said. "I'll always be here for you, no matter what happens. Now I want you to look at this, maybe it can help you remember a little bit."
Sitting on the couch, contemplating the photographs Dante had shown me, I tried to put the pieces of my lost life together. The silence in the room was broken when the door opened and the doctor came in. His face reflected a mixture of seriousness and empathy.
"Ana, we've finished the tests," he announced, holding a folder in his hands. "I'm pleased to inform you that you're officially discharged."
"Discharged?" I repeated, trying to process the information. "Can I go home?"
"That's right," he said with a smile. "Here are some clothes for you to change into." He handed me a bag with clean clothes. "And before you go, I want you to know that Paolo's situation hasn't changed. He's still under observation and hasn't woken up. But you can go see him from outside his room if you want to."
I felt a pang in my chest when I heard Paolo's name. Although I didn't remember who he was, something inside me told me that I should see him. These confusing feelings were driving me crazy.
"Yes, I would like to see him," I replied with determination.
The doctor nodded and left the room to give us a moment. Dante helped me up and handed me the clothes. I changed slowly, feeling the weight of each movement. Standing up was exhausting, but I needed to do it.
"Dante, can you take me to see him?" I asked as I finished getting dressed.
"Of course," he replied, not very convinced of wanting to do so. "I'm here to help you in any way I can."
When the doctor came back, he led us down the hallway to the room where Paolo was. I stood at the door, looking through the window. Paolo lay in bed, connected to various monitors and machines. He looked so fragile, so different from the image I had built in my mind.
"What is my relationship with Paolo?" I asked Dante, without taking my eyes off the inert figure in the bed.
Dante seemed to hesitate for a moment before answering.
"Paolo is... complicated," he said finally. "He's dangerous, Ana. It's better for everyone if he doesn't wake up."
"Why?" I asked, feeling a mix of confusion and distrust.
"Paolo is a powerful man, but his power comes with many enemies," Dante said seriously. "He's caused a lot of harm, both to you and others. He's not someone you can trust."
I looked at Paolo again, trying to find any sign that Dante might be wrong. But my memories were still a void, and I had no choice but to trust Dante's words.
"Okay. I trust you."
Dante nodded, his eyes filled with a mix of relief and something else I couldn't identify. We stood there for a few more minutes, watching Paolo, before the doctor suggested it was time to go.
Back in the room, Dante helped me pack the few things I had. Everything felt surreal, like I was living someone else's life. When we were finally ready, Dante took me to the hospital exit.
"Where are we going now?" I asked, feeling a mix of anticipation and fear.
"I'm taking you home," Dante replied. "You need to rest and recover."
"Thank you, Dante. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"I'll always be here for you, Ana."
The drive home was silent. I looked out the window, watching the world outside go by in a blur. Everything was new and strange to me, but with Dante by my side, I felt like I could face whatever came my way.
When we got home, Dante helped me inside and led me to the living room. I sat down on the couch, feeling exhaustion take over my body.
"Rest, Ana. You'll recover, I promise. Tomorrow will be a day of discovery, it's better to get your mind ready."
"Discovery?"
"You'll have to see your best friend and your uncle and find out what you do for a living."
It sounded like it might be dangerous.
"I don't think it can be that bad, can it? I mean, it's not like I'm part of the mafia or something crazy like that."
"You'd better get some rest, tomorrow you'll find out everything, but I promise I won't leave you alone at any time, you can be sure of that."
"Thank you, Dante, I really appreciate it."
I nodded, closing my eyes for a moment. I had so many questions, so much to understand. But for now, all I could do was trust Dante and hope that my memories would come back.
I need to know who I am. Who is Ana Salvatore?