Nina laid in that hospital bed unconscious as I watched nurses do their best to keep her comfortable. The doctors visited every day and seemed to feel the need to constantly explain how it was normal for patients with head injuries to stay unconscious and how her body simply needed time to heal. I didn't want to hear any of their explanations. All I wanted to hear was that she'd be okay and awake so I could tell her I loved her.
Jordan came every afternoon after school and sat next to Nina holding her hand and telling her silly stories about their time in college. Kim left after the first day, but I knew Jordan made sure to call her with updates every day.
After eight days, her face showed what I knew she was thinking. I was thinking it too. What if the doctors were wrong? What if she never came out of it?
Exhausted, but afraid if I left Nina might wake up and I wouldn't be there, I sat slumped in the chair next to her bed as Jordan joked with her about the first time they met in college. My eyes slowly fell closed as the sound of her voice faded away.
"Nina? Honey, you're awake!"
My eyes flew open and I saw Jordan leaning over Nina. She was awake! I leaped from the uncomfortable chair I'd spent so many hours in and stood behind her. The sweet eyes I loved were open and she was speaking.
"Jordan, what happened?" she whispered.
"There was an accident, honey. But you're going to be okay now." Jordan began crying. "Oh, honey! We were so worried."
"Where's my dad? You called him, right?"
Jordan turned to face me and shook her head before she turned back. "Nina, what do you mean? Your father..."
I moved around her and touched Nina's hand. "Baby, I'm so happy you're back."
Nina stared up at me with a vacant look and then looked at Jordan. "Where's my father?"
Nurses swarmed around her to check her vital signs and I walked out to wait for the doctor. Jordan joined me a few minutes later and neither of us said a word. We didn't have to. We both knew something was very wrong.
By the time the doctor pulled me aside an hour later to explain what Nina was experiencing, I knew. All he did was confirm it.
"I've examined her and it's good news. She doesn't remember some things, but she's going to be fine. All her injuries are healing well, and I think she just needs some time, Mr. Stone."
I looked past him and saw her smiling and laughing with Jordan. "She seems to remember her friend, but she thinks her father is still alive. He's been dead for four years," I explained to the doctor, hoping he could help me understand what was happening with Nina.
"As far as I can tell, she doesn't remember anything after right before his death. She remembers her friend because she knew her before that."
The doctor saved me from having to hear the painful words telling me she didn't remember me. After everything we'd been through, she didn't even know who I was.
"I think if you give her time, she'll remember everything. Just give her some time."
He walked away leaving me standing in the doorway staring at the woman I loved who saw me only as a complete stranger. I pulled the engagement ring I'd given her out of my pocket and slid it over the tip of my pinky. Would she ever remember what we were so it would mean as much to her as it did to me?
Jordan tapped me on the arm, bringing me out of a daydream about the night at Tony's when I'd asked Nina to marry me. "Tristan, you should talk to her. Tell her about yourself. I know it's hard, but she needs to know who you are."
"I don't know, Jordan. It might be too much for her. I don't know what to say about her father and I won't lie to her now."
"She knows already. When Kim called, she told her. She doesn't remember what happened to him, but she knows he died. Go talk to her. Don't give up on her."
With a gentle squeeze, Jordan prodded me toward the bed. Nina looked up at me and smiled, like she had so many times before, but I saw in her eyes she was just trying to make me feel welcome.
She didn't know me.
"How are feeling?" The question was lame, but it's what a stranger would ask.
"Jordan says that you and I are engaged."
Nodding, I smiled and pulled the ring out of my pocket. "I just proposed a few nights ago."
"Can I see it?" she asked as she held out her hand. "It looks like a beautiful ring."