I Woke Up Holding My Nurse’s Hand… Then She Whispered, “You Still Don’t Remember Me?”
Chapter 1
The first thing Daniel Brooks felt was warmth.
Someone was holding his hand.
Not gripping it tightly.
Not desperately.
Just holding it as if they had been waiting for him to wake up.
Daniel slowly opened his eyes.
White ceiling.
Soft fluorescent lights.
A faint beeping sound.
His throat felt dry.
His head throbbed.
He tried to move, but a sharp pain traveled through his shoulder.
A woman leaned forward.
She was wearing pale blue hospital scrubs.
Her dark hair was tied behind her head, and exhaustion showed beneath her eyes.
For several seconds, she simply stared at him.
Then she smiled.
A small, trembling smile.
“Daniel?”
He tried to answer.
Nothing came out.
The woman squeezed his hand.
“You’re awake.”
Daniel looked around.
“Where…”
His voice was barely audible.
“You’re at Mercy General Hospital.”
He frowned.
“What happened?”
The woman hesitated.
“You were in an accident.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
An accident.
He tried to remember.
Rain.
Headlights.
A horn.
Then nothing.
He opened his eyes again.
“How long?”
“Nine days.”
Daniel stared at her.
“Nine?”
She nodded.
“You’ve been unconscious for nine days.”
He looked down at their hands.
She was still holding his.
Daniel gently pulled his hand away.
The woman froze.
Something painful crossed her face.
Daniel noticed.
“I’m sorry.”
She shook her head.
“No. It’s okay.”
He looked at her name badge.
EMILY CARTER, RN
“Are you my nurse?”
“Yes.”
Daniel studied her.
There was something strange about the way she looked at him.
Not professionally.
Personally.
As if she knew him.
Really knew him.
Emily reached for his chart.
“Do you know where you are?”
“Hospital.”
“Do you know your name?”
“Daniel Brooks.”
“Your daughter’s name?”
Daniel immediately answered.
“Sophie.”
Emily smiled.
“Good.”
Then she asked something unexpected.
“Do you remember me?”
Daniel stared at her.
“No.”
The smile disappeared.
Emily lowered her eyes.
“Right.”
Daniel felt uncomfortable.
“Should I?”
She looked at him again.
Her eyes were wet.
Then she leaned closer and whispered:
“You still don’t remember me?”
Daniel’s heart began beating faster.
He shook his head.
“No.”
Emily looked away.
For the first time since waking, Daniel felt afraid.
Not because of the accident.
Not because he couldn’t remember what happened.
But because the woman holding his hand looked at him like he had once meant everything to her.
And he had absolutely no idea who she was.
