Chapter 7: You deserve it
Claire felt embarrassed to be sitting at the same table with a man she kissed and with her current boyfriend as well. Brendon loved her so much and even stayed with her through all her recovery in the hospital and what did he get in return? Claire kissing his brother? In addition, as if situation wasn't drastic enough, she also liked that kiss. She liked it so much that she felt like she had begun floating high in the sky from happiness. Something in her clicked and for a second she caught a feeling in her guts, as if she had already met him.
She couldn't stop thinking of that odd feeling, she felt like she may have already experienced such a great kiss in her life. Yet, at the same time she was hesitant about her sensations, if she had learned something about her illness that was that she couldn't trust her memory.
When they finished having dinner, Claire dragged Brendon to their room.
She needed answers and the only person who was by her side throughout her hospital path was him.
He spoke to doctors for her and was always present in the diagnosis when she was too weak even to listen to the doctor's sentences.
If there was someone who knew about her situation, that person was Brendon.
"I have to talk to you about something..." she started as soon as they got in the room.
Brendon smiled and kissed her cheek gently, "sure." He whispered.
"I ... I feel like Cole and I had already met." She swallowed down, sparing him to learn more about their kiss.
His face soon turned pale and he cleared his voice like he did when he usually grew so nervous that his mouth dried.
"Do you think it could be possible?"
Cole's vision blurred as Claire's voice slightly faded away allowing his dissociation to take full control.
His gaze was blank and just as if he was teleported back to two years ago, right after the accident, he had a flashback.
He was back in the hospital walking to the corridor to reach one of the doctors' office one week after the car accident.
"Hello," he said forcing a smile.
"I'm her dear friend."
The doctor's face enlightened and proceeded to nod as he walked to lock the door for privacy.
"I was looking for someone close to her, she doesn't seem to have relatives..."
He began browsing through a dossier.
"We have managed to find some objects in the car, those don't belong to her... They belong to a certain..."
The doctor frowned his forehead to read better the name.
"To Cole Williams."
He stood up and walked to open a kneeler, he slided out of it a box and brought it to Brendon.
"This too..." The doctor's face morphed in a sad facial expression, the reason was still unknown to Brendon.
But soon he opened the box revealing a beautiful wedding ring, proclaming the reason behing his pity.
"I guess that man named Cole was going to propose to her... Life sometimes is cruel..."
Brendon hastly took the box and slided it inside his pocket, "I will give it to her thanks."
"I called you here because there are high chances for her to restore her memory. But to do so she must meet this person again, or go to the same important places she had visited with her loved ones. If she does this in time, maybe her memories will blow again and she can heal. You're a dear friend of her you must known him. I can contact this man Cole Williams, I'm sure it will help her. Do you happen to know where he is?"
Brendon showed a devilish smile and then shook his head. He snapped his tongue and took a deep breath, "Cole Williams? I am sure there must be a mistake…"
He frowned his forehead, "I had never heard of him."
He walked out of the chief of general surgery's office, unregrettful that his action would have effected forever Claire's condition.
He reached a trash can and checked his surronding for some instants before throwing there the ring, tossing also every chance of Claire to potentially recovery.
...
...
"Do you think it could be possible?" Claire asked again, noticing Brendon's odd quiteness.
"I'm sorry for bothering you, you must have been tired after your first day at work." She sighed and sat at the edge of the bed, demoralized.
"I don't think it's possible Claire. Remember, your doctor said your mind could trick you. I'm here for you like I had always been in the previous years and always be."
Claire smiled, "I'm so glad to have you by my side."
He caressed his cheek, "you should stop thinking about past, how many times do I have to remind you? The present is now and I belong to it."
Claire laughed, "I know, I just have this feeling that something about your brother is..."
Brendon leaned his finger on her lips and shuted her, "shhh, stop. That's not true, don't let your mind trick you, love."
Claire took a deep breath, maybe he was right, she thought to herself.
Maybe the thing she felt clicking whenever she was with Cole was only pure attraction.
"I love you, Claire. I hope one day you can return my feelings and pay me back for all that I did for you."
Claire curved her lips corners up in a shy smile, "I hope too. You deserve it."
-- Gift
received