Amelia blinked as the blinding white walls of the hospital room came into focus. Her head throbbed, and confusion clouded her thoughts. The last thing she remembered was the cool wind brushing her face as she and Jason—her ex—rode their bikes together along the coast.
She frowned. Where was Jason?
"Amelia?"
The voice was soft, hopeful. She turned her head and saw a man sitting by her bedside, his eyes filled with a mix of worry and relief. He looked exhausted, like he hadn’t slept in days.
"Jason?" she whispered.
The man’s face crumbled, but he quickly composed himself. "No… it’s me, Lucas." He reached out to hold her hand, but she pulled away instinctively, her heart racing. "I’m your boyfriend, Amelia."
Her brows knitted in confusion. "But… I’m with Jason. Where is he?"
Lucas swallowed hard, his heart shattering in a way he never imagined possible. He had waited an agonizing month for her to wake up from the coma after the accident on their ski holiday. Every second, he’d prayed for this moment—to see her beautiful eyes open, for her to remember their life together. But now, all she remembered was a man who wasn't him.
"You had an accident," Lucas explained gently. "We were on holiday… skiing together." He paused, searching her face for a sign of recognition, but it was clear she didn’t remember. "Jason… isn’t part of your life anymore, Amelia. It’s been two years since you broke up."
Her eyes widened. "Two years?"
Lucas nodded, fighting to keep his voice steady. "You and I… we’ve been together for a year and a half now. We were living together before the accident. We were happy."
Amelia’s mind spun. The man sitting beside her—Lucas—seemed kind, his face etched with concern, but her heart still clung to memories of Jason. She felt lost, torn between the past she remembered and a present she couldn’t recall.
As days passed, Lucas tried everything to help her remember their life together—their shared moments, their laughter, the dreams they built. But every time she asked about Jason, it felt like a dagger in his chest. He could see the way her face lit up at the mention of her ex, and it killed him. She didn’t know that Jason had left her—left them—for the army, or that she had moved on.
One evening, when the hospital lights were dim, Amelia woke to find Lucas staring out of the window, his silhouette framed against the fading sunset.
"Lucas?" she called softly.
He turned, his eyes filled with hope.
"What if…" she began hesitantly, "I never remember?"
Lucas took a deep breath, walking over to her. "I love you, Amelia. More than anything in this world. But I don’t want to force you into a past you can’t recall. I just want you to be happy." His voice cracked, "Even if that means… with someone else."
Amelia’s heart clenched at the raw pain in his words. She didn’t know why, but something about his presence felt safe, comforting—like he had been the one holding her heart, even if she couldn’t remember it.
Two weeks later, when she was finally discharged, she saw Jason waiting in the hospital lobby. Her breath caught in her throat, and memories flooded her—memories of their love, their laughter, their final tearful goodbye when he left for the army. He hadn’t forgotten her.
But when she looked at Jason, something had changed. Time had passed. He smiled gently, as if understanding the confusion on her face. "I’m glad you’re okay," he said softly. "I came to see you, but I know…" His voice trailed off, his eyes darting to where Lucas stood quietly in the corner. "You’ve moved on."
Amelia felt a strange pull—two men who loved her, each representing a different part of her life. Jason was her past, someone she’d once loved deeply. Lucas was her present, a love she could feel but not remember.
As she stood between them, the weight of the choice settled over her. Slowly, she walked over to Lucas. "I don’t know if I’ll ever remember everything," she whispered. "But I want to try."
Tears filled Lucas’s eyes as he pulled her into a gentle embrace. Jason smiled softly, his heart aching, but he knew it was time to let go.
As he turned to leave, he glanced back one last time, catching Lucas’s gaze. There was a silent understanding between them—both had loved her, but one had won her heart, even if she didn’t know it yet.
Amelia’s memories may have faded, but her heart still knew where it belonged.
The bittersweetness hung in the air, as Jason walked away, leaving behind a love he once cherished, while Lucas held on, hoping that one day, Amelia would fully remember the life they’d built together.
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