FIFTY EIGHT
I AM SEATED next to Ashley while stroking her head. She’s peacefully sleeping in our bed. I am wishing this to happen. Seeing her again in our bed while sleeping peacefully but not in this case.
“Am I a bad person, Agatha?”
“No, you’re not, Asher.”
“Then, why is this happening to us?”
“You’re just a victim. No one is to blame but those assholes who did to your wife.”
“I let her suffer, I punished her. Physical and emotional. I punished her for the sin that I thought she had committed. After all these years, she is also just a victim.” I hold her hand. I kiss her from crying. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened, please, forgive me.”
The trials she went through, she lost her father because of what happened to her, their family business went bankrupt because it was neglected, I hurt her who should have been with her. I was not beside her during her painful battle. I wasn’t there to sympathize with her. She fought alone. And she even lost the child she was clinging to.
Ley was right, if I had only known the truth I would have gotten her back. But I am too coward and scared to face the truth. I became a coward so this is how we ended up. If I had chased her, if I had looked for her, we would have become a whole family. I wish I could make Ashley happy and not make Charles suffer.
Charles, I curse him in front of his mother. I speak unkind and hurtful words. It was very painful for a mother who struggled to fight for her child’s life and heard painful words from the mouth of the person she loved.
Ley is right, again, what I did well in my profession is what I failed in life. I am a private investigator, but I could not investigate what happened to my wife. I am a psychiatrist, at my own hospital. But I didn’t even see anything wrong with her. I think of my own anger and pain, I didn’t notice that she was going through something.
I don’t know if when she wakes up she will even recognize me. But no matter what happens, I will never leave her, I will never let her go. I will take care of her, protect her, and I will not allow her to be lost in my side.
With her illness, she might wake up knowing who I was, but she would be moody. There is also a possibility that she won’t recognize me but she can still talk, and the worse is, she will be acting like crazy. Unable to talk, her subconscious wasn’t here. But either of those when she woke up. I’m only sure of one thing. I will stay by her side no matter what happens.
“I love you, and no matter what happens, I will continue to love you,” I said then hugged her hand and sunk my head into her bed.
“Asher.” I looked up when I heard Agatha speak. I looked at her as she stared in front of me. When I looked in front of me I saw Ashley. She was awake but she was just looking at me.
“A-Ashley?” I ask. She kept staring at me. Examining my face. It means she sees me. A good sign.
“Do you know my husband?” she asked then tears flowed. She spoke and talked to me normally though she didn’t recognize me. “Do you know Asher Miller? He’s my husband.” I nod at her and hold her hand.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.
She could talk, but she didn’t know me. At least, she could talk and she knew who the people she was with.
“Yeah, I know him,” I answered.
I saw the twinkle in her eye as if she saw hope.
“Tell him I miss him so much. He’s mad at me.” Then she leaned over to turn her back on me. I saw her shoulder shrugged, a sign that she is crying.
“No, she’s not mad at you,” I said and she quickly turned to face me. She smiles even with tears in her eyes.
“Really?”
“Yes, he said he loves you very much.” I know how to handle her situation. I knew she would get better. Quite a long process, longer than Ley then but I will not give up. I will not give in. I will bring my wife back. “He said, he’s waiting for you. He said force yourself to leave in your hiding place because he’s waiting outside. He’s sad because he’s alone and he needs you.”
“I’m afraid those who hurt me might follow me. They might hurt him too.” She said sadly so I felt even more sorry for her. “I don’t want them to hurt him.”
“They’re gone. They won’t bother you anymore.” Her eyes lit up again at what I said.
“Really?”
“Yes,”
“I am thankful for that. Can I ask you a favor?” I nodded then kissed her hand.
“Anything.”
“Tell my husband, I’ll run away from here. I’ll find the door to this dark room to get back to him. Tell him I love him so much. Can you?” I smile and nod.
“Yes, I will,”
“Thanks, I’ll rest first so I have strength.” Then she leaned over.
I feel Agatha’s hand on my shoulder so I look up.
“Did you see that, Asher? She’s fighting because of you,” Agatha said cheerfully.
“Yeah! She’ll get back with me, Agatha.” I pressed her hand. “My wife will come back to me.”
“Yeah, so don’t lose hope, ok, she’s will be back I know.”
I never thought my wife would go through such a difficult time. I was blinded by anger and pain. But what I didn’t know was that she was going through more pain. Ley was right, we were hurt when she left, but we felt triple or more when we found out the truth.
But now that she’s here, I won’t let her go again. No matter what happens. I will hold her hand and I will make sure she is safe.
I will be taking care of her from now on. I will stay at her side. I will make sure she will be ok. From now on, we will never separate again.