Page 41 of Asylum
Wake up, Lilly.
My own name sounds foreign in my head, and the tears I’d been trying to hold back fall freely.
“Lilly.” He tries again, and this time, I force my eyes to his. “Your name is Lilly Chambers.”
The sob that leaves my chest is soul shattering, and I shake my head back and forth, denying the words before he speaks them.
He takes the glass of water from my hand, placing it on the nightstand. “We’re married, Lilly. I’m your husband, and you’re my wife.”
“No!” I shout, my entire body shaking uncontrollably. I rip the blankets off my legs, moving to stand from the bed. My knees buckle, but he bolts from his chair, catching me before I hit the floor. Trying to push him away, he won’t let go, and I slam my fists against his chest, sobbing until I finally collapse in his arms. He sits me on the edge of the bed, kneeling on the floor in front of me.
He grips my hands, holding them tightly as I cry. “It’s going to be okay, little doll. I’m going to take care of you.”
He doesn’t speak for long minutes, allowing me to mourn a life I don’t remember. As the last of the tears fade, he stands, moving around the room. He returns a moment later with the glass of water, holding it out to me like a peace offering. I take it, appreciating the cool liquid as it slides down my parched throat. Once I’ve finished it, he takes the glass, placing it next to the pitcher.
“W-will you t-tell me everything?” I stammer through the hiccups racking my chest.
“Of course.” He reaches for my hand, and I don’t pull away. “Rest, and we’ll talk when you wake up.”
I want to know everything now, but in the ten minutes I’ve been awake, the little bit of energy I had has been depleted. I’m asleep before the door latches when he leaves the room.
My neck is fucking killing me.
I stayed in her room after she fell asleep. While I wanted to make sure she was alright, I also needed to confirm she wouldn’t have an episode or try to run.
She’ll have a million questions for me today, so I already have the fake documents in hand confirming her new identity. It should help ease her anxiety, giving her something she can physically hold onto, a token of the life she doesn’t remember.
Slowly twisting the knob, I open the door, careful not to wake her. It’s a waste of effort. Emerald eyes stop me in my tracks as she stares at my face as soon as I enter the bedroom. She’s laying on her side, the blanket pulled up to her chin. There’s no sign of tears, thankfully.
I’m not sure I have the patience for that shit with this crick in my neck.
She turns over onto her back before easing herself in an upright position, leaning against the headboard. As I reach the edge of the bed, I hand her the documents. She reviews them carefully while I pour her a glass of water. As soon as this awkward conversation is over, I’ll need to make her something to eat. Now that she’s away from the asylum, I’ll be able to put some weight on her.
Taking a seat in the chair that I slept in last night, I wait patiently as she shuffles through the paperwork. At least a dozen different emotions cross her face as she reads over her new birth certificate, the report from the car accident, our marriage certificate, and a social security card. Once she’s finished, she lays it all on the nightstand, reaching for the water. She sips it for a few moments before setting it down.
“How did we meet?” She whispers, picking at a loose thread on the blanket.
Pretending the nostalgia is affecting me, I grin thoughtfully. “I’m a prosecutor in Grimdale County. I stopped in a little coffee shop on my way to the office one morning. I was distracted, thinking about the case I was working on, but a sweet, little voice broke through my chaotic thoughts. When I gave the barista my attention, I wasn’t prepared for her to be the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen. She had beautiful, red hair that reminded me of autumn. And gorgeous, emerald eyes that I was immediately lost in.”
Olivia leans towards me, completely captivated by this ridiculous story. I chose to go with something sweet and innocent. I know how women love thoseHallmarkmovies.
There’s a spark in her eyes as she hangs on every word I say, so I continue laying it on thick. “The girl was out of my league, but I took a chance, asking her on a date. Of course, she was shy and declined. But I made it my morning routine for weeks to stop by the coffee shop and see her.”
Her eyes glisten with unshed tears as she listens to me spin a revolting tale of love at first sight.
“I woke up late one morning, and I didn’t have time to stop by. Seeing her was the bright spot in my day, so you can only imagine how that one went.” When a ghost of a smile tugs at her lips, I know I’m on the right track. “The next day, I stopped by, and when I asked her for a date again, she accepted. We went on a picnic, and to the town fair. It was a magical night, and we were inseparable after that. We were married a year later.” I smile. “And we lived happily ever after until-” I drop my head in my hands, letting her feel the despair I’m projecting.
“Until?” She asks, her voice strained from lack of using it.
“Until the accident. Lilly, I don’t think you’re ready to hear this. I don’t know if I’m ready to relive it.” I give her a pleading look, knowing it will tug at her heart.
“Please? I need to know.”
Exhaling heavily, I find her gaze. “You were driving home from work. It was storming heavily, and you hydroplaned. The car spun out of control, and you crashed into a tree. You hit your head on the steering wheel, hard.” Moving from the chair to the edge of the bed, I’m surprised when she doesn’t shrink back. “When I got the call, I thought I’d lost you. I was out of my mind by the time I reached the hospital. You were there for weeks. They released you once the swelling went down, and all your vitals and scans were normal. Once we were home, you weredoing great, then something happened. You fainted, and as I told you yesterday, they couldn’t find anything wrong. The doctor told us it would take time, but there’s a chance your memories may not return.”
She sniffles, wiping away her tears. “What about my family? Your family? I know nothing of my life.”
“Lilly, we have plenty of time to go over all this. I think you should rest.”